Southern Pacific Steam 2023

[SWrailroader]

Bob, that’s a nice piece! Those SP 2-10-0s are rare. Even in the Dunscomb SP book there is a painted pic. Google search recently brought up only one or two photos. I think they mainly ran in the EP&SW corridor. I actually favor the Sausage tender over the ubiquitous Vanderbilt tender used on the SP; something very business/ no messing/ practical about it.

As always, thank you for sharing!

[bob turner]

Thanks. This one doesn't follow the two available photos - it is freelance. I think they were Texas based - originally built for the EP&SW, they went to the San Antonio & Aransas Pass, then to T&NO. The firebox is different, dome placement slightly different, and drivers had square counterweights. That's why I call this one freelance.

I did paint the 0-8-0. I don't really want to abuse Shutterfly too much, so you won't see the "before" photo, but this one turned out ok. Decals Monday, then photos. I tried to pattern it after the SE-4 series - eight locomotives built in Sacramento in the 1930s. I modeled the rectangular tender for this one, but as with the real SP, my tenders generally interchange.

Here is the promised 0-6-0. It is not finished - no bell (but Maroon has helped in that department) no cab details, no valve gear - so we just pretend it is a display locomotive parked in some New Mexico small town. It does run, powered from the tender. This tender goes with an S-8 or 9, which I am looking for at the moment, and a sausage tender will bear the road # for this thing. Again, my tender drive tenders interchange.

[bob turner]

I found it in my Shutterfly file - this was what it looked like maybe five years ago:



You will see that it is now quite different. The frame is Pearce or Hines 2-8-0, but the drivers were really ugly. I had to pull them, machine the rims where they intersect with the spokes, then file for longer spokes. Hobbies are strange things - think if I spent my time doing something productive?

That cab, by the way, was burned off a Lobaugh prewar Mikado - I replace such things with riveted cabs. It is now back in the junk cab file.

Edit! Check this out - best collection of SP Steam photos I have yet uncovered. Skip the modern UP Diesels in Daylight colors, and check out the steam!

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... aw%26r%3D0

Mistake. Here is the beginning of the collection:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=southern+ ... 704D3F39F9

You have to expand the first photo, then you can swipe or click for a full page view of literally hundreds of photos.

[SWrailroader]

Bob,
i just noticed the added detail of lag clamps to the 2-10-0; that detail really makes a difference. Appreciate the added the added history of the 2-10-0,

You are very lucky to have your skill. Most of us have to settle for the usual mass produced stuff of NYC Hudsons, SP GS-4s, etc,

Thanks for the additional pics of the 0-6-0 and 0-8-0.

Hobbies, like art, transport one above all the craziness around us. It really makes for a wonderful distraction, and in a way, makes us more productive for the more important tasks in life.

Wish i heard more for my hobbies these days. Packing and getting ready retirement is very time consuming. The ATSF 1200 has not been touched since sanding down the steam chest smoke box cradle.

[bob turner]

Here is the sort of finished SE-4. The headlight and crosshead are not correct, and the tender is on narrow gauge trucks, but you get the idea:



Again note that decals are not perfect - best to start with glossy. But some just sort of snuggle in there, like the cab numbers.

[up148]

The paint on this model is smooth as glass. Wow! What paint did you use Bob?

[bob turner]

I am currently using the $33 SEM rattlecan. But the secret is the light bead blasting before painting.

I can do good paint if I try, but the last really good steam paint jobs I did were with the Paasche model H and Scale Coat. I took the time to mask and spray the smokebox and firebox graphite. These days I think my mind is elsewhere when I paint - bead blast, hit it with rattle can, hope the decals sort of settle in, and maybe brush some graphite in there.

Like this:



All Nation boiler, scratch frame, Lobaugh drivers and tender, pretty close to a GS-1. The sand dome is closer to the GS-1 dome than those on the SP Mountains. The trailing truck should have solid bearing journal caps - an easy thing to do on the Lobaugh castings. I shall get around to it some day.

And I should note - the Vanderbilt tender is appropriate for the GS-1, even though later on some were replaced by the larger GS-2/3 rectangular tenders.

See my Max Gray GS-5 for a good paint job - it was my first attempt at a complex paint job.
Page 2 - sixth post from the bottom, last GS photo.

[SWrailroader]

Looks definitely better in black than silver. I have a couple All National 4-8-2 kits. The boiler is quite an impressive piece of bronze. One kit has a KTM Gearbox set for the All Nation drivers.

Sometimes I look at one my Scalecraft 4-8-2 and think about switching out the 2 wheell trailing truck for a 4 wheel one and cali it a poor man’s GS-1.

[bob turner]

Just did another SP 0-6-0.

The guys replaced the glass and added beads, so the blaster is better than it has ever been. I got six locomotives painted with that one can of SEM - I'd say I got my $ worth.

I note that this one had those ancient but fun headlight bulbs. I missed that, and both bulbs disintegrated under the bead onslaught. I probably have more ancient bulbs.

[bob turner]

Here it is - the last paint job for a while. Locomotive is an SP S-9 (slide valve, but Walschaerts, 54" drivers, 17/64 scale). I may add red cab doors.

The tender belongs to # 1274 above - this one gets the slope-back. I thought they interchanged, but they are slightly different.

I really like the Harriman 0-6-0 types.

[SWrailroader]

Bob,
I like the Harriman 0-6-0s as well. Sausage tender is neat. That steam chest looks different; I thought that type was used on the slide valve types. The all black paint including the tires is quite appealing and will copy that approach.
Rob

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Wish I could find a couple of pairs of those leaf spring archbars!

[up148]

That paint really lays smooth. I like it.