Baldwin Sharks

[Anonymous]

The AT&SF never had any Sharks, but it seems that most every model train maker used to feel compelled to do most any diesel in Santa Fe's beautiful 'war-bonnet' scheme.

Only a handful of northeastern RRs used Sharks during their relatively short production cycle (NYC, PRR, Monongahela RR (ex-NYC units ?), B&O, and eventually, the D&H (former NYC & Monongahela locos, which may be in Mexico now ?). The D&H's 'warbonnet' paint scheme was highly influenced by the Alco PAs they also purchased 2nd hand around the same time from the Santa Fe (that had been painted in the Santa Fe's red & yellow 'warbonnet' scheme; the D&H just repainted the red in their signature D&H blue). Even way back when the D&H acquired both the Sharks and the PAs, railfans went nuts over it.

Automotive brake fluid will remove the original Model Power paint.

I have been gathering up a sizeable fleet of these engines (made for Model Power by Roco in Austria) and they are good haulers, after a proper cleaning and oiling as someone else already mentioned. What detail is there is well done, and there are some aftermarket parts to add more - esp. if one is modeling PRR engines. (check out Bowser for detail parts) The only real compromise I can see is the trucks are a tad short, for Model Power also used the same Roco chassis for their Alco FAs. The style of trucks for both the Sharks and the FAs are nearly identical. There are Kadees available for these engines as well - believe that #5s will work fine.

The Roco drive is somewhat noisy, but so were the prototypes - consider it a 'low-buck sound system', and I do not find it objectionable at all. If anyone can make a recommendation on 'how to convert those Roco drives to DCC, it would be very appreciated. . .

One should not mu these Baldwins with diesels from other makers (EMD, Alco, GE, FM, etc.) for the Sharks were unable to mu with them due to an incompatible mu setup (believe that the Sharks used a hydraulic type of setup - someone correct me if I'm wrong) That was perhaps the downfall for Baldwin, and they exited the diesel marketplace not too long after the last Shark left their factory. The PRR had the largest fleet of Sharks. These engines were terrific drag engines, and spent most of their time in ABA and ABBA configurations hauling long strings of coal out of the eastern coal fields. Some did passenger duty on short PRR branch lines, and only the PRR purchased the gorgeous RF20s for longer passenger only runs.

Raymond Lowey's studio styled the Shark's exterior - not him personally, for he was the 'light your cigar' and 'pour your brandy' boardroom man for his successful industrial design firm. That Lowey is rumored to have signed the original skectches and drawings of his unsung stylists and designers, and that many of these drawings were obviously done in multiple techniques by more than one person, is proof that he may have approved the designs, but didn't actually pen them, even though this engine and many other products were referred to as 'Lowey' designs (Studebakers, appliances, and of course, locomotives and passenger equipment). btw - his studio's first design contract when he was located in France, was for designing French brassieres! The styling similarities between the Sharks and some PRR streamlined steam can be easily seen, and is evidence of Lowey's design contracts with the PRR. At least he can be credited with hiring talented designers. . .

Now I just need to find a way to rationalize how my sizeable Shark roster found its way to a free-lanced bridge route across north GA and southwestern NC ! I'm wide open to someone's creative thoughts on that !
- Bill

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Willi-ro

Many years ago I bought a number of sharknose diesels from a shop in Oslo Norway.
The owner wanted to get rid of them so I got them cheap at about 10 dollars each.
Although I did not model the US scene at that time I liked the look of them. I ran them alongside my european stock, funny trains you might say. Now as I have turned to modelling the US scene they will become real workhorses.
They are all from Model Power but made by Roco. I have had no trouble with them as yet. The roads represented are D&H an A+A set B&O another A+A set , and a A+B+A set which is in AT&SF Warbonnet paint scheme. I cannot find any record that the AT&SF had sharknoses, perhaps someone could enlighten me about that. If they didn't then I have a repaint job ahead of me.
William

The Santa Fe never owned any Baldwin Sharknoses. To the best of my knowledge, only the New York Central, Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania were original owners of Sharks. Mongahela and D&H got theirs secondhand.

Actually, the D&H Sharks were 3rd hand. D&H got its pair from the Monongahela.

Andre

[Anonymous]

Many years ago I bought a number of sharknose diesels from a shop in Oslo Norway.
The owner wanted to get rid of them so I got them cheap at about 10 dollars each.
Although I did not model the US scene at that time I liked the look of them. I ran them alongside my european stock, funny trains you might say. Now as I have turned to modelling the US scene they will become real workhorses.
They are all from Model Power but made by Roco. I have had no trouble with them as yet. The roads represented are D&H an A+A set B&O another A+A set , and a A+B+A set which is in AT&SF Warbonnet paint scheme. I cannot find any record that the AT&SF had sharknoses, perhaps someone could enlighten me about that. If they didn't then I have a repaint job ahead of me.
William

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GEARHEAD426

sharknose engines are beautiful. i wi***he new haven RR had some....

Gearhead, it's YOUR railroad.

[jeep35]

Thanks Guys

[Anonymous]

sharknose engines are beautiful. i wi***he new haven RR had some....

[Anonymous]

I heard the Precision Craft Sharks were going to be the gorgeous Pennsy BP-20 passenger Sharks. I really hope that's what they do!

A state-of-the-art freight Shark would be nice too!

Roger

[TomDiehl]

Depending on the work you want to do and how much you want to spend, there's usually some Tyco cast zamac shark nose units up on Ebay from time to time. If the drive is pretty bad, replace them with the Hobbytown of Boston drives, which will give you a great pulling loco.

I have 3 of these with the Hobbytown drives, 2 PRR and one NYC. Fantastic pullers.

[Anonymous]

There is a NICE set of Baldwin sharks (brass) on ebay right now in the PRR paint.
Out of my price range, but VERY nice.

[cspmo]

Precision Craft Models is planning on coming out with one.
http://www.precisioncraftmodels.com/
Go to availability, & scroll to bottom of page.

[KemacPrr]

The last Keystone Modeler put out by the PRRT&HS had some info indicating BLI would be doing some RF-16's in the future. No idea when but the PRR Modeling group has been working with BLI on the project.
-------------------------------- Ken McCorry

[jwr_1986]

I haven't heard anything, sorry. I wish someone would though they are very interesting. That and the baldwin centipede diesels.

Jesse

[jeep35]

Over the years there have been a few releases of Baldwin Sharks in plastic, most recently E-R Models, but they have been somewhat disapointing. Has anyone heard if any of the manufacturers are planning on releasing a new and improved model.

Thanks
Jim