Although I like just about all eras of railroading, my favorite is definitely the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Trains were still ‘king’ at that time (i.e., no cars or planes to worry about), and locomotives looked like rolling works of art.
I’d love to start modelling an era like this photo of a CNW in Rice Like, WI:
… but there’s this big problem: No manufacturers make decent 4-4-0 steam locomotives like that!
The only 4-4-0’s I’ve seen in HO scale that are from this era seem to be the Bachmann locos that have been around since I was a kid. To me, they look more like toys than models… at least by today’s standards. I do own a few Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0’s which are VERY nice, but they are from a later era than I’d like to model.
What do you guys and gals who model this era do for locomotives? Why is there such slim-pickins when it comes to finding detailed model trains from this era? Is there just not enough interest? Is it too hard for manufacturers to make decent looking model locomotives given the small size and liberal use of shiny metals (like brass) that adorned these rolling works-of-art?
If there is a manufacturer out there that does make some detailed, realistic 4-4-0s, please let me know!
I model the Tonopah and Tidewater RR, Bullfrog Goldfield RR and Las Vegas and Tonopah RR. These are all 1907-1918 pre-WW1 mining railroads in the Goldfield, Rhyolite region of Nevada. I use Bachmann engines and lots of Labelle cars. Short of getting a brass V&T engine, 4-4-0’s of the era you are interested in are a problem. I am hoping that with the opening of the new Virginia and Truckee from Carson City to Virginia City last year, it will lead to a resurgence in interest in this era. - Nevin
For me, the “American” of the 1860´s and 1870´s has always been the most “American” of all steam locos. About a year ago, I started a similar thread, as I could not find any 4-4-0 from that period, other than Bachmann´s outdated and toyish locos.
The sad end of that thread is the following conclusion: There aren´t any others around! Apparently a loco of the type that built America is not of interest to the Athearns, Atlas, BLI´s or MTH´s of this world - you can probably earn more money by marketing the umpteenth Big Boy, Challenger or Cab Forward.
What a pity!
If you are lucky, you´ll be able to find a brass 4-4-0, which are a little oversize, but in any case better than Bachmann´s.
I wonder if the manufacturers don’t make the old locomotives because there is no interest, or if there appears to be no interest because almost no one makes them!
I suppose we should be thankful that at least Bachmann makes the historic locomotives, but it sure would be nice if they’d re-do them as Spectrum locos.</end dreaming sequence>
The only old timer 4-4-0 I’ve ever seen in real life would be the one in the museum in Duluth, MN. I couldn’t believe how ornate it was… the old black and white photos don’t do justice to what the locomotives really look like:
I suppose one thing that scares-away most manufacturers is this: link & pin couplers! Do any HO models have link and pin couplers!?!?
If you are willing to search and buy second-hand, the AHM - Rivarossi -IHC old time 4-4-0’s are nicer than the Bachmann “golden spike” locomotives (and yes, they are over sized). Another second-hand option might be the Mantua General; it is all metal, but the detailing level is on par with model trains designed in the late 1950’s or early 60’s.
Very few people will model the 1800’s when there are no decent quality locomotives available. There are some very nice craftsman rolling stock kits on the market from small manufacturers.
That, in fact, is the situation. The last hobby survey I saw regarding what eras hobbyists model indicated that those doing pre-WWI amounted to only a couple of percent. From the manufacturers’ point of view, that’s simply too few to take a chance on making any quality, early era specific, HO motivepower. With few exceptions, even accurate rollingstock of the period can be difficult to come by, although some kits are available and there have been articles on converting some crudely representative plastic cars into more acceptible models.
Yes, locos are a hard find unless you are willing to settle for the Bachmann or older stuff you may find floating around a trains show.
I have an N scale bachmann oldie I run around under the xmas tree, but I hear the Bachmann 4-4-0’s in HO have problems negotiating switches unless one modifies them to pick up on all wheels. SO I haven’t yet bought the Ho matching version. I would also want it DCC as I am the last one to try installing decoders and such…especially since those locos appear tight to put one in.
Now on another note I, too, would someday like to have a late 1800’s-early 1900’s layout someday when I have extra room. SO I saved a few links and a discussion about old time freight cars that might interest you, beside whats currently available from Roundhouse {cuz you gotta have something to pull behind those beautifull locos:’
Yup, it is not the lack of detail (which could easily be added), that disqualifies the Bachmann locos as toys - it is their bad running characteristics.
Just to wet your appetite, Caboose Hobbies sells this beauty for a little under 400 bucks:
Imagine, BLI or MTH releasing a “Golden Spike” set for the same price, with two beautifully decorated and detailed 4-4-0´s! I would beg, steal or borrow to get my hands on such a set! With a little marketing,I guess, there´d be a market for it - and not “only” collectors.
When I say that the Bachmann series are ‘toy like’, I’m referring to the lack of detail (compared to today’s trains) and plastic look… not too mention they look too big and have an unrealistic looking hunk of wires hanging out of the tender. One of my Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0’s has real wood for the tender load, where as the non-Spectrum 4-4-0’s just have a brown, molded wood load. Seems like a person would have to be a pretty skilled modeler to make the regular 4-4-0’s look like I’d like (and I’m not that skilled yet).
Ironically, the TV show “Petticoat Junction” is on right now [8D]
As a fellow CNW modeler, I have to say On30 would not be a problem. I have considered modeling the CNW dinky line that ran from Fennimore, WI to Woodman Wisconsin. FWIW I would recommend picking up the book “The Dinky, C@NW Narrow Gauge in Wisconsin” from the CNW historcial society. The Fennimore to Woodman line ran American style locomotives, The Bachmann locomotives would be a very close match. The line also ran 2-6-0 mogul locomotivse, I think a kitbash starting from a Bachmann loco would be a good choice if you are trying to model the strict prototype.
