Southern Pacific Steam 2023

[bob turner]

Tacking this on to SP Steam, although only the frame and drivers are SP. The boiler is Sunset "Russian Decapod." Tender, at least, is SP (Lobaugh). I "chopped" the steam dome, so it is tough to see the Russian pedigree. Cab is scratchbuilt to fit.

I did some light machine work for Dick Garberson, and in return he sent me most of the pieces for the locomotive. I cobbled it together over maybe six days of effort. The imported cylinders were apparently glued together - no evidence of there ever having been solder anywhere close.

I will compare it with my Westside TW-8, which is no doubt posted somewhere in this thread.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Might you post a photo from a more level angle or even just lightly above the track focusing more on the engine, please?

[bob turner]

Sure. I need to make a lead truck and find a matching tender.
Lighting is a problem this time of year - I use sunlight, and when it is perfect I am usually flying.

This thing is small - as in "teakettle."

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Sure. I need to make a lead truck and find a matching tender.

Ok; was really looking to be able to see more of the loco....

Lighting is a problem this time of year - I use sunlight, and when it is perfect I am usually flying.

I can appreciate that; good sunlight, low wind, and I'm outside working as much as I can be now.

This thing is small - as in "teakettle."

Small is good for me.

[bob turner]

Here you go - gets your name off the top three threads, too.

This thing is really small - the drivers are close to 51" dia. The boiler is Sunset Russian Decapod, but I decapitated the huge steam dome. I was going to eBay the boiler and turn it into an SP TW-8, but I am moving on - I will get a lead truck fabricated and re-attach the air pump, but other than that and maybe filling in the cab bulkhead and finding a turret, I am pretty much putting it aside. It would be a large steamer in S scale (as would the TW-8 as well). A light Mikado dwarfs these things, and an SP Mountain dwarfs a light Mike.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Thanks! Small is good!

[up148]

That's a nice model. Glad Martin asked for additional photos as the top down view makes it look like a difference loco almost. I like both tenders.

[bob turner]

I didn't want to interrupt Maroon's spectacular video thread, but his Scale Craft SP locomotives got me going. I thought I had posted these two somewhere - maybe in a Doorstop Steam thread - but here they are. The Mountain will get new tires next week. Who knows? Maybe even decals!



And the soon to be re-tired Mountain:



There are a lot of ways to improve these models - the Mountain needs a "barrel" headlight and a Lobaugh trailing truck, and the Pacific needs lots of help in a lot of places, but as Maroon's video shows, they can really look good when moving by at track speed. Great big gears means smooth running!

[Pacific Limited]

Awesome work Bob!

[bob turner]

Brought it home - still runs great, and insulated for 2-rail (semi-unusual for Scale Craft). Measured - 72" drivers - looking for my 1 5/8" iron pipe. Must have used it all up. Found four Athearn driver tires 1 1/2" over, so home free, practically. One evening's work and I would have flanges everywhere!

Nope - Scale Craft has interesting driver spacing. The two center drivers are so close together one could not put flanges on even one of the drivers and have clearance. The SP MT locomotives had increased spacing between #s 1 & 2; Scale Craft chose not to model that feature. So that project is either finished or it gets a new Lobaugh frame. Maybe someday . . .