I recently purchased a proto heritage heavy version with the intent to use the drivetrain under either a brass Westside PRR N2 (modified USRA) or a Gem N1 (home built 2-10-2). It appears to be an undec version tha tsomeone has done up for ACL. There is no typical gold sticker on the box listing the version and model number like there is on my other Heritage units.
1- Does anyone kow what valve gear came on the undecs?
2- Does anyone know where I can find a list of which roads received which valve gear for the light versions?
I am eyeing a Bachmann unit to donate the drivetrain for the other brass paice I have. I’d like to get the correct valve gear version. I can’t seem to find and figures for the prototype light versions after a couple hours of googling. All I can find for the models is “Walschearts or Southern as appropreiate for prototype”.
So far, It looks like the transplant will be fairly straightforward.
The WSM unit runs very well for it’s age. It has a somewhat large can motor. However, it will not go around 24" radius curves, and the proto not only does this, it also goes through snap switches, even backwards, and it has both rail pickup from all drivers.
The Gem on the other hand does not run well at all, and will see a drastic improvement with a modern drivetrain.
I was looking at the Proto 2-10-2 to use the chassis for a repower as well and did some research about the valve gear. From what I found, all the road names done by Proto recived the Southern valve gear except Illinois Central, which received a short frame Baker valve gear.
You could buy the undec wih either valve gear. Here’s the Baker
an here’s the Southern
I’m not familiar with the Bachmanns.What valve gear do you need? It shouldn’t be to hard to tell from pictures what road name recieved what valve gear.
I had done a cursory look at the walthers site early in my search, but could have sworn the descriptions were the standard Bachmann “as per prototype” (see below), which brings me to my next point…Why would Bachmann say “Southern or Walshearts…” and not offer walshearts??
Road Name: Southern #5212
Product Information
Also known as Santa Fe class locomotives, these brutes were typically employed in drag freight service. Used throughout the United States until the late 1950s, our models are representative of the 2-10-2 as it appeared in the middle- to late-steam era.
• DCC-equipped for speed, direction, and lighting
• die-cast boiler
• die-cast frame
• die-cast cylinders
• Southern or Walschaert valve gear per prototype
• tender style per prototype (with backup lights)
• separately applied detail parts
• E-Z Mate® Mark II couplers
Note that the light and heavy USRA 2-10-2s had different-size drivers, 57 inches on the light and 63 inches on the heavy. The PRR N2 had 63-inch drivers, at least originally, while the N1 probably had 62-inch drivers, in common with the H8 and later 2-8-0s, L1 2-8-2s, and I1 2-10-0s. The Bachmann model of the light 2-10-2 has the correct scale 57-inch drivers, according to the review in the August 2006 Model Railroader.
I honestly didn’t even read the description. I was looking at the picture to determine what valve gear each roadname had. I don’t know why they list Walschaerts. Perhaps a road name not currently listed on Walthers came with it. Or perhaps they had the long frame Baker frame left over from the USRA Mountains and decided it was “close enough” to the Walschaert that few would notice.
