A closer look at an OLD MALLET 2-8-8-2

These two photos are a from a set of photos that I have documenting the details of an old mallet that I had purchased on ebay sometime ago. The head lamp in the front is missing hope to find a replacement soon on ebay or maybe if someone have any other site that might be helpful to me.


click on image to see larger version.

To see more:
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=347832508

OK now I see it
it is the Rivarossi/AHM Norfolk & Western Y6b. First offered in the mid 1960s and improved from time to time. It has the deep flanges typical of the early production.
Not a bad engine for its time and in its time that was considered very good level of detail.
Dave Nelson

If you’re looking for a new headlight, don’t bother with Ebay. Head over to Bowser’s website (www.bowser-trains.com), and look through their selections of Cal-Scale and Cary headlights for the one you need.

If you need to find out what a N&W steam headlight looks like, head over to the Virgibnia Polytechnic Institute’s library website. They’ve got something like 11 THOUSAND Norfolk & Western images online: http://imagebase.lib.vt.edu/browse.php?folio_ID=/trans

dknelson,
you’re right on the money, that’s exactly what this engine is.

orsonroy,
many thanks for the links man.

verse2damax

It looks like you also need the cover for the Worthington SA feedwater heater, Bowser as Ray suggested for this detail too.

I was scanning ‘bowser-trains’ website and they have some incredible super detailing kits for the Big Boy and Challenger but unfortunately none for the my Y6B. I guess i have to keep on searching.
I have a Challenger in HO on the way so maybe I could order a kit for it.

Bowser, has plenty of individual detail parts for N&W locomotives, look in the Cal-Scale and Cary catalogue sheets as Ray suggested… They only have detail kits for locomotives that Bowser offers as kits.

nfmisso,
I checked all the listings as well as sending emails they don’t have anything for the Y6B unless I’m going to kitbash lamps etc from other locos onto my Mallet which is not an option at the moment. What I’ll do in the meantime is educate myself some more on what makes up the loco then i’ll take it from there.

By the way for those interested I’ll be posting more photos later tonight.
verse2damax

Well, you also need a front number plate, and please straighten up that top cross rail on the pilot. To see some pictures of what she should look like, look here.
http://www.webpraxis.ab.ca/cgi-bin/steam/_mpd/mpd.cgi
or on the Virginia Tech site.
Call Golf Manor Hobbies in Cincinnati. They probably have a headlight and a number plate and maybe even the often lost top of the feedwater heater.
I don’t think anyone was suggesting using non-N&W prototypical parts on your engine. All kinds of different railroads used Pyle headlights and Worthington feedwater heaters, and round brass number plates are pretty standard too. In other words it didn’t have to come off a Y6b to be accurate. (P.S. - you need a Pyle headlight with wing numberboards and no visor.)

See: http://www.bowser-trains.com/pdf/cary_parts.pdf
items #13-137 & 13-245; these are Worthington SA Feedwater Heater parts, same as the Y6b. Note the lower case b, as in Y6b.

See: http://www.bowser-trains.com/pdf/cal_scale_steam_locoparts.pdf
item #190-205 is the headlight Ray referred to.

A good place for your educational material is: http://www.nwhs.org/

precision scale has detail parts, poke around the Wathers catalogue as well

thanks for the image link, I will be doing some N&W modeling.

I have 3 Y6b’s, I may be planning on selling one or all…or not depending on my situation.
but they keep popping up on Ebay so there ya go.
.

Me again, here are a couple images of the mallet.


click on images to see larger version.
verse2damax

nfmisso, orsonroy and Virginian,
you have been of tremendous help. Thank you for the awesome links. I’m now a bigger fan of this engine and I’m in the process of ordering some of the parts.
You guys are true examples of why forums like these are created.
verse2damax

Detail shot.
Here’s the link.
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=347832508

Excited by the fact that I have some new parts on the way for my mallet I did some surgery on the old girl. It lasted about three hours and on this day, 22/5/05, she is no longer a DC loco. I wired her up to an old MRC decoder, very basic, but she functions. I’ve programmed her and she runs fine and I can now turn her headlamp on and off. The next stage is to install an eighteen volt smoke unit. I’ll be posting so pictures soon of the modified innards, all the wires.

Try www.GOLFMANORHOBBIES.com or phone (513)351-3849 3pm-9pm EST they carry Rivarossi parts and they were a huge help when it came to getting a new motor for my Y6b Mallet.

Great thanks for the link Berk-fan284.