On my layout I have besides the main line a separate spur line serving a mine and also a logging operation.
I had a Shay and a Climax serving these two industries, however I have been looking for another locomotives to act as back up. In the yard of the spur line have a small turntable and engine house. I was going to pickup a tank locomotive but came across a Baldwin 2-4-4-2 that I just could not pass. To say the least, the price was right.
I had seen listings for this engine for sale a few times but passed as the prices were always more than I thought the engine was worth. The ads were few and far between. As this engine is somewhat rare the high prices paid did not seem out of line as the engine is scarce.
When I received the engine I was surprised at how detailed it is, not to mention heavy. Well I have now had the engine painted and just finished breaking in the engine. I can not believe I have a 40 year old engine that was never used, just kept in a display case.
Since I acquired the Baldwin 2-4-4-2 I have seen a number of ads for that engine. Sure is strange that one I bought one, suddenly there are ads all over.
Did you get one of the Oriental Powerhouse ones? I would guess not mine has only been sitting in its box for 25 years. Perhaps it is officially a ‘brass’ Akane they had some mass to them.
I have nothing that has been sitting nearly 40 year, but plenty that are in the 25 year range. To get them all “run” would be difficult at best. Getting them all “broke in” would be a major project which I care not to embark on.
The engine has an open frame motor which ran surprisingly well for something this old.
I bought a bunch of super magnets (whole earth magnets) last year and changed out the old magnet for 4 of the new ones. It is surprising how much better the engine now runs just with this simple change.
It now starts quicker and has better slow speed control. I was going to change out the gears but I do not think it is necessary.
I am still left wondering why are there so many of these 2-4-4-2’s available at the moment. It sure seams that there is a lot of brass collections hitting the market lately. So is this the legacy of dying baby boomers?
I have one of the Oriental ones that is still running well. For comparitive purposes, I did some checking on the tractive effort of various prototypes to better fit the 2-4-4-2 to an appropriate train:
Ma & Pa 4-4-0 #6 (Bachmann Spectrum modern 4-4-0) - TE 16,640
Ma & Pa 4-6-0 #27 (Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0)- TE 23,660
Little River 2-4-4-2 #126 - TE 24,600
Ma & Pa “light” 2-8-0 #24 - TE 25,770
3-Truck Shay, approx. size of Bachmann 3-truck Shay - TE 30,350