i’ve aquired a mantua 2-6-6-2, and i was wondering if there is a prototype locomotive for this model, and if so what is it. thanks for the help.
Not thatI know of. If there was it would have been a shortline like a logging outfit. Certainly not a class 1 mainline railroad. it was reviewed in MR when it first came out which I would estimate about 1965. MR thought it would be the engine everybody would want and said so in the review.
There were several versions of this engine. The original tank version was based upon the Uintah Ry 2-6-6-2t. The Uintah was a narrow gauge line, and mantua tweaked the dimensions in order to make a plausable standard gauge engine. The other versions (both tank and with tenders) are basically freelaced based upon that original Uintah model.
kevin
The prototype (all two of them) was built for the 36 inch gauge Uintah Ry, to haul Gilsonite on a heavily-graded route that had been laid out using a pretzel for a straightedge. Later, they were sold to the Sumpter Valley in Oregon, then went to Central America after the Sumpter Valley was abandoned. I believe, but cannot prove, that they were ‘de-tanked’ and given tenders by the Sumpter Valley.
Mantua’s standard gauge model is simply the narrow gauge engine with widened gauge, usually painted and decorated for a narrow gauge rail line that never owned an inch of standard gauge track.
My own ‘standard gauge’ Mantua 2-6-6-2T is scheduled for a visit to the shops, from which it will emerge as a 42-inch gauge, 1:80 scale monster with Japanese features and no known prototype.
Chuck.
Here is a link to some info:
http://loggingmallets.railfan.net/models/mantua/mantua.htm
Jim
I have seen photographs proving the Sumpter Valley “detanked and tenderized” the former Unitah 2-6-6-2s.
Last summer LGB did a re-run of the detanked and tenderized Sumpter Valley 2-6-6-2 - in G-Scale - it’s a big brute…only problem is that I haven’t got many US-outline freight cars to go with it …but it still looks and sounds great…