I decided a while back that by the early '20s the Allegheny Valley would have needed another class of locomotive to replace their aging 1880s 2-8-0s in heavy freight service. I had planned going a different direction, but got a B’mann Connie ‘cheap’ (relative term, the axle gear is missing 5 teeth so it’s also a fixer-upper). One slight problem. The AV is 42" gauge (1:24) and the Connie is this big pig of a thing in 3 foot gauge (1:20)… I also have 4 rather close clearance bridges and 2 tunnels. Soooooooooo… I already had a Bug Mauler tender (less trucks) and Andre sent me a 1st gen cab. And I bookmarked Kevin’s old article on the one he downsized for his dad. Of course, the Skunkworks can’t just steal someone else’s idea, so a slightly different reconfigure was in order. First order of business… order a new gear off NWSL. But while we are waiting for that, it’s mangle time! I pretty much stripped the thing (a good thing too, ALL the drivetrain and gearbox screws were about 1/4 to 1/2 turn loose!) Wanna see Connie get naked? (Someone might want to cover Rooster’s eyes so he doesn’t get excited)
Now, for a possible prototype… I figured the AV might have done it the same way the Grande did with their big K-37s. Namely a standard gauge boiler on a narrow gauge chassis. So, I went trolling for pix. Unfortunately, most SG engines of a similar size to what the boiler scaled out were either 1. piston valve engines. 2. Wagon tops. or 3. had a 2nd sand dome. Eventually I found this one of an old Pennsy Mogul.
A bit smaller than what I wanted, but we’re cookin! Moving the dome forward (shortening everything) and giving the boiler a coat of Pullman green yielded this early this evening.
Next on the agenda was shortening the pilot to get rid of some of that extra overhang.— By about 3/8" on the truck and 1/2" on the frame. It’s closer to the length on the rear now for a bit more balanced feel… and to keep it from knocking into things on curves. (One of my main gripes about the 10 wheelers, too.) I reworked the front truck a bit while I was at it. It might negotiate a R-1 now, but I’m not holding my breath that the center drivers wouldn’t drop outside the inner rail if I tried it. But there’s plenty of swing for my outdoor R-2s now.
That’s as far as I got so far. Kim is going to go visit her mom tomorrow so I get the whole day to myself to get into trouble… I’ll start on the tender then.
