This posting is to express the desire that one of the “volume” manufacturers produce an 8-coupled (2-8-0, 2-8-2, 4-8-0) with 55" to 57" drivers.
I specifically want N&W class M and M2 4-8-0, but would be happy with a mechanism.
Thank you
That is a pretty small driver so we are talking about older power perhaps of the first world war era or before. Don’t ignore the Bowser/Varney and MDC metal kits.
Dave Nelson
Nigel has a good point. The 57" driver, especially, was probably the most commonly used size on 2-8-0s. The Bowser 2-8-0s have 61" or 63" wheels, and the MDC 2-8-0s have either 50"or 63" wheels. The only 57"-driver models in HO scale have been brass imports. A model of the Harriman Common Standard 2-8-0, such as the Union Pacific engine in the "MODEL RAILROADER Cyclopedia – Vol. 1: Steam Locomotives,’ drawing 23, would be useful for modelers of many prototypes.
So long,
Andy
Hi Dave;
Most type were built pre-WWI, and many lasted to the end of steam. Harriman 2-8-0’s lasted to the end of steam on the UP, SP and others, as Andy mentions above. All of Virginian 2-8-2 had this size drivers. AT&SF had steam locomotives with this size driver to the end.
Current models with this size range drivers, that I am aware of are: Spectrum low driver 4-6-0, Life Like Proto 2000 Heritage 2-8-8-2, and the new Bowser PRR B-6 0-6-0 http://www.bowser-trains.com/holocos/B-6/B6.htm. The Bachmann Chinese 2-10-0 has disc drivers of this size, the only US application that I am aware are Virginian’s rebuilt 2-8-2’s.
Ho big are the drivers on the Rivarossi 0-8-0? Years ago there were several articles on how to kitba***his engine into several others by Vic Roseman - most of his work was New Haven as I recall but he made several conversions with it. For a N&W engine you would have to do extensive boiler modification or replace it with something else.
The Riv IHB 0-8-0 has the same drivers as thier Y6b … too small, about 52", but the flanges are huge to make up for it. More recent ones with smaller flanges are around 54".
A VGN MB or MC might be nice, or maybe a L&N J-1 or J-2. But I doubt Athearn, Bachman or Life Like will touch that.
Why the major manufacturers have failed to build a loco with this size drivers is beyond me… This configuration was very typical motive power for most of the railroads of the Appalachian regions – the C&O’s 2-8-0’s, the N&W’s 4-8-0’s, the VGN’s “Mikes”, all operated to the very end of steam…
It might be worth mentioning this in Bachmann’s online forum at their website. I’d especially love to see an MB produced. My earliest childhood memory is of blowing the whistle on a VGN MB when I was 18-months old! 
This posting is to express the desire that one of the “volume” manufacturers produce an 8-coupled (2-8-0, 2-8-2, 4-8-0) with 55" to 57" drivers.
I specifically want N&W class M and M2 4-8-0, but would be happy with a mechanism.
Thank you
That is a pretty small driver so we are talking about older power perhaps of the first world war era or before. Don’t ignore the Bowser/Varney and MDC metal kits.
Dave Nelson
Nigel has a good point. The 57" driver, especially, was probably the most commonly used size on 2-8-0s. The Bowser 2-8-0s have 61" or 63" wheels, and the MDC 2-8-0s have either 50"or 63" wheels. The only 57"-driver models in HO scale have been brass imports. A model of the Harriman Common Standard 2-8-0, such as the Union Pacific engine in the "MODEL RAILROADER Cyclopedia – Vol. 1: Steam Locomotives,’ drawing 23, would be useful for modelers of many prototypes.
So long,
Andy
Hi Dave;
Most type were built pre-WWI, and many lasted to the end of steam. Harriman 2-8-0’s lasted to the end of steam on the UP, SP and others, as Andy mentions above. All of Virginian 2-8-2 had this size drivers. AT&SF had steam locomotives with this size driver to the end.
Current models with this size range drivers, that I am aware of are: Spectrum low driver 4-6-0, Life Like Proto 2000 Heritage 2-8-8-2, and the new Bowser PRR B-6 0-6-0 http://www.bowser-trains.com/holocos/B-6/B6.htm. The Bachmann Chinese 2-10-0 has disc drivers of this size, the only US application that I am aware are Virginian’s rebuilt 2-8-2’s.
Ho big are the drivers on the Rivarossi 0-8-0? Years ago there were several articles on how to kitba***his engine into several others by Vic Roseman - most of his work was New Haven as I recall but he made several conversions with it. For a N&W engine you would have to do extensive boiler modification or replace it with something else.
The Riv IHB 0-8-0 has the same drivers as thier Y6b … too small, about 52", but the flanges are huge to make up for it. More recent ones with smaller flanges are around 54".
A VGN MB or MC might be nice, or maybe a L&N J-1 or J-2. But I doubt Athearn, Bachman or Life Like will touch that.
Why the major manufacturers have failed to build a loco with this size drivers is beyond me… This configuration was very typical motive power for most of the railroads of the Appalachian regions – the C&O’s 2-8-0’s, the N&W’s 4-8-0’s, the VGN’s “Mikes”, all operated to the very end of steam…
It might be worth mentioning this in Bachmann’s online forum at their website. I’d especially love to see an MB produced. My earliest childhood memory is of blowing the whistle on a VGN MB when I was 18-months old!