Southern Pacific Steam 2020

[bob turner]

Here is that same locomotive with a 17/64 scale tender. The tender makes it look slightly less ungainly. In my opinion.

[bob turner]

And once again, in 17/64, these drivers are probably .006" too small over the tire. Dave is correct; we often have undersize drivers or too wide wheelbase, to compensate for flange depth. But darn it, in this case, the driver diameter is probably the singular most correct thing about this model.

[bob turner]

This is a model of an earlier Harriman light Pacific. There are a bunch of inaccuracies, most notably the driver counterweights. I could change that with Scale Craft drivers some day - these are Lorenzen coined PRR K4 drivers. They don't look good to me even on the K4, since I am used to the heavier cast iron driver models.

The real thing had 77" drivers - so these 80" drivers are really undersize for a 17/64 model. Some day I will do a P-5, with Lobaugh 84" driver castings. I have a set waiting, thanks to Jay.

[R.K. Maroon]

I have to admit to being surprised by what Bob calls the "hunchback" boiler (I like the term "humpback" better, but we know what we mean). I somehow let the prevalence of straight boilers on SP Mikados lead me to think that the Pacifics were that way too. Of course, if I had done my homework....

But no humpback Mikados, save for maybe a few acquired from other railroads? Maybe?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

.

[bob turner]

On the humpback vs. hunchback - I think the ten-wheelers are sort of humpback, but the P-10/13 boiler looks a lot like it has a permanent backache. It does have a certain appeal, but you kind of have to grow into it.

Mikados and light Pacifics - and indeed Atlantics of the A-3/6 variety - all had tapers. Sunset skipped the tapers on all the light SP steam it did, right on through the otherwise elegant 4-10-2. Really tough to fix.

The 631 at the airport measures 1.625" across the tread. That is .001 too small. I can live with that.

[bob turner]

While we are on Pacifics, here is my first attempt at converting a Lobaugh to an SP. You have to remember that the Lobaugh was simply an inaccurate USRA, so while it converts to a pleasing model, there were really no SP Pacifics that even remotely resembled it.

The drivers here are Alexanded "nickelene" - and while PRR prototype, they do not look as obnoxious as the ones on the Harriman Pacific above.

The 2476 and 2477 were Lima products, inherited from the Arizona Eastern way back in 1911 or so. They were classed as P-7, and could be thought of as 73" drivered P-6, but the P-6 had a pronounced humpback boiler shape, and the P-7 seemed to be closer to the Lobaugh contour, at least to me.

[bob turner]

Here is the Arizona Eastern version - note the extended smokebox. I have since shot the tender with dullcote, and added the scarlet to the injectors and check valves. Lobaugh, including drivers on this one.

[bob turner]

All right, all you Pacific lovers! By popular demand, here is another converted Lobaugh:

[R.K. Maroon]

Hard to argue with that Pacific in the Daylight colors. Not exactly a T&NO P-14 (as best I can tell) but it would look just fine on the front end of Pete's Sunbeam. Opinion, of course

[bob turner]

P14 has 80" Boxpok drivers, an almost hunchback boiler, and a clown hat on the smokebox front. Scott Mann was going to import, but as you can see here, SP fans are dwindling.

[De Bruin]

.......would look just fine on the front end of Pete's Sunbeam.

Beat me to that one Jim, also note those "mini-daylights" pulled the daily local on the "Rabbit" between "Shree-Po' n Yew-stone" in '53 and '54 , a classic four-car Harriman roofed hw extravaganza.

I've been enjoying these a lot Bob, thanks. BTW I don't recall if I asked you this or indeed you've previously posted one but have you ever built one of the TW series Mastodon's? As I recall there was at least more than one boiler version within the class.
I particularly like this version
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/sp/sp-s2935a14.jpg
ex-EP&SW?

[bob turner]

No, but I have the driver blanks. I do have the Westside TW-8. Photo later.

Back to Mikados for a minute - John Fisher took this photo (and painted this beauty). He has graciously given me permission to reproduce his photo, and Joe Giannovario digitized it for me with his super scanner. Ray Waller, now in the care of a good buddy in Healdsburg - I need to check on those guys.

This is easily the best model of an SP Mikado I have ever seen.

[rogruth]

Bob,
Yes, it is a beautiful model but why do you think it is the best you have seen of that loco type?

[up148]

I've never seen the prototype but it must have been a beautiful loco. Mikado's look so much better (IMHO) with larger tenders and six axle trucks.

The model sits well, the piping and fixtures are straight, the cab and stack fit well as does everything else on the model. The paint is fabulous and reflects a fairly newly shopped loco, yet shows signs of use with light weathering. If it was a car I'd say the "stanch" is just about perfect. Nice model!