50 year old Varney locomotive finds new life in mill.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello all,

A few months ago a friend gave me some trains from the 50’s. While most of them have shown their age and die-cast cars have fallen apart {due to their age } . I did manage to keep quite a bit of them and in running order.

This Varney SW-1200 was in pretty crappy shape, a little DRSC shop work ,did her some good. Oiled her down ,rewired her,cleaned her wheels, gave her a paint job and added DRSC decals and last but not least she has a number…1.

I can’t help but be proud of this little engine,…50 years old and pulls like a mule.

Below is photos of her as she is today.

Patrick
Beaufort,SC
Dragon River Steel Corp {DRSC}

2

Old is New and New is Old

Nice to see not everything usefull has to be brand new with a lot of extra electronic do dahs stuffed under the shell. Good job!

3

That is true model railroaing!! I am amazed what that looks like being 50 years old. How does it run?

4

She runs like a mule 45 cars with-out wheel slip. Locomotive has a pittman motor and hard wired to boot.

Patrick
Beaufort,SC
DRSC

5

Is there a prototype for such a loco

6

Thank you, I don’t think I’ll ever jump on the DCC train myself. Too many loco’s to install the DCC bells ,whistles,engine noise ECT. Although some of the new Atlas locomotives have peaked my interest. Geez I’m only 35…this DCC stuff should be my cup of coffee, but then again still don’t get it.

I think not knowing about the unknown {DCC] is keeping me away from all the bells and whistles.

Patrick
Beaufort,SC
DRSC

7

Hello Alex,

The proto is a SW-1200 or could be a NW-2. Still can’t tell the difference between the too.

Patrick
Beaufort,SC
DRSC

8

Cool good job restoring the Engine!!!

9

You just have to love the Union Railroad style ladder to the cab roof! Now, let’s see a resurrected Varney hopper transformed into a coke rack.

10

The easy difference would be to look at the front windows. NWs (and SCs, NCs, TRs) have curvy top windows, SWs (except the SW600 which cannot be mistaken) have flat top windows.

It also (If I am seeing the photo correctly) looks like this one has only six sets of vents (louvers) on the side doors. An SW7 (SW1200) would have eight.

What I am wondering about is the air tanks. It looks like this is used in road service, and needs the extra tank to have enough air for the whole train?

11

O scale? That thing is a beast! ha

12

Its great to see those old Varneys still chugging out the miles!! Cox 47

13

Recycling! Glad to hear it runs well. The hood has a flat spot near the cab, then angles up. Looks like a NW-2.

Gary

14

Indeed, this Varney switcher was supposed to represnt an NW-2 and was offered by Varney from 1950 to 1959. None of the early manufacturers produced an SW-1200.

CNJ831

15

I was actually refering to the paint job you have painted it in (Very nice BTW

16

One reason for extra air tanks on a loco that is meant for switching industrial sidings is to have plenty of air for recharging brake reservoirs on cars that have been standing for several days. Pumping up air on a ten car cut that has managed to leak down can take forever if you have to rely on the unassisted compressor.

Beautiful job. Very glad to hear that the results justified the effort.

Chuck

17

It is a NW-2. I have 3 of them. One was my first HO locomotive. It is still in operating condition. They did pull. Having a die cast body and a lead weight over the rear truck did the trick.

18

HO scale beast…

Patrick
Beaufort,SC
Dragon River Steel Corp {DRSC}