Hi all I would like to have a Berkoff! Its simple modify a Bachmann Berkshire, and post your photos.
A friend and I have both come a cross some Berks. I did not have any affinity for the Nickle Plate, and he had no affinity for Pere Marquette. So we decided to have a little competition on who can make the more interesting looking locomotive for our home railroads.
Our dead line is to be done by the first Friday of next month (club meet). If anyone would like to jump in, and have some fun you are more then welcome. If you don’t want to put any paint on anything vote witch one tickles your fiance.
You could do a credible model of a Espee war baby berk, similar to those aquired secondhand from the B&M with that unique overhanging coffin feedwater heater, until reassigned to the Pacific Lines they continued to consume coal. Upon transfer, shop forces assigned surplus oil whaleback tenders from scrapped AM2’s with several receiving BL feedwater systems and sheet metal pilots late in life.
Thanks for the tip Dave. I had no idea the Espee had them, they look really neat with the whaleback. I was looking to turn mine to an oil burner too… just might have to see.
Personally I think those with the coffin and whaleback tenders are unique, SP was never fond of the coffin design and quickly replaced them with proven BL equivelents after the war which left a vast expanse of smokebox front exposed as SP declined to relocate the pilot mounted headlights, System standard sheet metal pilots were added at this time as well to those not so previously equipped, these revisions were more evident to observers by means of a coat of aluminum paint after 1946.
An brief overview of the more unique changes:
Pre 1946 details:
Orginal tenders equipped for coal operation
SP added number boards
Minimal lettering changes
Post 1946 details:
Removal of coffin-replacement with BL.
Surplus AM2 whaleback tenders assigned, orginals scrapped due to the necessity for heavy repairs.
McCormic short sheet metal pilots
Aluminum paint on smokebox & pilot, one is believed to have recieved the short lived white face treatment
My Berk has a NYC L-3c tender that is supposed to be on a Mowhawk 4-8-2 # 3058, 12 wheels with a water scoop, looks some good. BTW it’s a Pere Marquette loco.
This is before going to the paint shop, but this is an ATLANTIC CENTRAL heavy Mikado built by LIMA.
There are actually five of these, in three sub classes, one of which has a Vandy tender.
Considerable research revealed that such a loco could have been built. And that a similar, but smaller Mike was built with all the classic features of a LIMA Berkshire for the DT&I.
So the ATLANTIC CENTRAL versions are heavier and have the larger drivers.
Significant additional weight was added to these locos and various features mixed around from the three Bachmann versions to create the three sub classes. The decoders were removed as the ATLANTIC CENTRAL is DC controlled.
Like the B&O, the ATLANTIC CENTRAL was so happy with their 2-8-2’s, including these modern monsters, and it’s 4-8-2’s, it never bothered to roster a Berkshire.
I did this one for a friend, replacing the sand dome with one made using a dome from a Tyco 3 dome tank car. I also added a view block under the firebox - a little too much daylight showing there:
I had no idea! They look good as a Mikado. The all weather cab is a nice, and really neat looking as well. Cant wait to see what it look like when it get done.
We only got to do one night of running, and this is all we have of them in their original paint. Its at a Museum so you know people… umm talk.
