I’ve been thinking of trying N Scale for my next layout as I’ve moved into a smaller home… but there seems to be a problem when it comes to steam engines available in N Scale!!! I’m a dedicated fan to the steam era and the Pennsy has always been my first railroad of choice for modelling… so how is it Nobody seems to be offering any realistic Pennsy steamers???
The only locos I’ve seen so far are the occasional brass peices that come up on Ebay, but other than that I haven’t seen a single Belpaire Firebox or signature PRR Tender yet!!!
Since the Pennsylvania Railroad is Still one of the most popular fallen flags that ever existed, How is it possible that in the year 2007 - None of the manufacturers have reasonably accurate offerings of those magnificent K-4’s, Mountains, Decapods, Atlantics and such??? Especially since N Scale’s size would be so big of a benifit in creating a layout allowing for long trains to begin with???
I have seen that Minitrix offered a PRR Pacific some years ago, and there was also an 0-6-0 switcher… but N Scale technologies and detailing have come a looooong way since then. I guess my question here is simple - IS there enough interest in the N Scale side of the hobby to persuade the manufacturers to start producing quality PRR steam engines in N Scale???
Thank You for your thoughts in this!
Dave Vollmer models the pennsy in N scale and he manages to find himself some locos. we’ll have to wait for his reply 'cause I have no idea about N scale steam.
Thanks Smoke… hopefully Dave will see this question and share some insight!
Since posting this question, I have learned that Precision Craft Models is offering a nice model of the PRR M1a Mountain… but I haven’t located a place to see one in person yet. I also haven’t been able to find out if they are planning on releasing any other Pennsy-specific steam engines… but my seemingly relentless search continues
I’m “particularly fond of” the 2-8-2 Mikado with radio control, sound, and auto-start for $1,733.00. There are also some other N PRR steam engines mentioned for a considerably lower expenditure.
Nope. You gotta build 'em yourself (or buy brass):
Shown here (N scale):
PSC brass PRR K4s 4-6-2
Kitbashed Kato/GHQ PRR L1s 2-8-2. Take a cast-pewter GHQ conversion boiler, cab, and tender kit and cram it onto a Kato Heavy Mikado (took me 4 months of on-and-off work, and my engine was in the May 2007 issue of The Keystone Modeler):
Kitbashed Trix/Bachmann Spectrum PRR H10s 2-8-0. Cross one Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 with a TCS M1 DCC decoder with the boiler from a Trix K4, the cab from a Trix B6, and add some details:
These kitbashes are challenging, but fun. We PRR modelers of the steam era are stalwart modelers who aren’t afraid to cut up a perfectly good loco.
It can be done but requires some customizing work. My starting point was usually the old Minitrix, sometimes just the shell, as brass engines were out of my price range. The Minitrix engines are old technology but they can be made to run pretty good with a new motor. Seeing double-headed K4s pulling P70 coaches is a great sight. These n scale engines were done years ago.
Your link from the Keystone Crossings site had gone stale, so I feared you’d dropped out of the N scale Pennsy game. I’m very happy that’s not the case!
Your steam kitbashes are nothing short of inspirational.
Hi Dave. Yea, I’m still around after a heart attack, retirement and a move. I almost got out of the hobby when the big layout was sold, but really missed the enjoyment of running trains. A smaller layout is better than none at all, so that’s what I’m working on now. Space and $$ are limited but we’ll do what we can. Take care.
You have a very nice layout and site. You do some great work there that you should be very proud of.
My other hobby is/was genealogy and it was cool to see a relative that was a dispatcher for the Pennsylvania Railroad in the 1870-1880 timeframe, and a number of others that also worked for the railroad.
