I recently picked up an old LMB brass Lake Shore and Michigan Southern ten wheeler, obviously a passenger engine. From what little I can find online, they used 2-8-0’s for freight power. All I can find for pics, very few at that, are post 1900 engines with piston valves. Trying to stay pre 1900 and in the realm of older brass/diecast engines. Something with slide valves, wonder if the old Akane Ma&Pa 2-8-0, while a poor representive of that line, with a steel cab and an Arc headlight might pass for a stand in for one of thier engines. For being a prequil to the NYC water level route, very little is left, or atleast documented online in the way of engine pics ect. The late 2-8-0’s were built by Brooks and had inward slanted piston valve cylinders with inside valve motion. Not much out there that looks like that. Debating whether to move up a few years into NYC engines and just use the old ten wheeler on the branch line like it was a hand me down engine. Mike
If you’re serious about modelling the Lake Shore in the early days, you should pick up “Steam Locomotives of the New York Central Lines, Volume 2” which includes data and pictures on the LS&MS engines back to the beginning. It costs $42.33 for non-members, or right now they have a sale where you can buy Vol 1 and 2 together for $62.80. (It’s a bit less for members.)