Building a Reading I-7 2-8-0

[RDG Casey]

The lense is some microscale kristal klear I globbed around the light.

For the firebox in all the pictures I looked at for this build I didn't see any light from the back of the cab which would mean it is not open and the back head is all the way back. This isn't really a reading thing as bituminous coal burning engines are a rarity on the railroad. These were built turn of the century and is kind of a transitionary type between using mostly key hole fireboxes to mostly wagon top fireboxes. Needeing the heating surface but still having relitivly small drivers the solution was stick the cab on top of the firebox. Strasburg 475 is like this, and there are many narrow guage examples of this thinking, even the unaltered Roudhouse model is this way.

[Trainman440]

Oops, sorry, I should of made my question a little clearer... 

I hope this picture could explain what I'm trying to say a little better. 

 

So is it prototypical in that your engine's firebox is so out of place? Or is that for all Reading engines?

[RDG Casey]

Again, it is not a Reading design style more of a style of the era the engines were built. In the late 1800s to early 1900s this style of the cab sitting on top of the firebox as opposed to the very end was not uncommon, then locomotive design exploded in size and power by the 1920s drastically changing what was the normal.

[dehusman]

Trainman440

So is it prototypical in that your engine's firebox is so out of place? Or is that for all Reading engines

Yes its prototypical, its not out of place, its right where it belongs,  and quite common for 1800's and early 1900 era 2-8-0 engines.

[Trainman440]

Ok thanks!

You learn something new everyday!

[ACY Tom]

We've come to expect fine work from you, and once again, you didn't disappoint.

The firebox astride the boiler was, as you say, quite common around the turn of the 19th/20th Centuries.  East Broad Top's Mikados are all built like that. I'm sure Reading's engine crews accepted this in stride, since they were accustomed to the close quarters of a Camelback cab.

I have often wondered whether Reading used their usual Anthracite coal in the I-7's, or if they used bituminous. Were there Reading lines where Bituminous was more readily available, such as the Lurgan Line? Was there a time when the I-7's were preferred for operation on that line?

Tom

[Southgate]

Great looking model, and looks even better there in the scenicked setting. Your finish matches your building skills.

Who makes ther rivet decals you use?  Dan

[RDG Casey]

Thanks guys!

Dan, the decals rivets are from mircomart. I bought some right when they came out and am still useing the original set, so they last quite a while.

Tom, the I-7 was a pretty big class I'm not sure they were meant for a specific region. Gathering pictures for reference I saw lots of locations around the Philly area, Reading, Allentown, Lancaster etc. I think for being around as long as they were in the numbers they had, I think they really got around the system.