Here is a member called CNJ831 I believe - my questions are are for him, but maybe others here will know the answers, too.
I have one of those beautyful H0scale brass OMI CNJ class M-2as 2-8-2 with the distinctive 12-wheel tender. In a few days I want to let it paint, I have corrected some things and have added a lot of detail (like ashpan, sand lines, brake rodding, stoker pipe, etc.), but on the engineer’s side just ahead of the fire box there is some kind of leverage which I simply don’t know, and unfortunately I don’t have any photo showing it detailed enough. There is a reach rod running from the cab to a large angeled brace - but simply ends there - and I believe that there was more. Do you could bring light into this?
Second question is if the window sashes were of another color then black. The frames are made of steel on the model - so likely on the prototype as well.
If I understand it right the tender was all black and the engine black with graphite smoke box and the parts of fire box not being lagged. But unfortunately I don’t have any scheme where all the lettering should be, so I would be thankful when someone could help with this subject, too.
I forgot to mention that I didn’t mean the Power Reverse but the other one, that’s why I mentioned leverage. The fire box front end lever simply is blind, but now I know that it’s for blowdown, the photos I have access to did NOT show this clearly.
Thanks, Andre. I wasn’t sure which was common usage in the US, so I thought I’d mention both. I prefer “blowdown”, to me “blowoff” sounds a bit silly. [:)]
No worries! I doubted that a model railroad historian would be able to answer that question, so I chimed in.
The M-2s were very impressive-looking engine, IMO. The modification the CNJ made to the basic USRA design only added to the impression of brute size and power. I’d love to see some photos of your finished model.
The preceeding posters were correct in identifying the second rod as controlling the blowdown.
Manufacturer of the 25 CNJ M-2as locomotives was the Brooks Works, American Locomotive Co., in 1922. They were essentially CNJ upgrades of the USRA M-1. As delivered, they were all black with a graphite smokebox. Lettering was, as I recall, gold (or Dulux) extended (stretched) lettering, with C.R.R. of N.J. on the tender side, plus the engine’s number and tender capacity marked in small letter on the rear . Block numbers were used under the cab windows. The headlight numbers were either white or silver.
After 1943, the Liberty Herald, initially in Dulux, replaced the CRRofNJ on the tender and the number on the cab became a standard, rounded, RR Roman. Toward the very end of service, lettering/herald repaints would have been simply done in yellow.
An excellent, highly illustrated, reference for early CNJ motive power is “Central Railroad of New Jersery Steam Motive Power 1935-56” by Robert F. Fischer.
I tried to contact you via email and PM, without success. I want to send you some pics of a painted model, and I wish to know if I could use that as a guide for my own. Where are you?