Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Heavy Metal - The articulated thread

13539 views
42 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Heavy Metal - The articulated thread
Posted by trainnut1250 on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 7:06 PM

I do enjoy articulated steam locomotives.  I love all the rods and wheels turning while the beast barely seems to be moving. The purpose of this thread is to post your favorite images of articulated locomotive models. 

Suggestions:
Limit your post to three pics.  Tell us a little about the models in a few sentences.  Hopefully you can articulate why you like these locos (sorry had to throw in one pun).

Big Boys, Cab Forwards, Yellowstones, Y3’s, etc, are welcome.  Let’s see those pics.

Guy

 

Tags: articulated

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 7:10 PM

 

Here are three images to start:

 

 

 

This loco is a BLI first run AC -5 cab forward crossing a scratch built trestle on my layout.  These models sound good and pull very well.  This loco can pull a string of 25 reefers up a 2% grade.

 

 

 

This loco is a freelanced brass 2-6-6-0 that built by a friend and lettered for his railroad.  The loco includes lots of unusual castings and details.

 

 

 

Here is a BLI first run AC-4 cab forward pulling a string of reefers through the valley along HWY 99 on my layout.

 

Let’s see some of your models,

Guy

 

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 7:47 PM

Here on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL we have lots of "little baby" articulated locos:

 " target="">

USRA 2-6-6-2 clones, as well as other C&O 2-6-6-2's.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Northfield Center TWP, OH
  • 2,538 posts
Posted by dti406 on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 9:11 PM

Here is my favorite, you could comfortably fit a Big-Boy Boiler inside an Allegheny's Boiler.

Someday, it will get painted!!!!

Rick J

Rule 1: This is my railroad.

Rule 2: I make the rules.

Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,257 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 10:26 PM
What a good thread, thanks Guy.
There were only two Mallets ever in New Zealand, a 2-6-6-2T built 1906, and an ALCO built 2-4-4-2 of 1907, currently in storage, so my awareness that such things existed was rather low, so the first time I saw an HO 2-8-8-2 hauling a long freight at a local train show I was hooked. It didn’t fit with my model railroading plans, at the time, but I had to have one. What fascinating machines!!!
An older Bachmann Spectrum 2-6-6-2.
A Bachman Spectrum 2-8-8-4 EM-1.

 

Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 11:05 PM

I have about 6 or 7 running articulated HO locos but this is one I detailed for the scrap yard (non working plastic model) and is oddly a favorite one. The second one is my Rivarossi Challenger with sound, very nice! And last are a couple of 2-8-8-2's.

   -Bob

 

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 11:29 AM

 

Wow, Great start to the thread!!

Sheldon:  Who is the maker of the loco in the second photo?  Do you modify these beyond putting your home road decals on them?

 

Rick:  Beautiful! Are you planning to paint the gold beast yourself?  I still have “gold” brass running on my layout.  It does take some chutzpah to tackle painting one of these…

 

Bear:  Are you a Winston Link fan by any chance??  Your photos show some of his influence.  I can relate to the fascination with articulateds.  I model west coast steam but my first articulated was a P2K 2-8-8-2 Y6 that ran smooth as glass.  I eventually sold it but what a great loco.

 

Bob:  I really like the scrapped loco!!  I can see why it is a favorite. I would love to see it in a diorama with some scenery (a little ballast and some weeds).

 

Keep those photos coming.

 

Guy

 

 

 

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 12:24 PM

The B&O wanted to buy diesels. The War Production Board said, no — you'll have to settle for these:

The EM-1 "Yellowstone" ran on the B&O's Lake branch just east of Cleveland as their career was winding down. I was born a year before they were retired so I don't remember seeing any but I sure could imagine these monsters pounding their way on the steep grades to and from Fairport Harbor on Lake Erie. Jim Shaughnessy has many photos, (Classic Trains photo gallery) some showing double-headed EM-1s with another on the rear pushing.

http://ctr.trains.com/galleries/magazine-galleries/bo-lake-branch-photos-by-jim-shaughnessy

I have a pair of the Bachmann releases and I am extremely happy with them, other than the wrong whistle provided on the sound decoder. Prior to Bachmann the only way to have an EM-1 was very expensive (Challenger) brass or very poor (Akane) brass.

Nice Thread!

Ed

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 3:36 PM

trainnut1250

 

Wow, Great start to the thread!!

Sheldon:  Who is the maker of the loco in the second photo?  Do you modify these beyond putting your home road decals on them?

 

 

 

Guy,

The loco is a Bachmann Spectrum USRA 2-6-6-2, the tender is a long vandy tender from Bachmann, sold seperately years ago, but also used on their C&O Heavy Mountain.

The only other mod is the original USRA style trailing truck has been replaced with the more modern Delta style - also a Bachmann part.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • 649 posts
Posted by LensCapOn on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 8:40 PM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Here on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL we have lots of "little baby" articulated locos:

 " target="">

USRA 2-6-6-2 clones, as well as other C&O 2-6-6-2's.

Sheldon

 

 

I know it has been said before, but your engines are excellent examples of making a standard model into your engine. Just looking at the others in your link will show what I am talking about. Even like the diesels, although some slight weathering is called for. (who ever saw an Alco with a clean stack, for one)

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 310 posts
Posted by RDG Casey on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 9:05 PM

The only articulated I built, a Reading N-1 2-8-8-0 built from a proto 2-8-8-2.

The build thread:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/241195.aspx

 

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 95 posts
Posted by Burlington Steam on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 9:14 PM

yep,wheels a turnin.....

https://youtu.be/w2XG2IM25e8

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 9:42 PM

LensCapOn

 

 
ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Here on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL we have lots of "little baby" articulated locos:

 " target="">

USRA 2-6-6-2 clones, as well as other C&O 2-6-6-2's.

Sheldon

 

 

 

 

I know it has been said before, but your engines are excellent examples of making a standard model into your engine. Just looking at the others in your link will show what I am talking about. Even like the diesels, although some slight weathering is called for. (who ever saw an Alco with a clean stack, for one)

 

 

Thank you, I have tried to create a believeable home road look to all the power.

As for weathering, I will get to a little of that at some point.

One day when time allows, I will post more pictures of some of my other kit bashes.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,257 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, July 16, 2015 3:04 AM

trainnut1250
Are you a Winston Link fan by any chance?? 

He certainly had a dramatic flair, but to be fair it’s those lesser known or even unknown photographers that have aided my research. Besides despite the magic of digital photography and software trickery, I’ll only ever be a point and pray photographer.Sigh Laugh
While not heavy metal, please excuse me for slipping this photo in. I took this photo  of a scratch built 1:24 scale 3”6” narrow gauge model of the Taupo Totara Timber Co #7, 2-4-4-2, that I referred to in my first post at a recent show.

 

Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 95 posts
Posted by Burlington Steam on Thursday, July 16, 2015 8:03 AM

Wow, a wood burning articulated who woulda thunk it! 

 
trainnut1250
Are you a Winston Link fan by any chance?? 

 

He certainly had a dramatic flair, but to be fair it’s those lesser known or even unknown photographers that have aided my research. Besides despite the magic of digital photography and software trickery, I’ll only ever be a point and pray photographer.Sigh Laugh
While not heavy metal, please excuse me for slipping this photo in. I took this photo  of a scratch built 1:24 scale 3”6” narrow gauge model of the Taupo Totara Timber Co #7, 2-4-4-2, that I referred to in my first post at a recent show.

 

Cheers, the Bear.
 

 

 
trainnut1250
Are you a Winston Link fan by any chance?? 

 

He certainly had a dramatic flair, but to be fair it’s those lesser known or even unknown photographers that have aided my research. Besides despite the magic of digital photography and software trickery, I’ll only ever be a point and pray photographer.Sigh Laugh
While not heavy metal, please excuse me for slipping this photo in. I took this photo  of a scratch built 1:24 scale 3”6” narrow gauge model of the Taupo Totara Timber Co #7, 2-4-4-2, that I referred to in my first post at a recent show.

 

Cheers, the Bear.
 

wow, a wood burning articulated,who woulda thunk it!

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Thursday, July 16, 2015 1:10 PM

 

More cool posts!
Ed: Great shots in the link - Bachmann has come to the rescue a few times in terms of nice detail and affordable steam offerings.
Burlington:  The video captures that articulated “feel” pretty well.  That M3 is an odd bird….
RDG:  Great kitbash/loco build thread.  I don’t know how I missed it the first time.  It came out really well.  Very inspiring…
Bear:  Nice 2-4-4-2.  Those narrow gauge guts do some fantastic modeling….

New model release:  Key is doing a run of cab forwards in O scale that are spectacular.  West coast brass expert Gary Schrader is helping with production on this model and the results are stunning.  Hands down the most accurate model of this loco to see a production run… Take a look at the link:

http://www.keymodels.net/id36.html

 

Guy

 

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 95 posts
Posted by Burlington Steam on Thursday, July 16, 2015 8:14 PM
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Thursday, July 16, 2015 9:00 PM

My best three:

PCM Y6b being readied for work.

Lionel HO Challenger with smoke lifters, the Greyhound variety.

Lastly, a Rivarossi H-8 Allegheny.

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Thursday, July 16, 2015 10:08 PM

Three of mine are "never-was" Rio Grande Yellowstones, based on the Missabe M-3/4 giants built by Baldwin.  My excuse is that Rio Grande wanted more Baldwin Challengers (which they did) but the War Board had frozen the design, so having "borrowed" the Yellowstones from Missabe anyway, Rio Grande just had Baldwin build ten for them.  At any rate, that's MY explanation for this monster 2-8-8-4 in Rio Grande livery, lol!   The loco is a 1964 Akane import that has been re-balanced and the original open frame motor given new rare earth magnets.  This baby can kill at 10smph with a train so long you'll forget where the caboose is.

Tom

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 460 posts
Posted by JimValle on Friday, July 17, 2015 3:29 PM

This is exceptionally fine photography and the scenicing technique is fantastic!

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, July 18, 2015 12:35 PM

I bought a Bowser Big Boy Kit in 1963 and built it up but never ran it until just before I sold it in February of 2012.  I ran it on my layout for about 30 minutes to see if I could part with it.  It ran beautifully but as I’m an SP nut I decided it was time to go after drawing dust in my display cabinet for almost 50 years.
 
I took these pictures as a memento of a great locomotive.
 
Big Boy 1 
Big Boy 2 
Big Boy 3
 
Mel
 
 
Modeling the SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 95 posts
Posted by Burlington Steam on Saturday, July 18, 2015 12:43 PM

Arrrrrrgh!  sacrilege it's missing it's UP shield!! seriously that would have been a hard one to part with.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Saturday, July 18, 2015 1:16 PM

Nice to see more photos!!

 

Burlington:  I love the Great northern –beautiful
Selector:  Nice to see your locos in this thread.  The photos are excellent.  I like the smoke – very well done as well as the layout.
Tom: I was hoping you would post one of your beasts on this thread.  Looking good!!
Mel:  That must have taken quite a bit of resolve to let go of a loco that you built!!  I wonder how many Bowser kits reach that level of completion?

 

Here is a shot of a proto 2-8-8-2 on my old layout.

Keep those pics coming.

 

Guy

 

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, July 18, 2015 2:05 PM

Burlington Steam

Arrrrrrgh!  sacrilege it's missing it's UP shield!! seriously that would have been a hard one to part with.

 

I looked everywhere and couldn't find the UP shield.  You just don't know how hard it was to part with it, posting those pictures wasn't easy either.

 

Mel

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • 499 posts
Posted by De Luxe on Saturday, July 18, 2015 3:30 PM

SP AC-9 2-8-8-4 in action!

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, July 18, 2015 4:00 PM

Okay, two more from me.  First is a 1966 or so Tenshodo model of a Rio Grande L-131 2-8-8-2, for a time, the most powerful articulated ever built.  This baby has been re-balanced and rare earth magnets added.  I use her to raise and lower the garage doors, lol! 

Second is a Westside import of a Rio Grande L-105 4-6-6-4, for my money, the most beautiful Challenger ever built.  Here she is winding a freight up the 2% grade of Yuba Summit.  These older brass articulateds are NOT light-weights, they'll usually tip the scales at close to five pounds, just for the locomotives.  If you want plenty of power for long trains, these are your babies.

Tom

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 95 posts
Posted by Burlington Steam on Saturday, July 18, 2015 4:03 PM

De Luxe

SP AC-9 2-8-8-4 in action!

 

With its skyline casting 'the prettiest of the articulateds'

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 95 posts
Posted by Burlington Steam on Monday, July 20, 2015 6:27 PM

o.k last 3

1st my Key imports Allegheny,followed by my Rivarossi copy

 

lastly my Y6B by BLI

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Victor Harbor, South Australia
  • 362 posts
Posted by alexstan on Monday, July 20, 2015 10:39 PM

twhite

Okay, two more from me.  First is a 1966 or so Tenshodo model of a Rio Grande L-131 2-8-8-2, for a time, the most powerful articulated ever built.  This baby has been re-balanced and rare earth magnets added.  I use her to raise and lower the garage doors, lol! 

Second is a Westside import of a Rio Grande L-105 4-6-6-4, for my money, the most beautiful Challenger ever built.  Here she is winding a freight up the 2% grade of Yuba Summit.  These older brass articulateds are NOT light-weights, they'll usually tip the scales at close to five pounds, just for the locomotives.  If you want plenty of power for long trains, these are your babies.

Tom

 

 

 

 

Mate, the locomotives and the layout scenery are both stunning.

Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!