MDC 2-8-0

Well finally got to run the new MDC 2-8-0 today and I am pleased. I finally realized the prototype for this engine:

It was a top secret attempt by some roads to develop a very useful steam engine. An engine that does not need to be constantly refilled with water. The steam recapture/ feedwater heater system would have been a boon for many Western roads that ran in areas with little water and great for all roads due to reduced cost of water additives and increased coal loads in the existing tenders. It began with the discovery of a new vortex shaped inner stack that did not require the steam exhaust to provide the draw on the firebox, by recirculating the steam back to the tender passing first the water coming forward from the tender(an early example of feedwater preheating) and then over a series of radiators under the frame (as to not give the secret away) the steam changed state back to liquid and was deposited back in the tender via a pipe running high in the cab back to the tender (which the model faithfully represents). The only outward clues to these marked advancements in early steam engines were the aforementioned pipe, lack of large water receiver on the tender (on the rare occasions water needed to be added it was accomplished via a fitting on the water recirculation pipe) and increased volume of the coal bunker allowed by the lower volume of water needed. These developments in steam were set to springboard the industry when a fight between two rival inventors (who had each designed different parts of the system) caused the whole experiment to come to an emergency stop. Both worked feverishly until the dawn of diesel-electrics to perfect the system without infringing on the others patents, alas they both failed and with the scrapping of all the prototypes soon after the experiment ended we are left only with the MDC models of this wonderful "secret" prototype...


With the proto info out of the way on to the model.

The thing looks GOOD in most respects. Though the boiler is rather plain (as was the proto) the detail that is present is excellent, the tender is still a visual problem BUT looks much better in person than in pictures. Most importantly it runs VERY well. It had great pickup evidenced by its smooth operation on a less than clean modular layout at my local shop, ran respectively well at low speeds, was very quiet and its top speed at 12v was very resonable. With the Kato steamers at 10 this thing ran 9.0 or 9.5! I am considering buying one even though it doesn't fit my prototype it might be nice on a loop high in my mountains pulling a string of Overton passenger cars on excursion over straining truss and wood trestles. I do hope its an economic success for MDC as they have several models in their HO line that I would love to see in N scale. Was it worth the wait, if its a prototype you can use....YES! I can only hope the Bachmann 2-8-0 (which is much more univerasal) will run nearly as well. I suppose my only peeve (aside from the slight tender problems) is that although I did not tear it apart the chances of DCC in the thing seem rather slim, but where theirs a will there is a way.

Vandy (pulling tongue from cheek after the 2nd paragraph) Huskey

 

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> These developments in steam were set to springboard the industry when a fight between two rival inventors (who had each designed different parts of the system) caused the whole experiment to come to an emergency stop. <hr></blockquote>

These must be the same inventors that designed many of those "dream schemes" that Micro-Trains et. al. have been putting out.


Russ
Hoffman Valley RR

 

I am glad to hear that the engine runs well. I need a couple of 2-8-0s for my coal mining line and have been watching this closely . Yes, the tender may not be quite right, but really if it is close, then some magic may be possible with kit-bashing . I will await to hear the review of the Bachmann run before choosing, but being an ex-Ho type, MDC is always close to my heart! I'm not too worried about DCC, since I have decided to stick with DC (heck, when you have all of the stuff for a good DC layout, why buy into DCC??? ). Happy Modeling!!
John