survey for only those that model steam

[eridani]

My late father was a POW on the infamous River Kwai. And I have just finished a book on the subject (Details at http://robinrowland.com/kwai.html ).

Reading intelligence reports on the railway, which listed locomotives and rolling stock and where they came from rekindled my interest in model railroading and I am modelling the area I write about in the book in the post war era when the railway was run by the British army. I have added freelance elements (since there were plans going back to the1880s for a railway on the route and a current UN proposal which I blogged last spring
http://robinrowland.com/garret/2005/04/un-proposes-to-rebuild-burma-thailand.html to create reasons for continued operations on the line ( one part was abandoned in late 1946 and more in 1948))

As for steam engines, the Burma Thailand Railway had a very eclectic mix. There were Japanese locos sent from Japan or sold to Thailand before the war So far I have the Kato 9600 and the MicroAce C12 for the Japanese "export" engines and a Kato D51 which was used in Thailand (but I am not sure if, in reality, it was used pre or post war)

The Japanese also appropriated a significant number of locomotives from the Federated Malay States Railway, some built in the US for export and some in the UK for export.. (Also UK built locos from Burma)

The US ones I can come "close" to are the Baldwin 4-6-2 (Malayan Class Q) and 2-6-0 (Malayan Class M).The Roundhouse N scale 2-6-0 is a close match.

The most dificult ones are the British ones since it seems no British model manufacturer has created a model that matches the export locomotives. Ones that are "good enough" are the Castle class 4-6-0 (best known as the Hogwarts locomotive) but my research material by "experts" lists the Malayan class H engine as both 4-6-2 and 4-6-0 and so far I have not been able to find a third source to give me an idea of which is correct. The Midland 4-4-0 comes close to the most common Malayan class O engine. (So far I haven't been able to get one ..I was outbid on EBay a couple of times)

The main locomotive on the Burma Thailand Railway was the Japanese C56, There was a MicroAce C56 manufactured a few years ago. But so far I have been unable to get one despite checks with dealers, on EBay and with friends in Japan.

It seems as far as the original quesiton on this thread is concerned, there is a continuing market demand for Japanese steam locomotives there and so there is a great variety available and I find they are beautifuly detailed and run like a dream.

RR

[ereimer]

i'm modeling a semi-fictional version of 1900-1905 central arizona . anything i buy will either be undecorated or will be repainted . if i stick to prototype i'll only buy 4-6-0s and 2-8-0's , but i seem to have a problem with that as i already have a 3 truck shay and an mdc 2-6-0 kit i'm working on . since bachmann already makes a decent 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 i don't really need anything else , but i'll probably buy one of the spectrum 4-4-0s when they come out (late next year?) and would also buy a decent dcc ready 2-6-0 or two

[Anonymous]

Although I mostly model the 1970's-1980's I still like the look of steam loco's especially those of the southeastern Railroads, Southern, C&O, B&O and ACL. My all time favorite steam loco is the 2-8-4 as either the C&O Kanawah or those of the NKP.

Bob DeWoody

[Pruitt]

Mostly CB&Q here, with a little C&NW & NP in the mix.

Era is 1930s & '40s.

[lesterperry]

A few years ago someone realized there is a market for the railroad I model. Now there seems to be plenty of good non brass steam. Look at my signature to see who i model

[timthechef]

I model a branch line serving the B&O. The Cherry River and Potomac Rail road. I model the 1920's. I like small engines. Maybe they should consider selling the engine and tender seperate and undecorated. That would make it easier to customize your engines to your railroad and time.

[Anonymous]

This thread is EXACTLY why I am still trying to figure out which era and railroad I want to model. Personally I would LOVE to model the late 40's of the Southern Railway on the CNO&TP line but, as many of you state here, finding steam locomotives that are correct for the era is a big problem. In my case it is an even bigger problem becuase steam locomotives on the CNO&TP were pretty specfic. Becuase of the numerous tunnels on the line Southern installed a device behind the smokestack to catch the smoke and carry it over the cab while in a tunnel.. or at least that is how it was supposed to work.

Becuase of the lack of models I still don't know which way I want to go but, if any company is reading this... please model some CNO&TP engines:-) THANKS!

[brokemoto]

As orsonroy pointed out, EVERYONE is buying the Bachpersonn consolidated. I find it difficult to imagine that Bachmann is not making omney on it. I have always found that the best, most sure and steady way to make money is to make a little bit from a large group of people rather than a few big scores.

Many of us have smaller pikes. Probably one of the most common arguments in this hobby is with the spouse over trackage rights. Let us be honest: a 4-8-4, a berkshire, any articulated, a Texas or a Santa Fe look REALLY silly on nine and three quarter or eleven inch curves (that would be eighteen and twenty-two, for you HO boys).

Ten-wheelers, eight-wheelers, pacifics, mikados, prairies and switchers look much better.

When the diesels forst showed up, in many cases, it was the newer superpowers and articulateds that went to the scrap yard. The older, smaller power remained, doing the grunge jobs that they had been doing after the newer steam had arrived. The railroads did not, as a rule, demote these superpowers to grunge jobs (allright, 4-8-4s on the SF Peninsula, but that was the exception, rather than the rule). Why? It cost apile of money to operate those huge beasts. The mikados and ten-wheelers were doing the grunge jobs just fine, and could do them much cheaper than could the superpowers.

Thus, on the B&O, the 'Mighty EM-1s" were in a million pieces in scrap piles, while P-5s (USRA light pacific) and Q-3s (USRA light mikado) were still schlepping local passenger and freight.


The articulateds did survive to the end on roads that used them as principal over-the-road power, such as the UP and N&W. On most roads, the diesels quickly replaced the articulateds. On many roads, the 2-8-8-2s and similar power did pusher duty. Helper duty is BRUTAL on a steam locomotive. They spent almost as much time in the shop as they did on the track.. The diesel had an amazing availability rate. The diesels quickly kicked SP's cab forwards out of the Sierras. Even though the steam could schlepp more than the dieseasel, the diesel could take the abuse better. The SP did not need them in the rest of California where the mikados and consolidateds and Santa Fes were doing a good job already, nnor di they need them in Oregon, where, again, the Santa Fes and mikaods were doing quite well. The only place left for them was the scrap heap.

In order to have correct equipment, most late transition era modellers need smaller steam; the big ones were gone by then, in most cases.

For ease and appearance on the curves of smaller pikes as well as the desire to emulate prototype practice makes a better case for small steam.

Mr. Toyoda sells more Toyotas than he does Lexus. He sold Toyotas long before he even thought of Lexus. Mr. Toyoda was rich long before Lexus hit the market.

Thus, I even wonder about the economics of small versus large steam.

Economics, prototype practice, smaller pikes; it all makes a case for smaller steam.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by brokemoto

(allright, 4-8-4s on the SF Peninsula, but that was the exception, rather than the rule).

The GS 4-8-4 locomotives where used in commuter service in the SF Bay Area because the new diesel electrics could not meet the schedules - until the FM TM H-24-66 Trainmasters arrived.

A couple of decades later, with SP downsizing it's long distance runs, they tried EMD SDP45 in commuter service - they could not keep on schedule - just like thier older EMD cousins.

[Anonymous]

I model Ohio Valley (B&O, Penn, etc.) in N scale, circa 1910. I LOVE the way the MDC 2-8-0 runs, though the looks aren't as detailed as many. Anyone know anything about the new Model Power Americans and Moguls? They look like what I want, but don't know anything about how they run.

[CP5415]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

I. I have no great hankering for Canadian steam because they bought mostly American models and modified them somewhat.

Hmmm, I could have sworn that the Canadian Pacific designed & built most of their steam locomotives in Canada.
I don't recall seeing too many American locomotives looking like Canadian Pacific's locomotives until quite a few of the excursion locomotives running now happen to be either CPR or CNR locomotives.

Gordon

[CP5415]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twcenterprises

How about some ACCURATE Southern Railway steam? What other RR had Clean, Green Steam Machines? Oh... that was mainly their passenger power, the freight and yard engines were BLACK! I have 3 IHC and 3 Spectrum units, and would buy more if they came reasonably accurate and affordable.

Brad

I've seen some accurate Southern Steam locomotives. They're brass though!
I do believe the unit # is 2839, kinda looks like 2850 & 2860 which are Royal Hudsons [:D]

Gordon

[Isambard]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

I. I have no great hankering for Canadian steam because they bought mostly American models and modified them somewhat.

Hmmm, I could have sworn that the Canadian Pacific designed & built most of their steam locomotives in Canada.
I don't recall seeing too many American locomotives looking like Canadian Pacific's locomotives until quite a few of the excursion locomotives running now happen to be either CPR or CNR locomotives.

Gordon

The definitive publication on CPR locomotives and their designers is Omer Lavallée's "Canadian Pacific Steam Locomotives" published by Railfare Books in 1985, ISBN 0-919130-34-8. Chock a block with bio's, loco histories,, photos, data and diagrams, 463 pages, 8 1/2 by 11, it's well worth getting hold of, either borrowing from a friend or a library.
[:)]

[paulsafety]

I model Pennsy, B&O, & Reading RR's.

Has anyone looked at the variety of steam engine models produced as models each year in the UK &/or Europe (ie. Hornby, Bachmann Branchline, Marklin, Roco, Liliput, et.al.) They seem to produce several new HO steamers each year - not all from one railroad or single "time period".

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

QUOTE: Originally posted by twcenterprises

How about some ACCURATE Southern Railway steam? What other RR had Clean, Green Steam Machines? Oh... that was mainly their passenger power, the freight and yard engines were BLACK! I have 3 IHC and 3 Spectrum units, and would buy more if they came reasonably accurate and affordable.

Brad

I've seen some accurate Southern Steam locomotives. They're brass though!
I do believe the unit # is 2839, kinda looks like 2850 & 2860 which are Royal Hudsons [:D]

Gordon

Maybe becuase the Southern 2839 was actually the Canadian Pacific 2839 and was actually a Royal Hudson. The 2839 was only on the Southern in excursion service during the 1970s-80s.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm sort of the oddball on this topic. I model the UP RR (though not exclusively) and have three Challengers and quite a few other steamers. I don't really have much trouble finding steam locomotives for UP, and find that there are often several manufacturers making what I'm looking for. Maybe that's why I ended up with UP being the main railroad I model.

[k41361]

I tallyed up the poll results for all responses.I included those interested in a certain railroad for the steam era and those already modeling.There were a total of 46 railroads mentioned.I'll just show the railroads most mentioned and the U.P. also.
PRR-8
B&O-7
SP-4
ERIE-3
NYC-3
UP-3
There were a bunch of twos and ones also.
Of course this isn't a scientific survey but I think there is a message here.All those UP Challengers out there but not to much from say the B&O which had more than twice the responses than UP.I think the manufacturers are doing themselves a disservice when they all make the same locomotive representing one railroad.
Yes I'm aware of the P&WV USRA heavy mikado from BLI.That will be coming in the near future.BLI also has a B&0 light USRA mike that is a beauty but the headlight is centered and all of B&O mikes had raised headlights.I don't have the talents to change the headlight.
Thanks for all the responses .There were 44 all together
Terry P.

PS
I do have the WM Russion decapod by Bachmann.That is a real sweetheart of a locomotive.

[Anonymous]

The big absentee from the HO steam roster is of course a good-looking camelback. I have cabooses of LV, D&H, L&NE (and would like to add RDG, CNJ) but NONE of my steamers is antracite-burning. I would immedeately buy a Bowser kit Mother Hubbard boiler assembly that would fit on say a p2k 0-8-0 or Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 frame.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by eridani

My late father was a POW on the infamous River Kwai. And I have just finished a book on the subject (Details at http://robinrowland.com/kwai.html ).

Reading intelligence reports on the railway, which listed locomotives and rolling stock and where they came from rekindled my interest in model railroading and I am modelling the area I write about in the book in the post war era when the railway was run by the British army. I have added freelance elements (since there were plans going back to the1880s for a railway on the route and a current UN proposal which I blogged last spring
http://robinrowland.com/garret/2005/04/un-proposes-to-rebuild-burma-thailand.html to create reasons for continued operations on the line ( one part was abandoned in late 1946 and more in 1948))

Robin, that sounds like such an interesting project! Daring, also. I've never heard of anyone modelling those darkest of dark pages of railroad history. Bon courage!

Rik (who just builds a generic double track mainline + loops to let the trains - any trains in the North Eastern US- run about a bit)

[Anonymous]

Western US mostly UP.

[Isambard]

I've heard that Bachmann are bringing out a Spectrum Light USRA 2-10-2 shortly, however their website doesn't have a photo or details. Has anyone seen it?

Isambard

[Anonymous]

I model the SL-SF (Frisco) exclusively.

[Virginian]

There are pics of the Bachmann 2-10-2 if you look in the photo gallery on the Bachmann site.
(A good looking camelback...... isn't that like an oxymoron?)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bikerraypa

I model the Pennsy, the Bessemer & Lake Erie and the Western Allegheny, although only the PRR and the WA have any steam.

I believe there's an untapped market for affordable and ACCURATE Pennsy steam, in both N and HO. In HO, Bowser makes the most affordable Pennsy steam, and after that it's BLI, brass or unprototypical stuff.

In N, essentially NOBODY makes Pennsy steam. You have to find old Minitrix units and kitba***he heck out of them.

A company that made some affordable and pretty reliable H-, B- and E-class Pennsy steam, especially for N scalers, would make a pile of money.


Ray

Yes, Ive found this to be a big problem. Im glad Lifelike got it pretty much right with their N scale PRR mallet. I wish BLI would release some of their stff in N scale. Id bite the bullet and spend the money for a well detailed PRR Steamer that I dont have to kitbash.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jcmark611

This thread is EXACTLY why I am still trying to figure out which era and railroad I want to model. Personally I would LOVE to model the late 40's of the Southern Railway on the CNO&TP line but, as many of you state here, finding steam locomotives that are correct for the era is a big problem. In my case it is an even bigger problem becuase steam locomotives on the CNO&TP were pretty specfic. Becuase of the numerous tunnels on the line Southern installed a device behind the smokestack to catch the smoke and carry it over the cab while in a tunnel.. or at least that is how it was supposed to work.

Becuase of the lack of models I still don't know which way I want to go but, if any company is reading this... please model some CNO&TP engines:-) THANKS!

The Bachmann USRA Light Mountain, with some added details, the forth coming USRA Light 2-10-2, USRA Light 2-8-2 (IHC, Athearn, BLI), ......CNO&TP steam locomotives had some unique detailing, but for the most part they were standard USRA designs.

By the late '40's the EMD FT, F3 and F7 where very common on the CNO&TP. Because of the grades and tunnels, Southern dieselized the CNO&TP quite early.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jdavid93225

I guess I'm sort of the oddball on this topic. I model the UP RR (though not exclusively) and have three Challengers and quite a few other steamers. I don't really have much trouble finding steam locomotives for UP, and find that there are often several manufacturers making what I'm looking for. Maybe that's why I ended up with UP being the main railroad I model.

Betcha a dollar that you can't find an accurate UP 0-8-0, 2-8-0 or 4-6-2...