Weekend Photo Fun - October 8th through October 10th 2021

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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Hello everyone, and welcome to an exciting brand new weekend!

I have two special shares this week.

- - - - - - - - - -# Fun Topic #1# - - - - - - - - - -

This first one is very special to me. I remember this locomotive’s introduction very well. It was announced around Christmas time in 2006. My middle daughter was graduating High School in May of 2007, so I was just about to get a spare bedroom to build a new HO scale layout in. IHC announced a “freelanced 2-10-2” model, and it was reviewed in Model Railroader in early 2007.

The review said it was not based on any specific prototype, ran well, had nice detail, and would negotiate an 18" radius curve! What more could I ask for?

To this point, I had been modeling HO scale for about 12-13 years, and had only bought four locomotives. I explained to my wife that this new IHC 2-10-2 was going to be the “standard” steam locomotive for the STRATTON AND GILLETTE, and I wanted to puchase six, or maybe eight, of them. She said OK!

Then… THE HORROR! I ordered six from Gulf Coast Model Railroading. They called me after a few weeks and said they could not get any. I tried Orange Blossom Hobbies, Ready-To-Roll Hobbies, and Colonial Photo & Hobby, NOTHING! I called advertisers in Model Railroader, None, None, None. I was so disappointed.

Every so often a decorated model would show up on eBay, but never an undecorated one. I never saw one at a train show. I gave up.

Then one day last week I woke up at 7:00 AM (2 hours sleep) with a stomach ache, and turned on the computer. A seller in California had just listed TWO of them for $130.00 each. I bought one as fast as I could click. I thought about the second one, but someone else snapped it up before I

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Kevin, that 2-10-2 looks to be a beautiful locomotive. Never knew that IHC made one.

Here is my contribution for the week. Last Saturday I finally attended a train show, and found this little beauty. Not sure how well it runs, but the seller told me it did. No matter; I have plans to remotor it, add pick up wipers, and a decoder. It is certainly my style and size…

And now, a small scene from my in-progress N layout…

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Kevin. Thank you for starting WPF.

A beauty of a locomotive.

Chuck. An interesting looking locomotve. I like it.

A new arrival at Sovereign Street. A 0.4.2 locomotive of unknown origin. She runs well, but soon loses her wagons. Attention to the couplings are needed.

Before I took bad with Covid I was remodelling the village street. Gone has Agnes Marston’s house (which was TT scale) I then built some ‘stone’ houses typical to what I lived in when in Yorkshire.

Still some work to do when I feel a lot better.

Keep the pictures coming.

David

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Good morning from partly cloudy and warm Northeast Ohio!

Kevin, thanks for starting us out, good looking locomotive one of IHC’s best efforts, still like my PRR N1s for a 2-10-2.

Chuck, great find almost looks like a Vulcan Duplex, be sure to show us the finished product!

Dave, your new scene looks great, I have watched so many BBC television shows that those houses look familar.

Here is this weeks completed work!

Eastern Car Works, 2600 CF Airslide Kit, with added airlines then painted with Scalecoat II MOW Gray and lettered with Prime Mover Decals. The Erie leased these cars from General American and they were returned to General American shortly after the EL Merger and were re-leased to other people with the ERIE and Logo painted out.

Walthers FGE RBL kit, with some added grabs, Moloco End of Car Cushioning Coupler pockets and Plano Walk over platforms added. Painted with Scalecoat II C&O Blue paint and lettered with Herald King Decals. Car was assigned to the Inland Plant of GM in Vandalia, OH for auto parts service.

My fill in projects redoing the old Athearn 40’ Trailers, some had the gusset removed at the landing gear and the grabs from the nose of the trailer as only the FGE trailers had these. Cars were painted with Scalecoat II Silver or White

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Kevin … Thanks for starting Photo Fun . I like that 2-10-2.

Chuck … Your 0-4-4-0 T is a neat looking little locomotive.

David … I like the little 0-4-2 T and your urban scenery.

Rick … Your PRR 2-10-2 looks great. I like the Erie Air Slide covered hopper a lot. The C&O boxcar, the TOFC trailers, and the Alcos all loook great.

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One of my favorite pictures I took has my 2-10-2. It is a Walthers Heritage model of a USRA 2-10-2 which is like some that operated on the Burlington.

Below are some more of my attempts at making prototypically correct Burlington passenger cars.

The Silver Fountain is a diner/parlor/observation car. I kitbashed a Walther Budd observation car to make it.

The passenger train in the background has my Denver Zephyr observation car. It was kitbashed from a Con Cor dome/coach and an old Model Power Budd blunt end observation car.

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These are great finds Kevin. I have a Mehano CN that is similar to your’s. It runs great although it is a bit light on its wheels. But what a great excuse to have a double-headed train!

The Rapido uncoupler is awesome. I have two on my layout. The early instruction sheet had a mistake in the wiring - if you see something odd, check the Rapido Website for an updated version.

Simon

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Gidday All, once again a big thanks to all the contributions of really Good Stuff, so far.

As 2-10-2 s seem to have managed to be an underlying theme this WPF, from the archives, my “Proto 2000 Heritage” 2-10-2 on helper duty, pictured on the American Modular Group layout at the local show, 2017.

60 by Bear, on Flickr

Cheers, the Bear.[:)]

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Hello, All!

Great Stuff this weekend and a big thanks fo Kevin for kicking things off. We have a 2-10-2 theme this weekend [Y]

Right about the time I was starting my layout in '95 I.H.C. was making improvements to their steam imports. The Premier line had better pickups and drives and perhaps a little added detail. At the time they were good engines for the money.

Thanks for showing us your great train show find, Chuck.

I’m glad to see you back on the footplate, David! I hope you’re back to full boiler pressure soon. Great scenes you show there.

Excellent photos by you as well, Rick. I remember when it was very common to see railroad hearalds on truck trailers. Not so much anymore [:(]

Your custom work on your passenger cars is outstanding Garry. I, too, love the first scene.

Simon and Bear have good posts, too!

I was fortunate to have been able to attend a train show in NE Ohio last Saturday as well. Within the first two minutes of being there, in fact at the very first table I looked at was a familiar, green Overland box. Without hesitation it was in my grasp and I was handing the proprieter a crisp Benjamin!

Inside was a factory painted, Nickel Plate Road bay window caboose. No extra charge for the dust on the roof. It actually helps to blend in with the rest of my dusty rolling stock [:-^]

NKP_500_caboose by Edmund, on Flickr

Although I had a similar one on my roster this one was slightly different and Radio Equipped!

In another building I spotted a Rapido FL9 that looks like it hasn’t been out of the box. It was also very attractively priced. In fact I asked the vendor if he was certain it was a DCC sound model s

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Added some detail to a few of my Walthers ATSF cars.

Still pondering whether I prefer the off-white or grey blinds.

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Kevin, I’ll remember this trick next time I get a stomach ache, buy a locomotive!

Nice pictures everyone. The scenery the trains are running through is all very impressive.

I’ve been so busy the last few weeks I couldn’t think of anything to share, but I can jump on the 2-10-2 bandwagon this week. Some years back now, after some strong influence from the forum here, I picked up this IHC. For the price I paid, I could be happy with it as a roundhouse queen.

I don’t have to though, it can make my #4s, a bit noisily, but a 2-10-2 making them at all is amazing. It won’t need to run the #4s in it’s ops assignments anyway. (Still) Intending to paint out the Erie for a western name, I made a smooth oil tender top for it. Not sure about that square bottom at the front. Anyone ever seen one like that in 1/1? Anyway, I like to watch that nice valve gear motion…

I pulled it out of storage for a couple pictures and a little run time. Quiet and smooth. And the thing looks heavy! I may change the tender if I can’t find a prototype for that square tank though! Again, good stuff, everyone. Dan

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I may change the tender if I can’t find a prototype for that square tank though! Again, good stuff, everyone.

Dan

The New Zealand Railways J class 4-8-2 of 1939 had a square front to the Vanderbilt tender.

The post WWII Ja class (as the Bear can presumably testify) also had this feature, although the lower section of the “box” was slightly narrower.

Check page 132 and following of “The NZR Steam Locomotive” or Google.

The model, made by Mehano in Slovenia(?) originally was powered on the lead truck of the tender, hence the extension of the bunker downward to house the power truck. The original model was a C&O Mountain type, hence the distinctive cab. The shell has been used for 4-6-4s and 2-10-2s since.

Peter

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Kevin, Thanks for firing up the WPF and glad to see that your bill was filled in a very nice way.

Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a safe weekend and Happy National Motorcycle Ride Day. Regards, Peter

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Well, the title does say ‘fun with photos’… and I really thought this one stood out.

and Ed… nice FL9 and wide vision! Two of my favorites.

Douglas

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Thanks for opening another WPF, Kevin. I’m glad you were able to find that locomotive after years of wanting it!

Chuck, that’s a nice scene on your N scale layout. That tower is something that I may try to build this winter.

David, those stone houses look great. Hopefully you will recover quickly.

Rick, I love the Erie hopper car. Nice work!

Garry, once again I really like your Burlington passenger cars. Your attention to details makes them stand out.

Bear, that’s a nice scene from the modular layout. Are you a member of that group? Have they been able to hold together through the virus mess?

Ed, that scene with the F and the passengers on the platform is very good. I love passenger trains and scenes.

Watson, as I’ve written above, passenger cars are my favorite. You, along with the other posters, are doing a great job with attention to detail. Personally, I think I prefer the gray shades, but both look good.

Dan, your Erie 2-10-2 looks great. It must be fun to run that train.

Peter, as usual, your scenes are some of the most realistic models I’ve seen. Nice work!

Douglas, it took me a minute to figure out your cover photo! I kept thinking, “That’s not what my latest issue looks like.”

I have not been able to work on the layout at all. It seems like time is going very quickly and there’s not much hobby time. Once the snow starts, I think I will have more time.

This is my favorite train, the City of Los Angeles, somewhere out west in some desert area. For N Scale, this Kato model sure has nice details and runs great! The sounds are pretty amazing for such a small speaker.

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I remember that IHC 2-10-2 review in MRR and thought it would be a nice model to have, but I also never came across one either. Glad to see you managed to get ahold of one Kevin!

I’ve been working on various projects, specifically WWI themed stuff for the moment. I have a number of Airfix Mk.I tanks that will be going on some OO gauge flatcar kits that I’m waiting on.

The tanks have been weighed down so the incoming flat cars won’t be too light, and have been covered with tissue-tarp for transport.

Subsequently, I needed something that can pull several tanks and wagons and railway guns so I ordered this Bachmann ROD 2-8-0 from Rails of Sheffield and it only took about 6 days to arrive from the UK to TX and arrived yesterday! Very smooth running, good slow speed. It’ll get a sound decoder from the UK at some point, as well as some weathering and real coal.

Otherwise it’s just waiting on decoders to come in stock and working on the fleet. I’ve got some ESU Loksound 5s on order loaded for a UP 4-12-2 and Big Boy to replace a Paragon3 and Soundtraxx, but of course the chip shortage means stock is low everywhere, but that gives me time to install decoder buddy motherboards.

Michael

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Nice looking tanks, Michael. Are you building a Great War theme layout?

David

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WARNING, WARNING!!!
Non modelling photo!!!

Gidday Dan, as Peter mentioned the North British Locomotive Works built NZR J class 4-8-2, 1939, did have square front tenders as shown in this photo taken by my late friend Trev Terry, of J 1218 in the Te Awamutu yard, mid to late 40s. The Vanderbilt tender of the J is, of course, a lot shorter than those long ones that were favoured, in particular, by the Southern Pacific, but then the NZR weren’t running the distances.

North British Locomotive Works, J class, blt 1939, stiil retains "bullet nose" by Bear, on Flickr

A friend has several IHC Premier Series locomotives of varying wheel configurations, and while they may not be prototype specific, with their smooth running, I’d be more than happy to have them

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Thank you! Indeed I’d like to do a Great War themed layout, maybe involving a depot not far back from the front where troops and equipment would disembark. I’ve had my eye on the little Bachmann OO9 Baldwin tank too, so maybe incorporating a narrow gauge line going to the trenches.

A layout is a little ways off, as we are currently house hunting so I’m more focusing on the equipment-gathering side of things. Hopefully soon, it would be nice to have more than a few feet of flex track to run.

Michael

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Flying Scotsman … Your Santa Fe passenger cars look great.

Dan … The Erie 2-10-2 looks great as it is.

Peter … The motor cycle scene looks fantastic.

Douglas … Your altered Model Railroader is a big complement. Thank you very much !!! [:D] My current edition of MR already has a nice photo on the cover, however.

Ed … I like your NKP caboose and the FL9 very much. Thank you for your comment on my pictures.

John York 1 … I like the UP pasenger train and you nice layout including signals.

Michael … The WW1 tanks and the steam locomotive are intersting.

Bear: … Uh, oh. A “non modeling photo”. We’ll have to withhold the honey from the bear for that. However, it is an interesting photo.