Looking at the engines released in plastic/diecast, it got me thinking about what steam engines I am surprised that they haven’t made yet in HO scale. I am not talking about what engines I would like, but what engines might be so popular as to warrant a model. Since a lot of the USRA and common engines like the Berskhire have done. Here is my list:
B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4
ATSF 2-10-4 5100 class (also leased by the Pennsylvania Railroad)
#1 and #6, while both attractive locos, comprise 2/3 of all the locos of this wheel arrangement: B&O 30 EM-1, DM&IR 8 M-3, 10 M-4, along with NP 12 Z-5, and SP 12 AC-9.
#2 I’m not familiar with this loco, but Broadway makes the 3800 Class as well as the PRR version - I don’t know if these are candidates for kitbashing or not.
#3 Another attractive loco, but one of only 12 built.
#4 I’d suggest that anyone interested should start saving now: as a one-off, this is unlikely to appear as anything other than brass.
#5 I can’t find much on these other than the 4501 at the Smithsonian, but a credible model can be had with a kitbash of the old Rivarossi USRA Heavy Pacific, and it might be possible to use the running gear from a BLI USRA Light Pacific with the superstructure (boiler, cab, etc.) of the BLI Heavy Mikado - the prototype USRA Pacifics and Mikados used the same boiler - although the “light” boiler was smaller in diameter than the “heavy”. The Ps-4 is closer to the “Heavy” version.
Not to get into an argument, but remember, only 25 Big Boys were ever built by Alco, and they all went to only one railroad–Union Pacifc–yet almost every hobby manufacturer around has built a model of them. So the Yellowstone analogy doesn’t really work, here.
The wish list doesn’t seem to be about the number of PROTOTYPES built, but about locomotives that seem to be on the top of a lot of modeler’s ‘wish lists’ for manufacture. For instance, I live in California and model a western railroad, but let me tell you, if a mfgr like BLI came out with a model of the C&O Greenbrier 4-8-4, I’d be badgering my LHS to death to get it in for me. Okay, so only 12 were built, but it’s still a very distinctive–and IMO–beautiful example of the 4-8-4 wheel arrangement in its prime. And from what I’ve read in other posts, it would probably sell very well. Same thing for the Missabe Yellowstones–it’s usually always among the top 3 whenever anyone posts a ‘to-do’ steamer list for manufacturers. And as Elauterbach wrote, even the brass ones are selling so well they’re hard to find–I know, I’m looking for some more, myself.
But I certainly agree with you about the Mohawk–now that’s one handsome 4-8-2 that has been overlooked for WAY too long.
I’m pretty ignorant about steam but it probably has to do not strictly with the number made, but the popularity too. That probably explains the Big Boy.
As much as some Rio Grande prototypes would be nice, again, too rare to justify.
Docwayne, maybe we can look to MTH as the possible marketer of the PRR turbine. They seem to be bent on bringing the Erie Triplex to market, so maybe they are on to something that we don’t “get” over here.
Tom, you’re certainly right about the Big Boy, although part of its cachet is due to its “biggest” tag. It is a handsome loco, though, as are the ones suggested. I think that some of the popularity of some of these locos can be attributed to the fact that there are still examples extant, and it would probably be good for the hobby to see any or all of them produced. Having started model railroading in the late '50s, I’m continuously amazed by the locos that manufacturers are bringing out, so perhaps any of these locos are possible in the not-too-distant future. As modellers in general become more aware of what existed outside of their personal experiences or favourites, the market for some of these relatively obscure locos grows, and as demand creates a viable market, some manufacturer is sure to respond. The Internet could be a useful tool for organising the demand for particular locos, so it’s really up to the potential customers to get the ball rolling. As a dyed-in-the-wool kitbasher, though, I’m probably not in that group. [swg]
My list was of engines that I think might be popular enough to be produced. The Mohawk and smaller Heisler are good candidates. The Rivarossi Heisler is way too big. Maybe Bachmann will do this for their Spectrum line. I was thinking that BLI was coming out with a Mohawk in the near future. I would be surprised if MTH did the Turbine. I know that there was only one, but I think that Lionel’s Post-war model of this engine makes it a good possibility.
If you are talking about just number made of the actual engine, then the Pennsy L1 2-8-2 should be near the top.
Aside from the aforementioned Yellowstone, I’d like to see some decent 19th century 4-4-0’s produced, especially NYC 999. Atlantics are another class that seem to have been completely forgotten in HO. Those early high-drivered locos had a great look to them.
Maybe not. It would appear that the manufacturers think there is a market for one-offs, hence the forthcoming Erie triplex. Since I’m not privy to the information they had when deciding to build them, it’s entirely possible that MTH knows something I don’t. Maybe they know that the average modeller would still rather have something that was weird and unusual, rather than typical and mundane.
I’m amazed that anyone would want a triplex, in the same way that I’m amazed there are so many Big Boys on the market, when they were no more than a miniscule class of quite ugly engines running in a very limited area on one railroad.
If it were my choice, I’d perhaps go for one of the so-called WPB 4-8-4s based on the SP GS-class engines, for the WP and CofG. Or one of the Alco 4-8-4s that had similar dimensions to the NYC S-1s - Rock Island, Milwaukee or D&H.
I personally like modern 4-8-4s - The NP A-4s & A-5s, the RF&P engines, the 1935 batch of C&O J-3s, the Frisco 4500s and the MP engines all appeal to me.
Wayne–you make a really GOOD point about manufacturers wanting to model steam locos of which there are at least some examples still in existance–either running or in museums.
For instance, I model mainly Rio Grande standard-gauge steam (of which there is only one existing prototype loco, a little 2-8-0–all the rest were scrapped by the railroad). And since the prototypes are not available for railfans or hobbyists to see and enjoy, except in photographs or films, it makes it tricky for a mfgr to produce, say, one of their L-131 2-8-8-2’s or L-105 4-6-6-4’s in anything but brass, due to what they think might be a very limited market. Ergo–my roster is either brass or kit-bashed (kind of a lost art, don’t you think, these days?).
Definately the Southern Ps-4. As it was elegant and in it’s own class
I could see a C&O Greenbrier as these were a Handsome engine and were well proportioned and C&O is a frequently modelled RR. One of the reasons, I suspect, we see a lot of PRR releases and UP releases.
A Royal Hudson. Unfortunately as a Canadian Engine it’s appeal may be restricted to mostly the Canadian market. Then again when True Line Trains CN 4-8-4 did a pre-release of a 1000 units they sold very quick, quicker than anyone anticipated.
A Yellowstone would also be a nice addition. but is the market there?
Saying all this maybe we have to ask the manufacturers what criteria they use when deciding on a new product. How do they calculate what will fly and what won’t?
Why did MTH decide on a Triplex? They had their reasons, hey I might even get one myself
Which are the most modelled Railroads in the hobby? Does this help to determine new releases?
You cant forget the PRR H series of engines. Thousands were made and not much diference between them. I realy could use a couple of H9s, H10s or even an H8s. I would think that would be a gold mine for someone. And dont forget the streamlined K4s.
PCM is coming out with the I1s in HO that looks good but I dont care for the Loksound horn/whistle volumes being so low. If I get one it will be non sound and Tsunnami it.
All I know is that I would give up all my MRR purchases for a year to save up for an Northern Pacific W-3 Mikado, if only someone would build one that I could afford (i.e. le$$ than or equal to my yearly MRR budget).
I would like to see a really good small slide valve Baldwin 2-8-0 similar to the Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0. I have some really good ideas for the prototype they could copy, if they are interested - Nevin
I want to see B&A, and B&M Pacifics. NYC ran their Pacifics on the former B&A main line from Boston to NY after the 20’s, but all the B&A Pacifics were still being used right up into the late 40’s. And on all the B&M rail lines, Pacifics ran all over New England…so where are they Atlas, Athearn, P2K, BLI, etc.???
Also, the sports model Berkshires that ran on the former B&A/NYC in New England, where are they ?
- Nevin