D&H Camelbacks

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

i am modeling a 1900-1920+ era branch line of the D&H RR. I am having trouble finding 2-8-0 Camelback steam from that era. Or even the D&H camelback conversions to consolidated power. Any help?

2

an old brass D&H camelback pops up on ebay every once in a while. You can save a search and receive an email whenever on is listed for bid.

3

Or build your own…

:slight_smile:

I made this from a Bachmann 2-8-0

4

Gidday, there are some talented gentlemen here that may give you some inspiration…

http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5279

Cheers, the Bear.

5

So what’s the theory of operation with these things? Is the fireman in the back and the engineer in the cab? Or were both in the cab and these things had mechanical stokers?

6

Fireman was on the platform at the rear of the locomotive.

Andre

7

Try to find Jim Shaughnessy’s, Delaware and Hudson book.

Rich

8

Gidday, here’s a link for an explanation…

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/camelback/

Cheers, the Bear.

9

In Jim Holton’s history of the Reading, there is an entire chapter devoted to the birth of the camelback. The description above doesn’t quite match the history documented by Holton.

The original Wooten firebox engines had the cab on top of the firebox (which was wide and shallow). The P&R had many engines in this configuration. Italy had reserves of anthracite coal so the P&R sent a 4-6-0 and crew to Italy to demonstrate the Wooten firebox. The problem was that with the cab on top of the firebox the engine was too tall to fit through the tunnels in Italy. So the crew moved the cab to a position in front of the firebox, lowering the cab and the cameback was born.

The story about having to put the cab ahead of the firebox for visibilty is an obvious urban legend since there were hundreds of Wooten firebox engines with end cabs (the RDG T-1 4-8-4’s had Wooten fireboxes and end cabs). The last Pacifics built in the US were the Wooten firebox G3 's with end cabs built by the RDG in 1948.

10

My understanding - at least for the D&H - was that they wanted the larger firebox, but that made the rear of the engine too wide to accommodate the cab, so the cab was moved forward where it was narrower.

Mark.