I was surprised to see how many manufacturers have produced the 2-10-2 in either the Light or Heavy versions. I have seen versions made by Bachmann in their Spectrum line, Proto in their steam Heritage line as well as those made by Bowser, IHC and BLI.
How popular were these locomotives?
If you call 175 Heavies and 94 Lights ever built popular - they were popular!
Don,
Actually, non of the models you listed are models of the same design. As a wheel arrangement they were moderately popular in the first 20 years of the 20th Century.
And lots of different designs where built in that wheel arrangement. About 2,200 total in North America.
But in the all time list of popular wheel arrangements, they are pretty far down:
2-8-0’s - 33,000 locos
4-4-0’s - 25,000 locos
4-6-0’s - 17,000 locos
2-8-2’s - 14,000 locos
2-6-0’s - 11,000 locos
4-6-2’s - 6,800 locos
2-10-0’s - 4,100 locos
4-8-2’s - 2,400 locos
2-10-2’s - 2,200 locos
4-4-2’s - 1,900 locos
2-6-6-2’s -1,300 locos
4-8-4’s - 1,000 locos
2-8-4’s - 750 locos
4-6-4’s - 500 locos
4-6-6-4’s - 200 locos
2-6-6-6 - 70 locos
4-8-8-4’s 25 locos
As you can see, many of the most “famous” wheel arrangements were actually quite rare.
Sheldon
Between 1903 and 1931 a total of 2200 2-10-2 s were built as opposed to 22,000 2-8-0 Consolidations in the same period, however Berkshires 2-8-4 (1924-1949) 611 built; 2-10-4 s Texas(1925 -1949) 429; 4-8-2 Mountain (1911- 1948 ) 2201; 4-6-4 Hudson (1927- 1948) 487; 4-8-4 Northern (1926-1950) 1115 built so the 2-10-2 really was a fairly popular wheel arrangement
I obviously did not make myself clear that I was refering to the various models and not the real locomotives.
The reason I am asking how popular were the models is that over the last few months I have seen a number of these engines advertised at “blow out” prices.
I myself have a couple of these locomotives (by Proto and Bachmann) and am very happy them. They are fine running engines. However I do not think the models sold well at all.
Don, sorry I misunderstood. I suspect the models are not popular because they only had limited popularity on the prototype.
By the thirties, railroads were interested in more speed, hence the development of Berksires, bigger Mikes, more powerfull 4-8-2’s and finally the 4-8-4.
2-10-2’s, while very good drag freight locos, could be hard on trackage. Long wheel base small driver designs often suffered from balance and curve issues which limited their speed. There were exceptions, or unique applications in which they did well, but they were far from versitale work a day locos like 2-8-2’s, 2-8-4’s, 4-8-2’s and 4-8-4’s.
So, as models they likely only appeal to a small group modeling those specific situations in which these locos were successful.
For example, my protolanced ATLANTIC CENTRAL does not have any 2-10-2’s as they would not be suitable for our railroads sharp curves, steep grades, and need for moderate to fast speeds.
In place of locos like a 2-10-2, we prefer locos like 2-6-6-2’s, 2-6-6-4’s amd 2-6-6-6’s. We also have a large fleet of Heavy 2-8-2’s and 4-8-2’s, all of which are more nimble on grades and curves.
Additionally, many modelers do not buy models just because they are available or because they are good runners or well detailed. Many modelers only buy what fits the theme of their layout.
Sheldon
The 2-10-2 was quite popular on the Southern Pacific. In the last few steam-era decades, one would commonly find the type powering mainline freight trains if not headed by an articulated. They were frequently used as helper locomotives on certain routes too. The SP labeled its 2-10-2 locomotives as “F” class; “F” meaning “Freight.” SP local and branchline freights were commonly headed by the 2-8-0 and 2-6-0 locomotive, although the 2-10-2 locos worked on branchlines that could handle them, such as the Napa/Vallejo branch. The SP eschewed freight locomotives with 4-wheel trailing trucks. The railroad favored heavy, slow freights. Its expedited freight trains (such as for produce traffic) were usually headed by 4-8-2 and 4-8-8-2 locomotives.
Mark
Thank your to all who responded.
Your comments certainly explain why I have seen so many models of the 2-10-2 marked down so drastically in price.
I am still surprised at how many manufacturers produced models of the 2-10-2’s.
I understand what you are saying, but when you consider that the Bowser loco is out of production, likely for good, and the IHC model is freelanced and also out of production for the time being, that only leaves three.
USRA types have proven to be good sellers in all wheel arrangements and the USRA light 2-10-2 uses the same boiler as a USRA Heavy 4-8-2, which likely explains why Bachmann chose to model it - they already had the boiler, cab and basics for the tenders.
As for Broadway, the ATSF did originate the type and that’s what they do - big and famous.
Sheldon
Most modelers buy locomotives that don’t fit their layouts’ themes or their themes are so flexible that most anything goes. How else could companies sell so many thousands of Big Boys, just for an example. The problem with the 2-10-2 is that it isn’t unique enough. (I think they’re beautiful beasts, particularly with large-capacity, six-axled tenders.)
Mark
Sheldon, I don’t see the 2-10-0 in your list. I’m curious as to its placement…
-Crandell
2-10-0 - 4,100 locos
Sheldon
Maybe so, but how many of those are shelf queens? Most modelers I know don’t buy all that “famous” stuff. I would actually like to know where it all goes.
Among the modelers I associate with there are way more Spectrum 2-8-0’s than Big Boys, PRR K4’s, Challengers, N&W J’s, NYC Hudsons, UP FEF’s etc. I don’t own any of these, and except for K4’s, since we have a few PRR guys in the group, few in our group have even one copy of that other suff.
Sheldon
Thanks, Sheldon! Interesting that the numbers between the 2-10-x’s are so similar.
-Crandell
Supporting Mark’s statement, consider the replies one repeatedly sees in threads that ask the question, “How many locomotives do you have?” The most common answer is 50 to 100, with many folks claiming well beyond that top figure. Now, the “average” layout probably requires no more than a dozen locomotives, at most, to handle just about any reasonable operating scenario/session. So what are all the rest doing? Look for them to be filling shelves, in storage in draws, or under the layout. There are far, far, more “collectors” in this hobby than there are serious model railroaders. Even so, the market is still typically much too small to support having more than one manufacturer bring in a given item at a particular time.
Incidentally, the brass market went through a couple of eras of copycat-itis, too, with several importers bringing in essentially identical items almost simultaneously. It spelled doom for some of them, especially those that were just a little late with the item’s arrival, finding the very limited market had already dried up and they couldn’t quickly recoup their investments.
CNJ831
1 Most people like me that are not modeling a prototype rail road like big engines. Most of my engines are big. Dash 9’s, GE AC 6000’s, SD 40-2’s, Big Boy, Y6 b and others. Something like Muscle Cars. Yea a mint 30,000 mile 225 slant six Barracuda would be cool, but I would be looking for a 440 to drop in to it. My big steamers will take a tight curves and that was one of the things I looked for was the radius it would take. At the time I had some 18 inch turns.
2 Manufacturers go OK, they like Big Steamers! So lets make some 2-10-2’s, they will eat them up, right! [:D] Wrong! [banghead] Problem is they will not take a tight turn! I am willing to bet that 80 percent of the engines bought are done by people that have been in the hobby for less than 2 years. They will still have smaller layouts and most still will have 18 inch turns.
My self, I have $2200.00 in steam power, but not a one is a -10- anything. Reason at the time I still had 18 inch turns and none of the 10 wheel drive engines I knew about would take a tight turn. I now have more engines than I run, so not looking for any more. Well, I would like a Q 2 but that is not going to happen. Q 2 will take a tight turn right?
My [2c] worth Cuda Ken
The real ones…no. The one you want…yes…good to 22" if BLI’s engineering and assembly are spot on. I have had mine going around 24" curves without incident.
Ken, I think you want a BLI 4-12-2 from the Union Pacific. They need orders, and I figure yours might just put the record into the black on this one. It, too, will be good down to 22" due to blind drivers and some liberal side-play.
C’mon…you know you want one… It’s a huugggge engine! Big long boiler, 12-coupled drivers…three cylinders. You’d be the only guy in the county to own one.
I LIKE 2-10-2’s. They look like they mean business. I’ve got seven. 2 Rio Grande, 2 Southern Pacific, one Great Northern and 2 Colorado & Southern. Okay, they’re not USRA’s, except for the 2 C&S which are modified USRA ‘Heavy’ clones, but they’re pretty distinctive.
Luckily, I’ve got the radii to handle them so that things (cabs, pilots, tenders, etc.) aren’t hanging out all over the place, and I run my trains SLOW, so that they aren’t pounding the rails (or themselves) apart.
Yah, I like 'em. They sure see a lot of work on the Yuba River Sub. [:P]
Okay, they’re brass (and I’ll duck now), but if the aforementioned babies ever came out in plastic, I’d get me some more.
Tom [:D]
Tom, I feel like a pauper. I’ve only got three: 2 SP and 1 UP (SP leased UP 2-10-2 locos in post WWII years, as well as 2-8-8-0 and 2-8-2 locos). Of course, they all have six-axle tenders.
Mark
I have 5 2-10-2’s for my layout, 2 heavy and 3 light. The 3 lights are Bachmann, the heavies are Heritage.