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PFM CPR Selkirk 2-10-4 - Update - Retired

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  • Member since
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Posted by CAZEPHYR on Monday, October 31, 2011 8:10 PM

Tom

I believe a few roads used them but they were not common.  The Selkirk is a nice model but the price was fairly hight since the production numbers were low.  I purchased my Sunset NP Z6 last year for less money than this one cost, but I still wanted this to compare the size to other 2-10-4's that I have.   It is a nice model overal and would look great on a passenger train on Kicking Horse Pass.   We traveled up there a few times in the late 1998 era and watched trains.  I could image that hood being used in the tunnels to shoot the smoke back over the train but I bet the crew still had problems with getting fresh air on that climb.  

CZ

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  • From: Carmichael, CA
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Posted by twhite on Monday, October 31, 2011 5:30 PM

CZ:

Interesting shot of that Selkirk--that's the only other locomotive I recall seeing with that particular type of Elesco FWH--the other being the Rio Grande 1800 4-8-4's.   I'm sure there were others, but none that I recall.

Tom

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Posted by CAZEPHYR on Monday, October 31, 2011 3:19 PM

don7

 Fergmiester:

I love the Selkirks and was able to get  both T1a and T1c but it took time as one of them was the engine only. It took me another two years to get the proper tender for it. Even bought a Hudson tender on spec thinking I'd never find a Selkirk tender. 

 

I can not remember where but I came across a news item that the T4a #8000 experimental Selkirk was to be released in HO.

 I am very surprised at that news seeing there was only one and it was more or less a failure due to extrememely high maintenance requirements.

The 8000 had the water tube type and generated three different PSI boilers. 250, 850 and 1350.  The NYC also had one 4-8-4 with a water tube boiler also that was a failure in tests.  I read that the water in the sight glass ran up and down and no fireman wanted to mess with them very long. 

The pictures show the latest Sunset Selkirk with QSI sound.  The water hatches on the tender open also with screens below the individual half doors for each hatch.  I was surprised at some of the detail they included with this model.    

CZ

The smoke hood for tunnel use can be moved into place as illustrated below. 

 

 

 

 

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Posted by don7 on Sunday, October 30, 2011 9:42 PM

Fergmiester

I love the Selkirks and was able to get  both T1a and T1c but it took time as one of them was the engine only. It took me another two years to get the proper tender for it. Even bought a Hudson tender on spec thinking I'd never find a Selkirk tender. 

I can not remember where but I came across a news item that the T4a #8000 experimental Selkirk was to be released in HO.

 I am very surprised at that news seeing there was only one and it was more or less a failure due to extrememely high maintenance requirements.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
  • 4,240 posts
Posted by Fergmiester on Sunday, October 30, 2011 8:30 PM

I love the Selkirks and was able to get  both T1a and T1c but it took time as one of them was the engine only. It took me another two years to get the proper tender for it. Even bought a Hudson tender on spec thinking I'd never find a Selkirk tender. 

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

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Posted by don7 on Saturday, October 29, 2011 3:14 PM

As I mentioned my father used to drive of these, and every year we used to vacation in Eastern Canada and he would deviate off the travel plan in Albera and Saskatchewan and drive to where the Selkirks ( I forgot that they were called a 5900, thanks for reminding me ) were still running. I remember getting rides along with my father on a few occasions.

I remember a few times when he would be driving on the highway alongside one of the Selkirks on a track paralleling the highway.

I have pictures of a Selkirks on the turntables at Calgary, Field,  and Revelstoke, but remember seeing them on the Y as well.  The Y was preferred by many of the Engineers, the turntables used to at times act up on occasion when handling these large engines.

 

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Posted by tatans on Saturday, October 29, 2011 12:38 PM

don7

Crandel,

Yes, I was the successful bidder.

Strange, there were not many bidders.

The engine is a T1a, I prefer this version to the streamlined versions.

I have vague memories of the Selkirks. Used to live in Field, where the majority of these were stationed.  Father was a CPR engineer, used to drive the Selkirks once in a while, but mainly the Hudsons and Connies.

As the diesels came in there were less and less Selkirks running between Calgary and Revelstoke. The Selkirks ended up pulling grain trains mainly in Albera and Saskatchewan. They actually ran up to the end of the steam era.

I hope your Selkirk shows up soon, I remember your mentioning that it was coming. You sure did have to wait for it.

Remember seeing a 5900 (that's what we called them) in Moose Jaw in the 1950's,  it would not fit the turntable so they turned it on the wye behind our house, what a monster, and me with no camera, a treat indeed.

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  • From: Ontario
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Posted by da_kraut on Saturday, October 29, 2011 12:54 AM

Hi Don7,

CONGRATULATIONS.   Very happy to read that you now have that locomotive back.  

Enjoy.

FrankSmile

"If you need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm."

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Posted by don7 on Friday, October 28, 2011 10:08 PM

Crandel,

Yes, I was the successful bidder.

Strange, there were not many bidders.

The engine is a T1a, I prefer this version to the streamlined versions.

I have vague memories of the Selkirks. Used to live in Field, where the majority of these were stationed.  Father was a CPR engineer, used to drive the Selkirks once in a while, but mainly the Hudsons and Connies.

As the diesels came in there were less and less Selkirks running between Calgary and Revelstoke. The Selkirks ended up pulling grain trains mainly in Albera and Saskatchewan. They actually ran up to the end of the steam era.

I hope your Selkirk shows up soon, I remember your mentioning that it was coming. You sure did have to wait for it.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, October 28, 2011 9:54 PM

If it is something you greatly desire, then I hope you are successful, Don.  The price seems reasonable.  I am still awaiting my Sunset issue, but it seems to be slow getting to my dealer.  I have paid in full, but no shipping notice yet.  Tongue Tied

Crandell

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    April 2005
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PFM CPR Selkirk 2-10-4 - Update - Retired
Posted by don7 on Friday, October 28, 2011 8:41 PM

Years ago, as I was getting ready for a divorce I sold off my model railroad collection of engines. One of the engines was a PFM CPR Selkirk.

II have always wanted to buy another Selkirk. When I did see them for sale they usually were going for five or six hundered dollars which was more than I would willingly pay.

Well today luck was good to me. I found one one e-bay. It is a PFM model, factory painted in CPR colours and it is mint. 

Other than a few test runs this engine have been in a cabinet on display only.

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