PRR 2026

[bob turner]

The last PRR thread was six years ago, and all the photos have disappeared. I think my opening comment was something about SPFs. I never really was a PRR fan until later, but I admit to seeing actual PRR steam, and to riding behind a K4 out of Philly in 1955, going to someplace on the sea shore.

I was looking for a good PRR photo to send Mike Hood - or a link to here - when I discovered all our photos gone. I think I shall promise you (and Maroon) to just add one PRR photo per week. Here is this week's - all doorstops, all built, painted, and decalled here, Scalecoat, and Future Floor Wax.

[E7]

I admit to seeing actual PRR steam, and to riding behind a K4 out of Philly in 1955, going to someplace on the sea shore.

I saw a bunch of smaller steam, rode behind an E unit and a GG1, and then there was the occasional trip to Enola! Are we telling our age?

Rich

[SWrailroader]

That’s a really nice photo. Thank you for sharing.

[bob turner]

Wow! I typed this big, long post about Eastern railroads and how I had only passing interest in them, then made a mistake and the post disappeared into the ethernet. Suffice to say that PRR types have disappeared from this forum, at least. Remember, I mostly do SP.

This week it is my Tuscan Scale Craft K4. Tuscan, because I already have two in Brunswick (and one bare brass) and I need to stay not bored.
Scale Craft, because I keep picking these things up for a hundred bucks, and they are difficult to pass up. I will have one more, as soon as a junk boiler shows up. It will be in the original 1737 configuration with low running boards and that low side tender.

For an SP guy, I sure have a lot of PRR. The only locomotives I am missing (not counting things like the Mogul or S1, for which I have zero interest) are the big J1 and Q2. I can probably live without them. And you have seen the passenger cars and cabeese, but if this thread lasts long enough I will post some of them again.

This thing has flaws - the lead tender trucks had a structural failure, adequately fixed before it arrived here, and the counterweights are crescent, instead of straight. A lot of Scale Craft K4s were supplied that way; maybe more than half. They were cast for the SP Pacific.

Herewith: Light weathering kinda damps out the toy train look.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The only locomotives I am missing (not counting things like the Mogul or S1, for which I have zero interest) are the big J1 and Q2.

That's a lot of PRR locos if you include all the variants that reside within some classes, e.g. the H6 family. BTW, the F3c mogul is one that I do count as the CVRR had 5 of them prior to its being absorbed by the PRR.

[bob turner]

Correct.
Here is what I actually have - four K4s, a bunch of H10s, three of which are complete and sort of operational, one I1 Decapod based on the K4, one USH Mike, one Max 0-8-0, two Atlantics (Saginaw, sort of) two G5s (Saginaw) one S2, one 4-4-0, and four 0-6-0s, not to mention the electrics and Diesels. If I post a photo a week, this will be a six month effort.

Edit: and a KTM M1b. The 4-4-0 is scratchbuilt. I did two - photos next week (both of them).

[Rufus T. Firefly]

.... one 4-4-0,

The MG D16sb?

[R.K. Maroon]

For years I resisted acquiring any PRR steam, on the premise that once you start, it can be hard to stop. Nonetheless, fellow O-scaler and good friend Rob Taylor kept telling me I needed to buy his pre-war Scale-Craft K4. Introduced in 1934, this was, as best I can tell, the first O-scale locomotive manufactured in quantity and sold as a kit (as opposed to built to order). Rob used the model's semi-iconic status to wear me down. It took ten years, but arrived it eventually did:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3qkjp03ph9pdd281r4svd/Scale-Craft-4-6-2-PRR-K4-5487_01.jpg?rlkey=e3l3y1qfh6b8mgmlacc410jyy&st=7naf8l6a


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/l11vn8o46d666l88ytng9/Scale-Craft-4-6-2-PRR-K4-5487_02.jpg?rlkey=ior1jypnk1oham765yd1dekgb&st=65d57dwo

I like this model, and someday I will replace the broken axle gear it arrived with. But concern of not knowing when to stop with Pennsy steam proved unfounded. One is enough for me.

Jim

[bob turner]

I almost bit on the M1a offered by Trainz. I have to physically restrain myself - I could make it whole in a weekend.

I can also replace your axle gear when you are ready. Note that you too have SP style counterweights.

I am beginning to like your angled shots - I still lean toward "builders photo" elevations, but even old dogs . . .

[Rufus T. Firefly]

But concern of not knowing when to stop with Pennsy steam proved unfounded. One is enough for me.

My choice of the CVRR limited my acquisition of PRR steam to prior to 1920 and those classes within that livery combined with there being a short list of available models. The curves on my layout are also quite limiting and despite my really liking the earlier electrics, nope, not running about on my layout, so not expanding the boundaries.

[SWrailroader]

This is an interesting thread. I only have one SC K4, the early one, with the aftmost driver having the axle gear. I think that if I could find them for about $100 I would probably have 3. I do have a K4 with SC boiler, but on a frame with box pok drivers. These SC locos are kind of like historic artifacts. I find it amazing that they run well, despite their age.

My focus is on the Western RRs, but I do collect some PRR steam, often because they are cheap and interesting. By cheap I have found on more than one occasion an 0-8-0 by USH for a couple hundred. Even a USH J class, I have seen for about $400; note the Westside version seems to cost much more. The J and Q classes are really impressive with their massive tenders. There is an inherent beauty to these locos to my eye. Plus making the Belpaire firebox in brass and doing it well is likely very difficult. I defer to Bob Turner on the challenges of making Belpaire boxes.

The only class, I do not have is the Q-1, but always looking.

[bob turner]

I promised to do one a week, but let me break that promise, since we are into the S/C K4. This one is dead-stock, except for the paint job (which I did, thanks). Note no flange on center driver, SP-style counterweights, no rivets on smokebox or firebox (or cab or tender). Note no rear frame extension, and no air/train lines. Compare with my Tuscan version.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Does look a little naked w/o all that "stuff". Good study to be able to compare to one with everything added.

[bob turner]

As promised, this week's model is a D16. This one is pretty much still under construction - I think I have a photo of the similar one I made for Frank Thomson a billion years ago. Tender is probably scratch - the only way I can tell is the size of the rivets. CLW did them in all cast and photo etch.

You can see telltale signs of All Nation stuff in there. And I may have to re-do the sand dome some day.



Yes. This one was for Frank, and it has not resurfaced on the market. Photo was before digits, so the scan left it kinda fuzzy. I have a better scanner now, but it might not be worth the effort. Lines are those magic paint pens you can buy from the Stationery Store.



Back to the K4s. This week I have resisted a $320 M1a that I probably have enough parts to finish, and a 3-rail J1e, done by Sunset with what are said to be correct proportions (as opposed to Max/USH). I think that one was $300, or some other bargain price. I guess I have enough.

[bob turner]

One last comment on 4-4-0s - I just set them up so the front truck slides from side to side just like any other O Scale steamer with four wheel engine truck - but I have always wondered how the real thing was set up - was the side motion restricted so as to drag the main drivers into the curve?

I guess I haven't wondered enough to actually look at the patents.