A friend is working on a layout set in Norway in the 1930s/1940s. I was wondering if anyone had tips on where to get a US engine that would look somewhat similar to a Norwegian State Railroads type 32 steam engine - ie a 2-6-2 tank engine looking like this (click on image to see bigger) :
Original was built by US engine maker Baldwin, and was 11.3 meters (37 feet) long, and weighted about 52 tons. They were originally bought as helpers for the RR line across the Dovre mountains, but were also used as motive power for local trains for a number of years.
24 engines were built between 1917 and 1921 (10 of them on license in Norway or Sweden), and the last one wasn’t retired from regular service until 1969.
Any suggestions for a not too expensive H0 scale model that could be made to look like a reasonable approximation for this 2-6-2T engine without too much rebuilding ?
(Image linked from http://www.jernbane.net/norge/- a web site on Norwegian railroads).
(Thread moved from prototype forum to general forum - it is not a prototype question).
Too bad you don’t model in S scale, there is a dandy Baldwin kit available that can be customized to your every whim…Now back to your question, think brass, many moons ago, companies such as United and PFM offered brass 2-6-2T’s though not that European, these were based on domistic models built for the timber/mining industry and would require considerable effort to duplicate as per the photo. I see a major kitbash job ahead no matter what you start with, perhaps Roco has some suitable canidates, i’m sure a Google search for them will prove most benificial.
Although locomotives of this general type (usually referred to as Suburbans as a class) were surprisingly common in eastern and even mid-western commuter service over here from the around 1900 until mid century, no manufacturer has ever seen fit to produce one in plastic.
Brass has seen a few related heavy examples offered, like the CNJ 4-6-4T and the B&A’s stocky 4-6-6T, while a number of much more diminutive examples, technically Forneys, have also been offered over the years. Several importers offered what they termed a 2-6-2T “convertible” Suburban about 1960 (you could assemble it in several different wheel arrangements) and although similar, were definitely lighter than the one you illustrate. In S-gauge, Rex once offered a wonderful NYC D-1a 2-4-4T. Still, nothing exactly like the one you pictured has ever appeared.
Creating one in its likeness would certainly require a major kitbashing effort. Probably the best starting point would be a Lima or Marklin European tank engine body but massive rebuilding would be necessary. In brass, one or another of the many logging tank engine bodies might be more adaptable, mating it with a new mechanism.
Thank you very much both of you for your answers! I’ll look into Roco, Lima and Märklin to see if I can find a plastic body that could be modified into a likeness of the 2-6-2 Norwegian State Railroads type 32 tank engine.
I very much doubt that you will find a body that is even close, such are the distinctive Norwegian features of this loco. Nor is there any Baldwin stock engine that is similar in appearance. Preesumably this engine was designed either by the NSB or one of the Norwegian builders such as Falun, because it is not in any way representative of Baldwin designs.
As another poster suggested, look in one of the European maker’s ranges for a 2-6-2T mechanism that is close, and scratchbuild a new body. It really isn’t difficult! [:)]
The photo you posted shows an engine with typically Germanic cylinders, motion and running gear. I seem to recall a Roco model of a Saxon or Bayern engine of that wheel arrangement, which may provide a suitable mechanism. Klein Modellbahn used to do a little OBB 2-6-2T that might also work.
Very minor nitpick - although the locomotive works at Falun has built quite a few engines for the Norwegian State Railways, they technically are a Swedish builder, not a Norwegian one - Norwegians and Swedes had a peaceful divorce back in '05 (1905, that is) [:)]
But I do see your point. NSB steam engines doesn’t really look all that American, even the ones built by Baldwin and shipped across the Atlantic to Norway.
Thank you! Looking at German models engines, I found someone (Svein Sando) in Norway who had done a kitbash of the NSB 2-6-2 type 32 tank engine from a German Fleischmann kit (kit #1350) of a Deutsches Bundesbahn (DB) Baureihe (BR/Class) 24 (which is a 2-6-0 tender engine).
Sando ended up using just the wheels, cylinders and the engines, and built the rest from wood and cardboard. Doesn’t look too bad:
Thank you! Looking at German models engines, I found someone (Svein Sando) in Norway who had done a kitbash of the NSB 2-6-2 type 32 tank engine from a German Fleischmann kit (kit #1350) of a Deutsches Bundesbahn (DB) Baureihe (BR/Class) 24 (which is a 2-6-0 tender engine).
Why not use a Fleischmann BR64 2-6-2T, which is the tank equivalent of the BR24?
Wow - that Brawa made Wuertemberg State Railroads T5 is a pretty good fit for the Norwegian State Railroads Type 32!
Wheel arrangement and cylinders look right, boiler and water tank looks good - the two small domes on top of the boiler would need to replaced by one bigger dome, and the cab would need a little modification - basically to remove the rear side window and move that window next to the front side window - but those are mods that should be fairly easy to make - not any fancy curves or any such thing.
A wee bit on the pricey side at $350 on the tee-usa web site, but certainly worth investigating further to see if anyone else has it at a lower price. Cool!
Mmm - that Fleischmann 2-6-2T BR64 you mentioned isn’t half bad as a starting point for a kitbash either.
I finally did what I should have done right away - went to http://www.fleischmann.de and spelled my way through the menus in my rather rusty German. Good thing they have pictures. Fleischmann product nos 4061, 4062 and 4063 also would also seem to be good candidates for a kitbash of the NSB type 32 2-6-2T tank engine. Seems like they go for 135 Euro ($200) and upwards on German ebay.
