General Discussion (Model Railroader)

 A four year old thread dredged back up from no telling where -- and we still don't have the promised model?  Something doesn't seem right, here.  Look at the date on the original post -- November 8th, 2005!

Yeah I know, I did a search and found it. I was wanting to find one primarily as a collector piece but could also run it as an excursion loco on my layout. I remember getting to see 819 under steam a few times in the early 90's when I was 4 or 5.

It appears that some or maybe all of the design work has been done for this model. It may be that the timing is not right to release this model. There were three Cotton Belt versions: 1930, 1937, and 1942. And 11 were shipped out to California for use on the Espee, so the interest for Espee modelers is apparent. Also several L1s (note no dash in L1) were leased to the T&NO before they were returned to Cotton Belt for disposition. The now famous #819 was one of the engines leased to the T&NO.

From what I know what is going on in the old Cotton Belt backshop known as the Arkansas Railroad Museum the real SSW L1 #819 needs some more work to get her ready to steam again. And for a mere $150,000 that work could be completed with maybe a little leftover for upkeep. For some reason it would make sense to release the model at about the same time that the real 819 gets back on the high iron. That would be good advertising for both.

Ed Cooper

CBRHS #114 Pine Bluff Chapter