I was just on the Yard Limit web site and enjoyed browsing through the prototype and early diesel pics and information pages. Cool stuff! I take it that no one produces any of the first early diesels (1935-41) like the ALCo High Hoods, do they? I couldh’t find any listed on a Google search. Too bad.
I run HO and would enjoy having a couple more older switchers, like my ALCo S1, in my yard area. I do have a Stewart Baldwin VO-660 on order. Maybe this will spur me on to contemplate either kitbashing or scratchbuild one myself.
I have nothing BUT early diesels. Although maybe not quite THAT early. The problem with the super-early ones is, they were often one-offs, and even the railroad that owned it often had exactly one and no more. When you scale the roster back for modelling purposes (ie, your railroad had 4 of this to 3 of that to 2 of those) so you don’t go broke duplicating the entire roster, those one-offs just fall right off the map. I really want the second number S1 to match my P2K, or another DRS4-4-1000, but there just weren’t that many on my road, and if I have 2 or more of those rarities, I’d need a whole bunch (more than I have trains to haul) of the more common ones. Just as I’d like another Stewart F unit. The two FA’s are pushing it. As it stands I need about a half dozen or more RS-3’s to balance out my roster.
I do have a Roundhouse boxcab AGEIR unit, although the detailing is wrong. I also have a photo saved from a guy who sold a custom one done up to actually match oen fo the two Reading units, so at some point that is another project for me.
Actually, I think one of the very first diesel loco ‘kits’ in HO was from Walthers in the late 30’s and was for an Alco HH switcher. I say ‘kit’ because IIRC the hood wasn;t even formed, it was just flat sheet metal you had to bend to the proper contour yourself. i actually saw one unbuilt at a train show last year - at this point it wouldn;t be worth building, it’s more of a collector’s item, and it was priced accordingly.
Yeah, I realize that the really early ones were mostly prototypes - i.e. only onesy, twosy made, at best. I picked up the Stewart VO-660 because it was also manufactuered in the early 40’s (1941). The other two NYC S1s (#865 & #873 - available from P2K) weren’t manufactuered till 1950. I guess I could always buy an undecorated S1 and detail and number it myself? Hmmm. (What color is a P2K undecorated S1?) Still, an ALCo HH switcher would be really cool to have in my roster. But…ALCo probably didn’t make one for the NYC.
Randy, have you seen this switcher before? It’s a Baldwin OE-7: Reading #60
Yup, I’ve seen that one. Pre-VO-660 design. I remember something in the Baldwin book I have, I think the crankcase was part of the frame or something like that. I think it got classed with the VO660’s.
Seriously though, I’ve bent the rules of my freelanced line to put in an Alco DL109 (my all time favourite passenger diesel) and a pair of Baldwin VO-660s. Through some kitbashing I simulated what I figured would be a reasonable representation of the rebuilds that they would have had over the years. The DL109 has a somewhat smoother roofline and the VOs were rebuilt by MLW with S13 insides so they’ve gotten Alco-style stacks now and reworked vents.
Seriously though I wi***here were a couple models out. My all time favourite switchers are the early FM series that were designed by Raymond Lowey and if anyone ever comes out with an early UP streamliner I’ll probably buy one for kicks.
At the same time though Life Like, Atlas and Stewart are bringing some great models out now that haven’t been avalible in plastic before. This summer I intend to pick up some of the new Atlas RSD-5s and maybe a couple more P1K RS-2s.
As for the first of the first generation diesels, is anyone still making a decient Boxcab? Haha if they ever make an OE-7 I’ll be sure to pick one up, I wouldn’t miss something that crazy looking. Oh and yes it was classified with the VO-660s at least where I’ve seen it on Fallen Flags and elsewhere.
And the colour of undecorated P2Ks is a grayish-off white. great for painting!
