UP 2-10-2 rebuild

[up148]

Getting ready to start my 1st real restoration/rebuild project. As I posted here about a year ago, I finally found a custom built (Peter Bassett) Union Pacific 2-10-2, that I sold in 1998 with all my other brass models (another story). Suffice it to say, I never thought I would see it again. Discovered a 3R/2R acquaintance had acquired it at the 1st Jim Seacrest auction and since it no longer ran, he offered it to me.

I messed with it a little, but found no way to get the front of the boiler separated from the chassis. It had to be a screw hidden under the 4 port nozzle casting modeled in the belly of the smokebox, but normal prying would not budge the nozzle. Finally, yesterday, I said "the hell with this" and just used excessive force on the nozzle and sure enough it popped off and revealed the elusive screw (and I damaged nothing).

Very evident this model was built back in the 80's and hoping to simplify and update the wiring and electronics during the restoration.

Fully equalized suspension, including custom built lead and trailing trucks, working reverse linkage, including moving the lever in the cab, fully detailed everything and built exactly to the photos I found in UP books of this road number loco. Lots of custom building and modifications to make this model correct, so it is worth saving.

So, I'm off to the races.

BH

[2railjon]

A beautiful model and neat project! Thanks for sharing and keep posting updates!

[bob turner]

It is a beauty. Is it fully scratch, or a rebuild of the USH?
Jay and I are SP nuts - Jay can tell you about Si's conversion of the USH model.
That harness looks like the bundle I will attack today on an aircraft radio installation.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Finally, yesterday, I said "the hell with this" and just used excessive force on the nozzle and sure enough it popped off and revealed the elusive screw (and I damaged nothing).

"Percussive disassembly"

[up148]

I made the mistake of changing my password the day I posted these photos and have only today been able to get back on the forum. I was not able to answer any questions or respond, so I was not being rude on purpose.

Bob, No, this started life as a USH 2-10-2, but was highly modified. I'm just finding out how highly modified it is in my quest to rebuild it and will have a lot more photos.

Rufus, that's exactly what it was and that term fits very well.

The loco has/had everything from floating Pittman motor and drive, which is entirely contained in the firebox and boiler, to fabricated battery constant lighting in brass tubes (luckily no battery leakage or corrosion). Custom fabricated gearbox with a round brass tube outer drive shaft housing and internal square tube drive shaft. The only thing attached to the chassis is the gearbox, which is attached to the axle. Since it has working equalized suspension everything floats up and down. I can't imagine the patience he had to built this model, as it has been a bear just getting it apart and I'm not done. And, since I'm changing all the electronics and drive, I just gutted the firebox, something Peter could not do.

I have no idea how he ever expected to replace the "AA" size rechargeable batteries, as they are housed in two 6" long brass tubes, with solid brass rods soldered to these tubes for boiler weights. Unless I can use a torch and separate everything while still in the boiler, it appears I will have to remove the back head or gut the detailed smoke box to remove this one piece assembly. He attached it cleverly with screws through the sandbox dome hatch and in the firebox, but at 6" long it just isn't coming out without something else being removed.

BH

[bob turner]

Carefully cut it out in sections? Wear protection if you use a Dremel.

Bet that tail beam takes a 110" radius. I like accurate tailbeams, but at 74" radius, I have to taper them.

[up148]

Hi Bob,

I actually ran this model on the KCMO Modular Club layout back in the late 90's and it has 72" radius. It is a deceiving model. Looks like it shouldn't even run but when it did it was very smooth and quiet. When I got it back 20+ years later it didn't even run.

Butch

[up148]

More photos!

Cutting the battery pack out in pieces sound like an option I need to explore.

BH

[2railjon]

That is one involved rebuild!!! Thanks for the update!

[E7]

I finally found a custom built (Peter Bassett) Union Pacific 2-10-2, that I sold in 1998 with all my other brass models (another story). BH

You will have to tell us about that sometime Butch!

Rich

Can you tell us anything about Peter Bassett?

[up148]

Nothing really exciting. Needed the money for family and I always considered my trains a form of investment and savings account (at that time), so the trains had to go. Started buying again (conservatively) a few years later.

Peter Bassett! Very interesting fellow who owned a hobby shop in the UK, called the "Model Shop". He had been in the business for decades and in 95-96 he decided he needed to switch over to radio controlled planes, cars, boats and also decided to sell his personal collection which was huge and very, very special for a UP guy.

I scraped together $10K to buy what I did, but could have spent another $10K- $15K to buy the rest of his collection and I could have made money on it all. Very frustrating, but that's life! Had to make some hard decisions on what was the most important to me and I bought the following. Everything had mint boxes and was new except as stated.


(1) NIB KTM/USA FEF-3, unpainted with all literature, correspondence, invoice and production photos. Still lament selling it.
(2) NIB OMI 350 T Coal tower.
(3) This heavily modified 2-10-2
(4) Several NIB OMI CA-5 and CA-6 cabooses ($50 each)
(5) NIB PSC Crown DD-40X for a friend
(6) A few other more common NIB diesels I can't recall now.

Sold the KTM/USA FEF-3 to Fomras Models, in Tokyo, a year later for almost double what I paid. Sold the OMI Coal Tower, under market and made a grand. Sold the PSC DD-40X (at cost) to a friend. Kept most of the other items until 1998 when everything was sold as explained above. This was the most profitable purchase I've ever made and I paid what Peter asked. I never chisel on pricing. I just walk away if the owner wants too much.

BH

[E7]

Thanks Butch,

Interesting stuff!

Rich

[up148]

The combo battery pack/counter weight assembly turned out to be more than I cared to mess with at this stage, so, it left today for Dr. Schrader. He'll send it back after removal and then I can go to work on the updating and additions. Hopefully, he'll have some suggestions for power as well.

BH

[86TA355SR]

Wow Butch, that's incredible!

I've been watching from the sideline since you got this model back, I'm enjoying every minute of it. Can't wait to see more as you progress.

Aaron