ATSF 4-8-4 Northern kitbash.

rome91 May 12, 2019

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  1. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, put, well said and well played.

    The history noted here seems to go along with the stories I heard from my family of rails. Of course from a different perspective. It was more about those "Suits" said in less then complimentary ways.

    Getting back to the OP's points of interest. I still haven't heard an announcement from Kato. After this discussion they've certainly had time to consider the 2900 class, 3000 class and the Texas Types. What are they waiting for?
     
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  2. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Russia did not declare war on Japan until after VE Day. Then they didn't need anything because there was so much left over from the European campaign. I can't speak to the needs of Australia, China, or India.
     
  3. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    That's true. And while shipping materièl to Murmansk was extremely dangerous, trying to get to Vladivostok would have been worse.

    India wasn't in bad shape. Britain managed to keep control of the Mediterranean and the Suez. But they lost some strong ships trying to get to Australia. And as for supplying China, you know that was a challenge, you just need a reminder. That's what the Burma Road was for.

    Not that it matters. Even if the war in the Pacific had been a cakewalk, there was still oil and gas to ship out of Oklahoma and Kansas, aluminum to deliver to Lockheed and Douglas, a crying need for Kansas wheat all over the world, and a million other things that made those long stretches of western rails vital.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2019
  4. rome91

    rome91 TrainBoard Member

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    Not to be a "wet blanket" as Rick would put it, but this thread is more leaning towards the train side,
    not the war side. I think we should leave that where it belongs... on the history channel.
     
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  5. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    The reason Russia declared war on Japan was the hope for a land grab, similar to what they had achieved in eastern Europe. Fortunately VE day occurred before they could get their endgame organized.

    OK, so much for diverting the OP's topic. Personally, I feel the NYC's Niagara was the ultimate 4-8-4. Sadly none exist to support my belief. So I'm confident that any argument will be totally theoretical based on nothing more substantial than my memories watching those lovely beasts leaving Harmon with up to twenty cars on the Commodore Vanderbilt and others of the Grand Steel Fleet. :cool:

    I wish somebody, anybody, would make a model of the NYC Niagara. Though I'd love the S2a 5500 with its Poppet valves, roller bearings, and all other neat stuff that gave the EMD Es and Fs a run for their money, horsepower and efficiency wise.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
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  6. rome91

    rome91 TrainBoard Member

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    Hytec, while I wouldn't agree completely that the Niagara 4-8-4 is the ultimate of its configuration, it performed its job as a freight locomotive very well to my knowledge (however, said knowledge isn't that extensive, as I mainly like to read and model the west).
     
  7. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    They are strong contenders for the title. If any were better, they were few and far between!

    It's a shame only one of the Santa Fe's 65 Northerns was fitted with Franklin poppet valves, and that it wasn't one of the newer ones with 300 psi on tap.

    What a pity they didn't take that system off 3764 before she was scrapped and install it on 2926! But that would have been a pain; I think even her cylinders were an integral part of her cast frame.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
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  8. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    I agree the Niagaras were relegated to freight service towards the end of the careers. But they were assigned to first class passenger service earlier on while the NYC was waiting for diesels from Alco, EMD, etc. I have a photo of a Niagara hauling the Commodore on the Hudson Division, but it's copyrighted so I can't post it. However here's one on the Hudson Division with an obvious first class passenger train, note only a combine on the head end. The Central didn't handle mail, etc. on first class trains with schedules that didn't include stops other than major cities.

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. JMaurer1

    JMaurer1 TrainBoard Member

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    I think that Kato got it right. Ultimate 4-8-4s were SP GS-4s and UP FEF 3s. Even the NYCs 4-8-4s looked influenced by the FEFs
     
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  10. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have no argument here. Kato - Kudo's!!

    Thinking out loud here. Just bouncing it off you.

    It would be easy for Kato to come up with a generic (to a point) that would satisfy all our wants with regard to NYC's 4-8-4's. If you look long enough at the UP FEF (4-8-4) you almost see a NYC locomotive. Different sand domes, smoke box cover, number boards are a must. The elephant ears would almost move straight across. In other words take the UP's locomotive and paint it in NYC livery and it comes darn close. Centipede tender and all.

    The one thing SP, UP and ATSF had out west, that NYC didn't have much of was grades and mountain passes to cross. While living in Kettering, OH., from what I could see of the old NYC they were more or less a water route, unlike the Pennsylvania R&R., who indeed did cross a number of mountains with the horseshoe curve being a good example. So there will be a difference in driver sizes requiring a different chassis.

    To the discriminating eye this won't work. I'm one of those who likes a model to be as an exact replica, as close to the prototype as we can get. Quality control is an issue here as well. We don't need a locomotive that literally walks its self apart. I think you know what I'm referring to. But...which brings me back to where I started, full circle. It could be done but I'd be disappointed in Kato, if they did that.

    Funny, but I don't resent imports from Japan, appreciating such but resent the hell out of those from China. That's another story for another time and place.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
  11. rome91

    rome91 TrainBoard Member

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    Update. Shell is in place. I still need to get some grimy black paint but other than that this baby is practically operational.
     

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  12. rome91

    rome91 TrainBoard Member

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    Another picture of this project sitting next to another Bachmann 4-8-4; this one will be turned into a 2-10-4.
     

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  13. rome91

    rome91 TrainBoard Member

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    Extra picture of a Rivarossi 4-6-2 pacific with a brass Pecos River 12k gallon tender.
     

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  14. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice stuff. (y) Can't wait to see how this turns out.
     
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  15. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Count me in on that as well.

    How is that one engine in the last picture, standing on it's head. You'll have to teach me how to do that. Possibly a whole new dimension in model railroading. Magnetic wheels?:sneaky::);)
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2019
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  16. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    It's helium filled N-scale. New stuff coming on to the market! :rolleyes:
     
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  17. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Remember, a good magician never reveals his tricks.
     
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  18. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    :LOL::ROFLMAO::whistle::p:D LMAO Good one. Well played!!! Haw, haw, haw, :cry::);)

    Helium! Still LMAO:ROFLMAO::sick:
     
  19. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Well, I let out all the helium and it came down to earth. Looks normal now.
     
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  20. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    LOL
    I was just sketching a layout where I could have it running much like a mono-rail but with two rails upside down. Figured I had to change the wheels and flanges going back to pizza cutters just so it would stay on the rails. Kind of like, back to the future when the wheels folded up underneath. Spoil my fun!
    :sick::sneaky::whistle:;)

    If you just tuned in here you will have missed the fun. One of Rome91's engines the picture ended up side down. Russell corrected it and we are all good.:(:)
     

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