Nortonville Phil

The second PA is under restoration at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco Texas near Dallas. Supposedly it is owned by the Smithsonian but is  on loan to MAR. They are working on its restoration. It will be painted in Santa Fe Warbonnet colors.

Phil Randall

6 minutes ago, Dava said:

Thanks Phil,

useful ideas! The KMM kit & RMT Beep sadly aren't readily available here in UK, import is costly & after converting to 2 rail probably better to build or commission a 2-rail chassis. 

Dava,

Yes the KMM kit would need a proper three axle chassis built. Perhaps a piece of C section channel would be a starting point. Or perhaps an Atlas Plymouth chassis could be made to work. Also one might scratch build the body for one of these from plasticard. Most surfaces look to be flat..One could even cut a representation of the bogie side frames from card as well. I look forward to hearing more of your plans.

Phil

6 hours ago, Dava said:

All you need is an O scale SD40 or SD45 powered bogie. This is not as easy or cheap as you might think, unless you have a spare SD40/45 you’re prepared to sacrifice. Surely someone makes the bogie frames or could 3D print them?

 

The whole loco is an ideal 3D print project, but best to check whether TPC will agree to release the model design rights before marketing. There is an N scale version on Shapeways, but not currently for sale.

 

The drawing and dimensions are on the data sheet. The Dapol class 66 could be a donor for UK 1/43 scale versions, but too long for 1/48. However the class 52 bogie is the right wheelbase for a 1/48 scaledonor.

13’7” bogie wbase,  3”3/8 or 86mm in US O scale 94mm in UK O scale, 40” wheel 7/8”

Maybe look for a pair of the diecast metal side frames from the 1970s 80s’ Lionel SD40. You might turn up a set on EBay or put in a “Want add” for a pair on the US O Gauge Railroading forum.

P. Randall

This guy on EBay makes a coarse O kit for a Republic Locomotive Works loco.

it is very similar and was also built on an SD truck( bogie).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115950155585?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Q0q5x321Rpm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=cxSaBtx8R5G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

His kit is made to fit on the Beep chassis. One of my club mates here in Dallas is building a McKeen motor car at the moment from one of the bodies produced by this same seller. Much body smoothing was needed.

P. Randall

Dallas Texas

2 hours ago, Northroader said:

Actually, I did do a little bit yesterday, in among all the turmoil of selling the house - well, there’s a sign outside, and it’s on Zoopla, etc., but minimal interest, probably because of skyrocketing mortgage rates.

Anyway, I succumbed to a cheap little tank car on eBay, and fortunately my toolbox is still here, so out with a craft knife, screwdriver, and some fine files.

It’s a 28’ long tank car, just the correct length, and you’ll see I’m working along removing the moulded on handrails, which will need to be replaced with some brass rod. What happened to the undercart? Well, the screwdriver was pushed between that and the tank, given a tweak, (it just clips in) and it was thrown in the bin. Couplers and wheel-sets, I’m afraid to say, are terrible, as being from Lionel, you see. Sometimes their body mouldings can look quite decent. Not much left to do before I’ll need paint and chassis materials, which are all packed away in Cheltenham.

 

 

Here is a similar short K-Line brand tank car project I started a couple years ago. I need to get it out and make some more progress with the project.

Yes the Birney cars are a favorite of mine. I have several of the Corgis with two of them powered. On one I used the Brill 89e truck from Q- Car. This car is in the Chicago Surface Lines paint scheme like the one in the photo in the first post in this thread. I have a Philadelphia car by Corgi which I purchased second hand with a Pennsylvania Heritage Models( no longer in business) motorized truck.

The main currently available option for powering these models is the Q- Car drive. Another possible option is the 3 rail K line/ Lionel/ Bachman Williams speeder (platelayers trolley chassis). It is very close in wheelbase. Wheels can be replaced with scale profile wheels. One axle is powered on this chassis.

Phil Randall

Texas

Hi,
 

https://flic.kr/p/2fk4gVy

Take a look at this photo. There is a PCC car on the right side numbered 1001. My club mate bought it off eBay. I thought it might represent a Brussels car because of the color. It is an O scale model and has doors at both ends. I thought I had a better photo but this is all I have for now. What do you think?

P. Randall

Thanks to all for providing direction to me on this project. I will look into getting the parts I need from the Trust.

Phil

Recently I purchased this coach off EBay. It is missing a bogie. I was wondering if someone might point me in the direction of where I might find a spare bogie. I am in the US. Or perhaps a pair of similar type bogies with finescale wheels could be purchased. I just am not familiar with who the suppliers are for this type of item.

Thanks for any assistance.

Phil Randall

Enderlin? Don’t you mean Currie MN. You would need a turntable for that one though. My FIL comes from that area.

My friend Tom is seeking advice on S drivers that may be available in the UK. In the post above he mentions Slaters axles to be used with some US drivers. Are there other options that you folks are aware of? Thank you in advance for any advice. 
 

Phil Randall

Dallas Texas

Thanks Nile.

John Ericsson has published a new book on the history of American OO scale modeling. It is available now in Kindle format on the Amazon website and will soon be available in a print edition.

https://www.amazon.com/Model-Railroading-American-OO-1930-68-ebook/dp/B08WXF5XVN

On 04/01/2021 at 07:25, 009 micro modeller said:

 

Has 2 inch gauge been used in any other scales?

 

 

OO9,

There was an American toy train maker called Carlisle & Finch that made large scale mine train toys that ran on 2 inch gauge track. They were more of a caricature than a scale model of mining equipment.

Phil 

Fred, thanks for posting the old scale info sheets. Nice to have these.

P.A. Randall

On 22/12/2020 at 10:24, Timber said:

I am an S Scale modeller but want to build a Gauge 2 garden railway so that I can run this beautiful loco I aquired a few years back.

 

If anyone models in Gauge 2 I would be keen to hear their experiences....

Building a gauge 2 layout is a neat idea. I have been thinking about doing something in this size. A model of a standard gauge loco should be built in 1:28.25 scale to be exact. In the past some built to 7/16” to the foot scale. This makes the loco a bit big for the gauge. A simple way to get started in American outline would be to convert 1:29 scale equipment to Gauge 2. This would make the track gauge just a bit wide in 1:29. But certainly a bit better looking than 1:29 on gauge 1 track. David Viewing has been doing some work in vintage Gauge 2. 

http://www.viewing.com/Model Railways/Gauge 2/The Gauge 2 Model Railway.html

 

P.A. Randall

Dallas, Texas

I just had the idea that one could build models to 9mm scale using this track to represent Haywood 15 inch gauge.

http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/heywood/heywood.htm

I just measured the track gauge of my set and it is 1/2 inch (12.7mm) gauge. In the US a minority of modelers use this for On2 models in 1/4 inch = 1 foot scale. I may have to build something with mine.

P.A. Randall

Texas

That is very neat. My daughter gave me this same train set as a gag gift last year.

P.A. Randall

Texas

Just like mine.

About ten years ago I laid out some 1:55 scale standard gauge track at 1.015” gauge there was also a bit of 16.5mm mixed in on that base board representing 3’ gauge. Never got around to finishing any rolling stock for that project before a house move caused me to put it aside.

lately I have been working on some 9mm scale 1:34 models running on 32mm gauge representing 3’6” gauge.  I just call it 1n42. Here is a piece of batten track I just made as a test piece. 
 

Phil

On 11/09/2020 at 12:17, Florence Locomotive Works said:

Thanks very much for the info Phil, I will look into that. I can’t say I saw them, but I also wasn’t looking as I use Lionel track. Are you also a Bassett Lowke enthusiast? 

Yes I guess I am an enthusiast of all O gauge especially things from bing, BL, Milbro etc.. Now I don’t currently have any of that stuff. But I do find it interesting. Though I may be about 25 yrs older than you I can relate to your interest. And I have been enjoying your posts about the progress you are making.

On 11/09/2020 at 20:51, J. S. Bach said:

I have gotten a few items from him before. "Nortonville", hmmm, I thought that was near Philadelphia. Anyway I think that you used to post on MTJ a bit, also. I am J. S. Bach over there.

Nortonville is actually in western Kentucky. I used to live there. Yes I am on MTJ too. I mostly lurk in the background enjoying that forums entertaining personal back and fourths between members. 
 

FLW, I saw that ETS is making a new Hornby style coupler that is shorter allowing cars to be closer together than their older design. That might go well on your loco.

Hello FLW,

Did you see the BL points for sale on eBay a couple of weeks ago by Railchief? He is an acquaintance of mine and lives in Oklahoma City. You might start watching his auctions as he is a big collector and ebayer and not so far from you. I live near Dallas.
 

Will you be building a track to run this loco on?