Southern Pacific Steam 2020

[bob turner]

Here is the other side, with original coal tender

[86TA355SR]

Bob,

Not sure how I missed this thread in the past but glad it surfaced.

After I read the “Three Barrels of Steam” book I’ve been a fan of the unique 4-10-2 locomotives. Your models are excellent, one of a kind custom builds that I admire. Well done.

Keep feeding this thread!

Aaron

[bob turner]

Thanks. I think all of my SP steam is in this thread. I may assemble another backup Mallet or two, and possibly a few more Pacifics, but I am essentially done. One more photo of the 60000 is in the queue.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

.

[bob turner]

I, of course, appreciate the bump. They are still letting me view the OGR forum, and I found a discussion of "Vision Line GS-4" with You tube links.
I cannot tell you I like the sound (I don't) and of course the space between cars is a turn-off, but I was stunned with what they have done with smoke! It comes out of the cylinder cocks, maybe even at the right time, and out of the whistle and generators. It comes out of the stack in semi-unison with the chuff.

Understand, I got ill with watching a simple SD9 go around the track with the smoke on, so I am not personally interested in polluting my own atmosphere, but these guys have gone all out! Link in a minute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpB8sTGCxk0

There are other Youtube videos linked in the thread that appear worth watching, and at least one that is a real snooze job.

[bob turner]

I am sort of looking at cabs on my Pratt/Lobaugh switchers - I have one with pretty much exquisite detail, including brake beams and sliding cab windows. I note that I only posted two of them here, and I have four!

The one with sliding windows had one flaw that has been bothering me - giant pins were used for cab rivets. First I tried grinding every other pin off. Better, but still ugly, Then I tried diling them down - twice. Waste of time. It looks like this one will get a new cab wrapper. Not sure I have a "before" photo, but will stick an "after" photo here in a bit.

Of interest to maybe a few - this one has "step-down" gears, like Carey's Challenger!

[bob turner]

Yeah - here is the "before" photo:

[bob turner]

I did get the new cab on, but am still not happy with the rivets. I think I need new female dies for smaller rivets. I will think about a photo - it is kind of embarrassing, although a huge improvement.

Edit: I think what has happened is my rivet dies have been enlarged through use. I did harden them, but I am not all that scientific about the process. I will grind the tops of the dies and try again. Later, I will post a photo of this version, and maybe wrapper #3. I need to do the same for a Williams B6 that looks like it has buttons instead of rivets.

[bob turner]

Here is the new cab - Yuk!

For comparison, the original:


My first clue should have been this ugliness - I tried to mute the size, by filing them down. Did not work. So, new cabs before 2023 for both!

[R.K. Maroon]

I was sorting and filing some O-scale history items today, and in the process I ran across some photos taken of the Houston O-scale club that resided on the upper floor of the downtown Houston station in the 1950s and early 1960s. This photo stood out:



The note on the back of the photo indicates that all five of the steam locomotives shown in the photo are Ray Waller models. I have sent this photo to Steve Bartlett to see if he remembers these models and who might have owned them. Steve was a member of the club as a young man and may be the last surviving member. Ray Waller models are few and far between. To have five is mind boggling to me.

Jim

[up148]

Very nice B/W photo and the kind I still love to look at. It just so "classic" for a 1950/60 layout, like the ones I used to drool over in the model railroad magazines when I was a young boy. Always inspiring. I've heard the name Ray Waller, but know nothing of him like some of the better known builders.

[bob turner]

You can still get castings done from Ray's masters - from Stevenson Preservation. Exquisite stuff; 90% SP. i use his domes and stacks.
We think he did the patterns for the later Lobaugh switcher and Mike.
Howard Hansen has a Ray Waller Mike - I believe the photo is in this thread - John Fisher did the finish and decals.

[bob turner]

Oh - there is an OSN article about a Houstonite with Ray Waller locomotives. I believe it includes photos. Fred Stubbs?

[R.K. Maroon]

I believe the name is Fred Wahl . I wasn't aware of the OSN article. I will dig out my set and thumb through them.

[bob turner]

At the risk of repeating photos, here is my SP SE-4 project. It now needs lag clamps, washout plugs, boiler steps, air tanks and piping, and maybe a few other details. Air pump is mounted, sort of, on the other side. First, the ugly beginnings, then where I am today. Thanks to Bob Stevenson for the spectacular injector and check valve castings - they get painted scarlet!