Brass: Is the B&O that much more popular than the Western Maryland?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have been pricing 2-8-0’s for the B&O and for the Western Maryland. At any given moment on can find various B&O consolidations on Ebay or on the internet for relatively little money. It looks like PFM cranked out thousands of these. WM on the other hand is really difficult to find anything besides those huge 4-8-4’s. Very rarely ,a WM 2-8-0 shows up but they usually want about $900 for it. I really could use a WM consolidation but they seem very rare and expensive. What is the deal here? Is the B&O so much more popular than the WM or has the WM developed such a cult following that no one ever sells their collection until they die? Did anyone ever import a reasonably priced WM 2-8-0? It makes one think about becoming a PRR fan (just kidding!) - Nevin

2

I think that B&O is more popular. Not as popular as the Santa Fe or PRR, but more so than WM.
Enjoy
Paul

3

WM M-2 challengers, H7, H8,H9 consolidations, I1 and I2 decapods,and the infamous Potomacs are all available in brass.
Shays too, but really pricey!!

Yeah, the B&O was more popular (and bigger) but the WM has a charm all its own!

Yes WM modelers are a cult, skin us a cat, we’ll let you in![}:)]

4

I am already in the cult: www.mvrrc.org/ncwv_layouts/nevin.htm

I love the Western Maryland- Nevin

5

Unfortunately, the B&O IS more popular than WM. Several of the reasons:

  1. Look at a route map. B&O went more places and had more direct influence on more people.
  2. The B&O museum, including that covered-turntable roundhouse and all the artifacts therein. If the WM has anything comparable, I’ve never heard of it.
  3. Mel Thornburgh. For those who are too young to remember, Mr. Thornburgh was a master locomotive builder who was also a B&O employee. His construction articles, almost all of which dealt with B&O locomotives, were ubiquitous in mid-century Model Railroader Magazine, and undoubtedly influenced the thinking of brass importers.

I, personally, think that the WM had more impressive steam, but my opinion didn’t have much impact on the market, since I wasn’t buying U.S. prototype rolling stock…