I am looking into purchasing my first brass locomotive, the only problem is i need a little more information. Can you all help? Heres the rundown of the engine, its a ATSF class 3460 4-6-2 made by Tenshodo. It is a early run of the engine. It has a open frame motor and thats all i know, i have a picture, does anyone have anymore information? Thanks for any help.
Have some patience. Most of the people that frequent this site are probably asleep at this hour (2 AM). Come tomorrow , the knowledgeable ones will see your post and help you where they can. I'd help but I don't know squat about steam much less brass.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
jasperofzeal wrote: Have some patience. Most of the people that frequent this site are probably asleep at this hour (2 AM). Come tomorrow , the knowledgeable ones will see your post and help you where they can. I'd help but I don't know squat about steam much less brass.
Like jasperofzeal (a fellow Texan) said, be patient. All of the brass specialists are asleep right now, but I'm sure you'll have plenty of replies by this time tomorrow... I own a number of steam locos but none are brass I regret to say. Good luck to you.
Tracklayer
AT&SF:
I dont' know if I can give you specifics, but I'd say that it was probably imported from PFM in the late 1950's--early '60's. I've got two Tenshodo Santa Fe locos, the 1950 series 2-8-0 (the most popular brass steam loco model ever built) and a 3800 series 2-10-2, and both date from 1962. So I'd take a guess and put your Hudson about that time period--Tenshodo was doing quite a few Santa Fe locos during that time period, including the enormous WWII Northerns, which somehow were able to manipulate around a 26" radius curve--WHEW!
As to running qualities--they were good locos for their time, a little 'fast' on the throttle, due to the open-frame motors. I replaced both of the motors on mine with NWSL cans, which throttles them down to more realistic speeds. Quality-wise, the Tenshodos that I own are really fine. Maybe not as 'super-detailed' as current brass, but certainly well-crafted and put together.
And like all brass, they're very easy to work on as far as tuning up the running characteristics. From the photo, it's a really handsome loco.
I'd suggest you contact www.brasstrains.com with your information--they could probably give you more specific information as far as the year the loco was released. But Tenshodo had a very good reputation as a prime Japanese brass builder.
Just out of curiosity--how much is the present owner asking for it?
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
It was a 4-6-4 'Hudson' that replaced the 4-6-2's on 'flatland' runs, such as Chicago - Kansas City, where 4-8-2 'Mountains' took over to La Junta and west..
It was 3460 class with the first of its class was shrouded and painted Blue. This single engine was called "Blue Goose" by Tenshoda, but "Blue Bird" by the railroad personnel. Rivarossi issued non prototypical blue cars which Santa Fe never had. So did IHC when they lost the Rivarossi line.
Tenshoda later produced this shrouded engine for PFM. It has become a collectors item. Many more of unshrouded #3463 were produced, so are bargains, used.
I have seen pictures of the 'Bluebird' pulling Budd corregated cars during wartime - pre E-3/6'War bonnets'.