P2K 2-8-8-2

[whitman500]

Has anyone purchased the Northern Pacific version of the P2K 2-8-8-2? I wanted this for my layout but could only order the undecorated version. In terms of converting the undecorated version do I need to do anything beyond add decals? Was the Northern Pacific version all black or did it have light gray sections? I haven't been able to find a photo that shows this clearly and was wondering if someone owned the Northern Pacific version they could simply tell me what the color scheme of the locomotive was. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I dont know about the Northern Pacific, but I was able to follow Western Maryland's 2-8-8-2 #917 as the prototype for my decals.

WM did not really vary in application of colors and logos from one engine or another too much. Example some has fireball and others not.

Perhaps the Northern Pacific has a general way of "painting" large engines similar to your 2-8-8-2. If you can find a trend or actual information to help you along that would be great!

[knewsom]

Here is a link to the NP version on eBay. Looks like it does have some light gray areas. Hope this helps.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19135&item=5960629087&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by whitman500

Has anyone purchased the Northern Pacific version of the P2K 2-8-8-2? I wanted this for my layout but could only order the undecorated version. In terms of converting the undecorated version do I need to do anything beyond add decals? Was the Northern Pacific version all black or did it have light gray sections? I haven't been able to find a photo that shows this clearly and was wondering if someone owned the Northern Pacific version they could simply tell me what the color scheme of the locomotive was. Thanks.

I have the Proto #4501. The boiler is black, smoke box is light graphite grey as are the skirts over the fire box. There is a white strip on the edge of the foot boards their entire length. The tender is solid black, no markings at all.

However I do have a builder's picture of #4503 that looks solid colored, does not have the white strip on the foot boards, and it does say "Northern Pacific" on the tender.

You are having a hard time finding prototypic photos because they are rare. The Northern Pacific only had 4 locomotives of this class.

[jimrice4449]

There are two NP characteristics you might want to add. One is the distinctive NP headlight (also used by DM&IR) with an iluminated number board in the housing above the headlight. I believe Cal Scale has the casting in their line. NP also had SP/UP style number boards on both sides of the stack OR the engine number painted on the sand dome (the forward one on this engine). I believe the change over date was around WWII. They also had an unusual system for the engine number on the cab side. They used a kind of slot arrangement under the cab windows with the numbers slid into. Probably not worth the effort to model. Most RRs used the same painting and lettering arrangement across classes, so, in a pinch any NP pic would help.