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WWII rolling stock & HO vehicles

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  • Member since
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  • From: Huntsville, AR
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Posted by oldline1 on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 7:10 PM

Ed,

The S-160 you refer to was the 2628. It was converted to a Franklin rotary poppet valve gear system rather than the Walschaerts. When released from the factory it was tested on the Maryland & Pennsylvania RR and ran for around 18 months between Baltimore, MD and York, PA. The story is that the railroad liked the engine a lot and the system worked well. However it was expensive and there really wasn't a need for more of them to be converted.

The 2628, later renumbered as 611,  spent her last years running at Ft. Eustis on their training railroad. It was sold to a couple other groups going to Texas and either TN or NC and is now in western Maryland. Supposedly the new owner wants to make it operational again. We can only hope!

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

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Posted by zstripe on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 6:01 PM

gdelmoro

Didn't know any US Locomotives had those shock absorber things on them??

 

The correct term would be ''buffers''. They would be needed for any US Locomotive to be compatible with the Euro style coupling system...obiviously knuckle couplers would not work Eh? Smile, Wink & Grin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffers_and_chain_coupler

 

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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Posted by 7j43k on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:57 PM

gdelmoro

Didn't know any US Locomotives had those shock absorber things on them??

 

 

That fella is most likely in a country far, far away.  Where such things are considered necessary.  

Here's a shot of one in the US:

 

 

Note that it doesn't have the shock absorber thingys.  And it has a real cross-compound air compressor on the deck.  Which, again, shows how little these guys are.  And it has a bell, a high mounted headlight, and, oh yes, a REAL coupler.  Instead of chain from the hardware store.

 

Ed

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Posted by gdelmoro on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:45 PM

Didn't know any US Locomotives had those shock absorber things on them??

Gary

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Posted by 7j43k on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 3:15 PM

For those of you who don't know the S160's, here's a shot:

 

 

So.  Those drivers look pretty big for a 2-8-0, right?  Probably a bit bigger than 63", right?  Maybe 67"?  Nope.  57".  Those were, and are, little locos.  The squat stack and combined sand and steam dome prompt me to think of the NYC Niagaras, for some reason.

Also interesting:  one of the ones at Fort Eustis had been fitted with poppet valve gear--rotary or linear, I don't recall.

 

Ed

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Posted by oldline1 on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 12:15 PM

Ed,

I understand completely! I have had 5 of the DJH kits for years and managed to get one 3/4 assembled. The Roco is awesome! It runs very smoothly and the sound and details are great. It has a tender drive! Very fine piece of equipment.

I also saw the Ft. Eustis engines and used to spend weekends running and riding the 1702 at the Reader RR in Arkansas so the S-160's are special to me.

The S-160's were very good and basic steamers. Several are still running in the UK on different tourist railways.

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

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Posted by 7j43k on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 12:08 PM

oldline1

I don't know about rolling stock or vehicles but for a locomotive there's this beauty! Roco just released a fantastic model of the USArmy S-160 2-8-0. They built 2,220 of these for use in Europe and the US during WWII. This model is pretty amazing. I just got the sound version and it's impressive. The detail is great and the paint/lettering is superb. It's available as US/UK, Austrian & Italian versions with or without sound. A little pricey at $428 from Euro Hobbies but well worth it. I have several of the pewter/brass kits by Model Loco (DJH) and they are also great kits.

http://www.eurotrainhobby.com/steam-locomotives-ho/c17

http://www.djhmodelloco.co.uk/prodpage.asp?productid=3073

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

 

 

Wow.  Sure is tempting.  I saw these running at Fort Eustis.

 

Ed

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Posted by oldline1 on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 11:27 AM

I don't know about rolling stock or vehicles but for a locomotive there's this beauty! Roco just released a fantastic model of the USArmy S-160 2-8-0. They built 2,220 of these for use in Europe and the US during WWII. This model is pretty amazing. I just got the sound version and it's impressive. The detail is great and the paint/lettering is superb. It's available as US/UK, Austrian & Italian versions with or without sound. A little pricey at $428 from Euro Hobbies but well worth it. I have several of the pewter/brass kits by Model Loco (DJH) and they are also great kits.

http://www.eurotrainhobby.com/steam-locomotives-ho/c17

http://www.djhmodelloco.co.uk/prodpage.asp?productid=3073

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

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Posted by binder001 on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 8:36 AM

It helps to know a bit more about what you might want.  The whole US economy was involved in WW2, so wartime shipments included all kinds of material.  As mentioned before; there was rolling stock owned by the US Army and the US Navy, but the greatest amount of shipments were in regular commercial railroad cars.  Depending on the place and time you want you can show big naval guns travelling to shipyards, tanks going to maneuvers/training, fresh tanks going to overseas shipments, trainlaods of sailors, airmen, Marines, or soldiers.  

Tanks , trucks and other vehicles that were in units undergoing training often look more used, had unit markings, and had some of the unit's personnel traveling on the train to protect them.  Tanks or other equipment leaving the factory were new.  Tanks moved from factories to Army depots where they were prepped for their ocean voyage (every US tank had to cross an ocean before getting to battle).  Markings would be minimal or nonexistant, but there were shipping info and destination codes applied on the sides of tanks.  Examples of the shipping codes can be seen on Archer Fine Details dry transfer sets (although I don't think they make anything under 1/72nd scale).  US tanks and trucks were usually shipped in olive drab, even if the shipment was intended for an Allied nation.  The end user had to paint their own camouflage and markings on.  Many tanks had a black "mastic" waterproofing compound applied to the tracks and around turrets and hatch openings to seal the tank for shipment.  New tanks usually had a couple large crates on the rear that contained loose items (tools, tarps, accessory parts, etc., etc)

At one point Chooch made tanks and artillery that were under canvas tarps (VERY common in WW2 factory shipments).

By the way, remember that the external machine guns and such were almost always removed and stowed before shipment.  Anything that could be stolen would be stowed inside.

If you have an aircraft factory near your layout's setting, then there were special parts cars to haul pieces of airplanes.

Minitanks (now Herpa, previously Roco) have a number of WW2 vehicles, many of which are quite nice.  Heiser/Lakewood make some really nice resin tanks and equipment.  Trident has a few WW2 era items.

Yes, captured equipment was moved by rail, but they weren't ommon, so you are best to omit the German tanks that show up on so many modeler's layouts.

Remember, there were security restrictions in WW2 and railyards were important national defense installations.  You might want to show some military police or private security guards patrolling your main yards (or arresting railfans)

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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Monday, January 30, 2017 8:10 PM

I just wanted to add that Trident also makes nice HO scale WW2 vehicles. And Preiser makes the best soliders.

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
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Posted by garya on Monday, January 30, 2017 7:52 PM

gmpullman
American Model Builders, Laserkits, makes a resin gun barrel kit.

http://www.rgspemkt.com/215-P1.html

seems to be the linked website...

Gary

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Posted by garya on Monday, January 30, 2017 7:44 PM

gmpullman

 

 
wjstix
Certainly, seeing rail-mounted howitzers like the Germans had in Europe would be incredibly rare in the USA.

 

Rare, yes. But it did happen.

Doughboys attend to a 12" coastal gun in transit at Altoona, Pa. December, 1918.

PRR Photo, collection gmpullman.

Have Fun! Ed

 

OT, but the US Navy used railway guns in France during the First World War:

Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia and shipped over there.

https://www.navalhistory.org/2015/10/15/navy-on-the-western-front-the-14-railway-guns-in-wwi

 

 

Gary

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Posted by gdelmoro on Monday, January 30, 2017 4:40 PM

Now THATS what I'm talking about Surprise LOL

Gary

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Posted by gmpullman on Monday, January 30, 2017 4:32 PM

Eric White
PRR was occupied with carrying gun barrels between D.C. and Philly during the war.

Many of the guns were transported to Watervilet Arsenal near Troy, NY, for relining and inspection, too.

https://militarybases.com/watervilet-arsenal-army-base-in-watervilet-ny/

This photo shows a 16" Navy Gun loaded on the PRR F22 Gun flats you mentioned. American Model Builders, Laserkits, makes a resin gun barrel kit.

A pair of these guns were used where I worked as pressure vessels for powdered metalurgy pressing. Many, if not all, were made at Bethlehem steel in Bethlehem, Pa.

Interesting...

Ed

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Posted by 7j43k on Monday, January 30, 2017 3:32 PM

And, for those of you who believe TOO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH:

 

 

Hey!  Isn't that Indiana Jones lurking over on the left?

 

Ed

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Posted by Eric White on Monday, January 30, 2017 3:08 PM

With Philadelphia Navy Yard being a significant constructor of warships, and Washington, D.C., being the location of the Navy's large caliber guns, the PRR was occupied with carrying gun barrels between D.C. and Philly during the war.

There was an article in The Keystone Modeler a number of years ago about building the load and flatcars involved in transporting a 14" gun barrel.

Eric

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Posted by gmpullman on Monday, January 30, 2017 2:53 PM

wjstix
Certainly, seeing rail-mounted howitzers like the Germans had in Europe would be incredibly rare in the USA.

Rare, yes. But it did happen.

Doughboys attend to a 12" coastal gun in transit at Altoona, Pa. December, 1918.

PRR Photo, collection gmpullman.

Have Fun! Ed

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Posted by 7j43k on Monday, January 30, 2017 1:37 PM

Railcar mounted guns go way back here in the US.  They were invented here.

Here's what I think of as the "classic" from our 1861 war (see cover of Abdill's "Civil War Railroads"):

 

 

And here's one that's less well-known:

 

 

More recently, there's a book by Charles S. Small titled "California's Railway Guns".

He writes of the general topic, also.  The United States built several railway guns for WWI.  But none were deployed in the continental United States.

Between the wars, the US built and deployed several big (14") railway guns in the US.  The last firing (practice) of one of them was near Los Angeles in August 1941 (NOTE: PRE-war).

As far as WWII itself:

"The Baldwin Locomotive Works built 22 railway carriages (BLW C/N 62367-86) during 4-1940.  They then built 20 more (BLW C/N 64367-86 and finally an additional 6 (BLW C/N 67553-58) during 1943.  Baldwin's records are not clear as to the guns mounted  A 1941 photo shows what appears to be a 4 inch gun and the car has four wheel trucks.  A 1942 photo shows a six wheel truck car and the long barrl Navy Mark 6 8 inch gun  The barbette carriage was an Army desing of the first World War which had been adapted to the Navy gun.

Six units went to the West Coast." 

This is a fascinating book, and I recommend it highly.

It should be said that UN-mounted guns were shipped around the country.  PRR and Milwaukee had several 30' flat cars designed for that use.  You can get kits to build such a setup.

 

Ed

 

PS.  I looked through a list of Balwin negatives that I have.  These are from 1940-1945:

14505  U.S. GOVT-RWY GUN

12188  U.S. GOVT-R.R. GUN

12273  U.S. GOVT-R.R. GUN

Getting prints of those negatives will take time and money.

 

 

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Posted by wjstix on Monday, January 30, 2017 12:17 PM

BTW, just to emphasize what Ed said earlier...trains carrying troops or equipment during WW2 would not normally include any freight or passenger cars owned by the military. The freight cars would be regular railroad-owed cars, and the passsenger cars would be Pullmans.

I seem to vaguely remember something about the military trying to put large cannons on the rails, to be spotted near the coast and be able to be moved around as needed. Not sure if that was WW1 or WW2, but I don't think it really worked. Certainly, seeing rail-mounted howitzers like the Germans had in Europe would be incredibly rare in the USA.

Stix
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Posted by garya on Monday, January 30, 2017 1:41 AM

hon30critter

 

 
garya
 For some reason, I can't get clickable links to work on this computer.

 

Gary, I'm not sure if you know this, but you have to modify the link after you copy it into your thread to make it clickable. Put a square bracket '[' followed by the letters 'url' followed by ']' at the beginning of the link (no spaces and no quotation marks), and put '[', '/', 'url', ']' at the end, (again no spaces or quotation marks). The link will not highlight until you submit the post.

Dave

 

I'm using the "Insert/Edit Link" feature  in the toolbar.  I suppose I could go old school and use html codes, though, like I do for pictures...

Gary

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, January 29, 2017 11:49 PM

garya
 For some reason, I can't get clickable links to work on this computer.

Gary, I'm not sure if you know this, but you have to modify the link after you copy it into your thread to make it clickable. Put a square bracket '[' followed by the letters 'url' followed by ']' at the beginning of the link (no spaces and no quotation marks), and put '[', '/', 'url', ']' at the end, (again no spaces or quotation marks). The link will not highlight until you submit the post.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by garya on Sunday, January 29, 2017 11:15 PM

hon30critter

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/258871.aspx

Clickable link from Gary's post.

Dave

 

 

 

Thanks.  For some reason, I can't get clickable links to work on this computer.

Gary

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, January 29, 2017 9:48 PM

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/258871.aspx

Clickable link from Gary's post.

Dave

 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by ratford on Sunday, January 29, 2017 4:11 PM

gdelmoro

anyone have a good source of quality WWII rolling stock and vehicles?

 

SmallScaleHobbies.com has been a excellent source for me for WWII vehicles and they also have excellent HO scale decals for them as well.    (note - even in HO scale tanks reading the directions is important...you dont want to glue the tracks on one backwards...

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Posted by garya on Friday, January 27, 2017 10:01 PM

gdelmoro

Railroad cars. Flats with tanks, military marked box cars Etc

 

 

There was a thread a few months ago about Sherman tanks on Flatcars:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/258871.aspx

Gary

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Posted by G Paine on Friday, January 27, 2017 5:32 PM

Jordan Highway Minatures made a 1940 Ford sedan kit that was a common staff car, unfortunately, they have closed following the death of the owner. They may be available from various shops online.

CMW had a run of 1941 Ford stake trucks and tank trucks lettered for US Army and Navy. They are sold out at Walthers, but could be avaiable form other sources.

Sylvan Scale has a number of resin kit cars and trucks from the 1940s, have a look through their site.
http://www.sylvanscalemodels.com/

There are a number of manufactures who include WWII vehicles in their product line. Perhaps the easiest way to search for them is to get a 2017 Walthers catalog. They are mixed in with the other vehicles; you have to read the fine print because WWII is shown along with Cold War era and modern vehicles and fighting machines.

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

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Posted by gdelmoro on Friday, January 27, 2017 1:59 PM

Railroad cars. Flats with tanks, military marked box cars Etc

Gary

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Posted by ACY Tom on Friday, January 27, 2017 10:53 AM

When I see the term "rolling stock" on a RR oriented forum, I think of railroad cars. Others have interpreted this as meaning highway vehicles. Maybe the OP needs to clarify.

Tom 

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Posted by cowman on Friday, January 27, 2017 8:20 AM

Think I saw a few CMW military vehicles available at Modeltrainstuff.  Their standard vehicles decorated for military.

I have a couple of the afore mentioned Roco, waiting to be freed onto the layout.

Good luck,

Richard 

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