A few months ago, I came across a good deal on an N scale N & W 4-8-4 J class steam engine, water tender and full consist of cars. It’s a real nice looking little train. I only wish I had a bigger layout to run it on…
trainluver1
You bet there are fans of that loco!! Its my husbands favorite. We have just started a search for one in O scale, 2 rail. We will probably have to buy an MTH 2 rail and toss out their junk electronics and replace it with ‘real’ DCC and Sountraxx sound. I wi***hat we had more choices in makers in O scale…We HATE the politics of MTH as a company and would prefer to not purchase any of thier products. These are the guys that copied vintage Lionel products for decades, making millions of dolalrs, and then had the bad taste to sue Lionel because an Asian subcontracor stole a CAD file for an engine and supposededly used it to speed up production of a Lionel project they were doing. The 2 guys that did the theft were arrested and convicted in their own country. MTH then files suit in the USA against Lionel and wins an award of 40 million dollars…INSANE!!! However, if you replace thier crappy MTH electronics [ unreliable, de-programs itself all the time, and also just plain breaks down, and it won’t work on ANY other control system except their own ] and replace it with quality stuff, it should be good.
Yes, the “J” is a beautiful locomotive, worthy of collecting a model of. Nice to hear that you also find it beautiful! Jennifer
Absolutely. The BLI HO version is due in a month and they have the sample pics on their website now. I can’t wait to hear THAT whistle from QSI.
I remember watching the real thing roaring down the racetrack towards Norfolk on a lot of Sunday afternoons when I was a kid with my Dad. My Uncle’s farm was right by the N&W main. The first locomotive I ever bought when I decided to get into model rr’ing was a brass ‘J’. Still have it.
I forget who made it, and it has been a long time since I have seen one, but there were a few brass O scale 'J’s around in the eighties. Gorgeous.
Big fan here, I have the Spectrum model on my bookshelf, just waiting for a chance to recieve tuning to run on a layout.
Alvie.
J class? like this?
N&W J classe fans??? Yes of course we are out here and admire the J as one of the best steam engines ever to grace the rails of America.
I got to see them in service in 1956 and will never forget that whistle. I hope the BLI model is correct in the sound.
Join the N&W Historical Society; that is where all of the N&W J fans hang out 
Love them.
Absolutly!..The N&W J Class 4-8-4 is my favorite North American steam locomotive. I think your lucky to have found one in “N” scale. I have a friend whose been interested in finding one. He’s hoping Bachmann or someother manufacture will introduce a new version. It’s about time! Maybe with DCC. Would a whistle in “N” scale be too much to ask for today? [:D][8D]
I used to see the “J’s” in revenue service as they came and went in Cincinnati.
I suppose that makes me a long time fan. Yes, I have a Powhatan Arrow complete with J and have toured but not rode the actual train.
Dale
Yah. J’s cool. But looks much better without her streamlining. [tup]
BETTER WITHOUT HER STREAMLINING!!! Blasphemy I say!!! Of course, this comes from a fan of backwards running steam, so…
Just remember, the only AC’s that were done right were the AC-9’s. Coal burners, cab in the right location, even a little streamlining. Almost as good as an “A”.
Huh, better without her streamlining, grumble, grumble, grumble…
Morpar, there were REASONs for putting the cab in front, they were called mountains and tunnels and snowsheds, so ease up on the cab-forward, already, LOL! As to the J, I think it was an extremely handsome locomotive, beautifully proportioned, and like all N&W steam, perfectly suited for the job it was built for. I’m very happy that one is in operating condition. Now if they could just resuscitate that big ‘A’ they used to run, and give that UP Challenger a run for its money, I’d be a very Happy Camper. (Better yet, go up to Minnesota and get one of those Yellowstones running again–yummy!)
Tom
I will NEVER forget the day I saw 611 pull an excursion train through Marion, Ohio. That whistle is something that will always stick in my mind. I was just a little boy when she came through town but that moment stuck with me to this day.
I’ve only seen three steamers in person, (besides those silly amusement park trains [:P]) 765, 611 and 1218. Actually got to ride behind 765 through the New River Gorge (if I remember correctly)…fond, fond memories.
Not to change the subject…but does anybody make a model of NKP’s 765?
I sure am. I saw the 611 double-heading out of Atlanta during the 1996 NHRS convention and, sadly, saw it pull through Atlanta on the way to Roanoke for stuffing. It was one of, if not the, most beautiful locomotives of all time, imho. I have only been able to afford Bachmann models (611, 608 and 610), but hope to graduate to brass one day. Have you seen the new BLI offering?
Ok, Aggro AND I are both blasphemers. I really do not find the ‘skirted’ steamers very appealing. Must be a (real) guy thing. [;)]
In HO; Rivarossi had one for decades, some dealers still have them. LL P2K Heritage line is another. And they are common in brass. Hobbyline offered a static plastic kit in the late '50’s that is quite detailed, and shows up on ebay frequently.
Bachmann is the only current mfr of J class Northerns. It is possible that you also have a set of ConCor/Rivarossi cars? THen you may have one of the ConCor special sets that they produced over the years?
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/concors2.html
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/classj.html
Between the 2 pictures, which do you have? In either case, both are now dated locos. Break them in carefully! For spare power, you may need a pair of Atlas GP’s to pull your train. There was an excellent article in MR detailing the NW & it’s passenger trains.
modeling the N&W so its natural to have one.
Not sure if it was me you were asking, but just in case it was;
The engine and water tender are both Bachmann’s, and I’ve added details to them to make them appear more like the real thing including an engineer and fireman. The passenger cars are made by Con-Cor, and consist of an RPO, baggage car, sleeping car, coach, dining car and observation end car. I think I’ve got about $150.00 tied up in it which I’m told isn’t too bad.
trainluver1