Have you ever visited the the Northern Pacific’s Railway Historical Association’s (NPRHA) website? If not take a look http://www.nprha.org/Pages/Home.aspx go to the Company Store and click on “Select Product” then click on “Books”, there are 6 pages of books on the N.P. and related materials.
I have all the Era books by Schrenk & Frey: Pioneer Steam Era, Classic Steam Era, Super Steam Era and Diesel Era. I also have the book "The Northern Pacific of McGee & Nixon". I have bought some books through the Company Store and other outlets which might have better prices. You can also buy copies of the NPRHA’s Main Streeter quarterly magazine and I have copies where specific items are discussed, such as the N.P.'s Cabooses and other things which interest me. The Mainstreeter Magazine has a column on modeling in every issue and talks of new releases from the manufacturers as they come out. The Company Store also has three pages of modeling items: decals, Car kits and structures, catering to the big three, N, O and HO scales.
I don’t model the NP but have 3 NP diesels 2 GP9’s and an S4. I grew up in western Montana(Butte) and when I was young(mid 60’s) my dad would take us kids and our mom to the train station and we would ride the train to Deer Lodge where our dad would pick us up and take us home. What a thrill. I remember getting to climb up into the cab to get a look while the train was unloading and loading passengers. Joe
While simply because I am a Northern Pacific modeler, I would agree with you about the beauty of N.P.’s Challengers, this is not the first time I’ve heard people state that they thought the N.P.’s Challenger locomotives where the most beautiful locomotives, ever! Possibly it may have been twhite in a previous discussion that made the comment.
However, what makes Northern Pacific’s Challengers such a favorite?
It could possibly be that the 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement itself is popular with steam modelers, since it represents both speed (four wheel leading and trailing trucks, six wheel driver sets) and power (the articulation). And they were, both speedy and relatively speaking (for an articulated) powerful. Powerful enough for expedited freight and fast enough for passenger–a true dual-service steam locomotive.
As to the asthetics of the locomotive, that gets down to personal choice. UP Challengers are very popular for their ‘clean’ lines, though I find them pretty “sterile” looking for a big steamer. I like my big steam articulateds cluttered up with front-hung air pumps, “eyebrow” Elesco feedwater heaters–all the “guts” hanging out in plain view, lol! That’s why I prefer the big Missabe and NP Yellowstones to the UP Big Boy, or the Rio Grande and NP/SP&S Challengers to the UP 3800’s. They just look as if they mean BUSINESS! And that slightly extended smokebox of the NP Challeng
I model Rio Grande and SP steam during the WWII–Korean conflict era. And since it’s the “war” years and railroads were leasing foreign road motive power all over the place, it’s also allowed me to bring in Missabe Yellowstones–which the Rio Grande actually leased during the winters when the ore docks on the great lakes were frozen over-- and Burlington and C&O power as well.
Another bit of trivia regarding NP, they became owner of the famed Timken “Four Aces”. Alas, to their discredit, they allowed this locomotive go to scrap despite efforts to preserve it.
Yes, I do know the story of the Timken Northern, which was re-numbered as N.P. 2626. I also regret that this locomotive wasn’t kept from the scrapers torch!. Several engineers who ran N.P. 2626 have stated it is was the best of the locos they ever drove!