I'm currently in the research and planning phase of my first layout which I plan to start construction on this spring. I've got a plan in place for almost every phase except my power roster. This will be a small dockside switching layout based on a local protoype that operated between 1905 and 1924. I have chosen to model between 1907 and 1910 as I have found a wealth of information on the prototype for that particular period, including original photos. The only thing I haven't been able to find photos of or information on was what they used for motive power to switch the wharf tracks. I'm not too concerned with staying true to the prototype in this regard as I will be able to model rolling stock and buildings very close from photos and period articles. I'm wanting to stick to the smallest equipment possible as I will be working in 5 foot modules, with a total footprint allowance of 10 by 10 feet. What HO scale 0-4-0 or 0-6-0 tank switchers are/were available that are well detailed and correct for the early 1900s? I don't mind if I have to convert them but factory DCC would be a plus.
I'd wager that most of the O-4-OT and 0-6-0T steam loco models that have been released are just a bit new for that "pre-USRA" timeline, and that includes the famous B&O docksider. The thing is, that kind of service often utllizes a railroad's oldest downgraded motive power so even if you can find models of locomotives first built in 1907-1910, would a railroad have used a brand spanking new loco for that work-a-day service? Your actually likely looking at "new" dates in the 1890s if not before. While I know of no prototype, it isn't unthinkable that even an aged 4-4-0 or Porter Mogul might have found use in that service. Another possibility for that service would be one of the steam dummies that very briefly found use in urban street railroads before electrification, and then were sold off to industries and logging firms. The same happened for Forneys and other urban street railroad steam that was replaced by electrification.
At one time AHM offered a Pennsylvania Railroad A3 O-4-O with tender that would have been about right, indeed probably needed a bit of "modernizing" but was likely still on the Pennsy roster in 1904. Maybe not worth seeking out, because mine, at least, was a noisy and unreliable runner, and not great at slow speeds either. And a challenge to convert to DCC. But I wonder if there are small steam chassis/motor combinations that are European prototype where that AHM boiler and cab might not fit over.
Even older, rarer, and also not known for great running, Aristo Craft had a series of cast metal old time steamers includins some that would have been just right for the situation. A small CB&Q switcher comes particularly to mind. Again, perhaps the boiler and cab and if there is one, tender, could be somehow fit over a European steam model's chassis and motor.
There was a line of very small and very cheap brass imports from, if memory serves, Ken Kidder that including a so called plantation 0-4-0T and other small steam. I don't even see those at swap meets any more, and again DCC (and maybe motor) conversion would make it quite a task. They might have actually been Japanese prototypes but looked American.
One possibility would be a small two truck Shay. Even the NYC used a Shay for some of its urban switching.
Another loco that comes to mind, perhaps just barely of the era but pretty close, is the time honored Model Die Casting/Roundhouse Southern Pacific 0-6-0. Those are seen at swap meets and perhaps Athearn has even offered it in improved versions.
Dave Nelson
While not a tank engine, but a Bowser A5 switcher can be a good candidate.
If you're doing car float service then be aware that locomotives did not enter the car float and ramps. They typically used flats as spacer cars. My prototype used a poling car for pushing cars in tight adjacent tracks. They also had rubber tired gasoline powered switchers with couplers on the ends for cramped industrial tracks in that time frame. They were registered to run on the road too and had a large steering wheel called a tiller.
Pete.
Basically you want an engine with slide valves, not piston valves on the cylinders. Probably an oil headlight instead of electric.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
A Forney ... You can also use it on your elevated transit system...
This NYC locomotive spent its last days in Alaska.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
The Mantua 0-6-0 tank engine would be appropriate.
Mantua 0-6-0 Tank Switcher Pennsylvania PRR HO scale | eBay
For some reason lately, those plantation 0-4-0 ken kidder models seam to be on eBay in abundance late,y.
shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
While it's not a tank-type locomotive, Bachmann's 10 wheelers do have an old-time appearance and also have slide valves. They're also very decent runners, too...
...and the boiler is cast metal, which does help with the tractive effort.
My layout is set in the late '30s, so I wasn't all that interested in that particular loco, which seemed a little too archaic.
I did, however, buy two of them, then re-worked the slide valves into piston valves, using styrene...
I then removed the boiler and cab, replacing the boiler with a cut-down cast metal boiler from an old Varney 10 wheeler...
...then added cabs from Bachmann's Consolidations...
I then added a bunch of detail parts...
...then sliced-up the tenders to narrow them by about 1'...
...and also shortened them by about 4'.
Some paint and lettering brought them up to a more fitting time frame for my layout...
As has been mentioned, another option might be Bowser's A-5, a small 0-4-0 with a slope-back tender. I built one for a friend, and added DCC to it...
Wayne
Hello All,
A 0-6-0T Side Tank Porter would be appropriate.
Bachmann used to produce one but it seems to be out of production.
A 0-4-0 Saddle Tank would also be appropriate.
Diesel-electric; Box Cab, locomotives were introduced in June of 1924.
If you expanded your era, first-generation diesels could find a place on your roster.
Good luck with your search.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
The problem with the A5 is that it was modern as a 0-4-0 could get, being built in the 1920's. The A3 would be ideal, but from what I hear, would probably need a lot of mechanical work. BTW, PRR had gasoline powered, hard rubber wheeled "switchers" (predecessors of the Trackmobile) for use in Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York area street running. THERE would be a scratch building challenge!
http://prr.railfan.net/RubberTiredSwitchers.html
Your biggest problem with steam will be lack of traction resulting in fewer cars pulling power. There used to be a box cab diesel that would be appropriate also that would pull more cars.
If you jog your timeframe up a half-decade, you will be able to use both Dan Patch-style motored locomotives and rubber-tired 'tractors' (complete with nautical steerer!) to switch approach tracks.
The problem with the original PRR version 'tractor' was that they used solid rubber tires, like contemporary trucks, and wouldn't be comfortable 'banging' up and down serving ferry slips with any appreciable tide.
If you wanted some fun, you could gin up something like the Hydrotum Company's "locomotive"; I believe there is actually a small Mack rail tractor with a motorizing kit, although it is a very, very, very tiny motor and probably wouldn't pull the skin off a grape...
There were assuredly local tracks in the street prior to 1905, and they would have been switched by short-wheelbase steam -- I'd look at B&O or contact one of their historical groups and ask what that railroad used. I'd expect the kind of four-wheeled saddletanker that would later come to be used to move dead locomotives on or off a turntable for servicing -- power that would fit on the table, and fit in a house track between the locomotive and the bridge...
For 1907-1910 period I would go with smaller steam. The 0-4-0 tank engines were pretty much a B&O special. But I would happily use one working sidings and docks from street running. Mantua made a lot of decent steamers starting with the 0-4-0 Dockside and working up thru Moguls and Ten Wheelers and Pacifics and Micados. Pacifics and Micados are a bit too big and too modern for your era. Freight might be pulled by Consolidations (2-8-0). There would be some 4-4-0 American types. And some 2-6-0 Moguls. Passenger trains were usually pulled by 10 wheelers back them. I would not indulge in early model diesels, to my eye they would be out of period.
You will likely pick up some steamers used at train shows. If it runs (seller ought to demonstrate running) and seems to have all its parts, it is as good as anything. Brands don't matter much. You will need to do some maintenance on some of them, it's part of the hobby.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
wrench567 While not a tank engine, but a Bowser A5 switcher can be a good candidate. If you're doing car float service then be aware that locomotives did not enter the car float and ramps. They typically used flats as spacer cars. My prototype used a poling car for pushing cars in tight adjacent tracks. They also had rubber tired gasoline powered switchers with couplers on the ends for cramped industrial tracks in that time frame. They were registered to run on the road too and had a large steering wheel called a tiller. Pete.
rrebell wrench567 While not a tank engine, but a Bowser A5 switcher can be a good candidate. If you're doing car float service then be aware that locomotives did not enter the car float and ramps. They typically used flats as spacer cars. My prototype used a poling car for pushing cars in tight adjacent tracks. They also had rubber tired gasoline powered switchers with couplers on the ends for cramped industrial tracks in that time frame. They were registered to run on the road too and had a large steering wheel called a tiller. Pete. Yes some engines did go on the float, not common practice but it was done.
Yes some engines did go on the float, not common practice but it was done.
Whether or not to use an idler car may have been a regional thing. Most of the New York harbor float served yards had the engines go onto the float. This was the case at least at the Harlem Transfer, CNJ Bronx Terminal, and a number of Brooklyn terminals. The way the floats were loaded and unloaded required the engine to only go onto the float at the beginning of unloading and at the end of loading. At those times the barge was "relatively" stable from the other cars on the float so the additonal weight of the locomotive wasn't a major factor.
The NYC floats were three track floats. The two track floats elsewhere may have required idler cars as putting the engine on one track would have been proportionately greater.
Ray
I was told that for stability reasons, the first track on one side would be about half loaded, then the track on the opposite sode would be completely loaded and finally, the first track would get its remaining cars.
Bachmann made a saddle tank 0-6-0 that is a quiet runner but won't pull more that 4 cars. The old MDC is a better performer, but much larger in appearance.
Suitable saddletank 0-4-0s are hard to find as models. Rivarossi made a decent one, if you don't mind the high flanges. There were other models made by Chinese manufacturers a few years ago, but I would check out the quality first. I found this old Sakura brass at my LHS:
0-4-0 dockside on Flickr
She's a solid, quiet runner. The limited number of wheels does create power pickup issues, although the shear weight of the engine does get her accross most switches. Conversion to DCC is not too difficult.
Simon