I’ve got a few questions concerning the Spectrum version of the C&O 2-6-6-2. First of all there’s two models of it, the original that came out about four or five years ago with the bell above the front of the smoke box pulling a box tender, and the more recent version with the bell about half way to the middle of the boiler and pulling a Vandy tender. The numbers on the first version are in the 1500s while they’re in the lower 1400s on the recent version. My question is are these details correct to the prototypes ?..
The older model, with the rectanglular tender, is the “newer” prototype, a model of a C&O H5, which is also a USRA 2-6-6-2.
The new model, with the Vanderbilt tender is a model of a C&O H4, an earlier prototype on the C&O.
Both models are reasonably correct in their details, and yes the respective bell locations are correct. The sand domes on the H4 model are not exact to the prototype, but other than that is a good representation.
Both models share the same drive and basic boiler but with different details to their specific prototypes. The two different models to have slightly different onboard electronics.
The driver size, major deminsions, etc, of the two prototypes is very close. It is my understanding that the H4 was the starting point for the USRA when they designed what became the H5.
I have both models, three of the H5 and one H4. They run and pull well.
The original 2-6-6-2 is a USRA 2-6-6-2. The C&O examples of this design were designated class H-5. The newer model is actually a modification of Spectrum’s H-5 release but is detailed to represent C&O class H-4. In essence, the newer release is an attempt (rather successful, I think) to get more mileage out of existing tooling. The most obvious differences between the H-4 and the H-5 are the slide valves on the low pressure engine of the H-4 and the use of the Vanderbilt tender