Large Scale Central

What to make out of a Connie?

Modeling
#1

I’ve been staring at my two Bachmann Connies, which sit on a shelf 'cause right now they have no place to run since the Living Room Central has small radius curves. Anyway, from a certain angle (front three-quarter) these locos look like they might make a neat 10 wheeler or maybe a mogul–both with conventional drivers, not outside the frame or whatever the stock Connies are. Yer thoughts?

In another thread someone wrote that Bachmann is supposed to announce two new F-scale locos this summer-probably at the Garden Railway Convention. Do ya think they may be making something out of the Connie?

Speaking of Connies, should kitbashers be stocking up on them now, while the price is right and they’re still in production?

#2

Hey Joe, a scratch-build of this Sandy River engine sure would be cool. You’d have a pretty good start…

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bear453/_forumfiles/srrl-24.jpg)

Sounds like it’s going to be a fun project. Keep us up to date

#3
Joe Rusz said:
Speaking of Connies, should kitbashers be stocking up on them now, while the price is right and they're still in production?
I've been seriously pondering getting a couple just for that reason. Id like the drive-line for a couple more road locomotives.
#4

Who has 'em in stock? Robbie doesn’t list them at RLD Hobbies. The one I own I got a great buy on about 3 years ago at ECLSTS.

#5

Trainworld has 'em at $375.00…Kidman Tree Farm has a WP at $299.00

Seems TW has a WP and a Silverton at $275.00. The Undecorated is $375.00

Last one I got was on ebay, BIN for $175.00.

#6

I’m pretty sure I paid less than $200 for the one I have. I don’t think I’d pay over that for a new one 'cause I just don’t need it :slight_smile:

#7

Yea, Id pay $200 for one, but that’s about it, since it would be getting the saw. :slight_smile:

#8

I gotta admit…I really like the idea of a Connie on an Annie driver set!

#9

I like Mark’s idea. That would probably turn out pretty cool looking. Definitely different…

#10

I like Backwoods Miniature’s take on a saddle-tank on the 2-8-0 chassis:

(http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/xbm282_01.JPG)

If you’re a bit more adventurous, there’s always the Oahu Railway locos. I think Jeff Livingston’s been working on a few of those conversions. I keep thinking if I find one for a good price, I might pick it up for a “someday” project, though I’ve managed to pick up a few other locos for similar projects of late, also. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of kitbashers… Later, K

#11

That last one reminds me of the Mt. Ranier’s 2-8-2 ALCO … only in Narrow Gauge! Kevin, you once sent me a photo of another possibility … which I post here. If there’s some reason I shouldn’t let me know, and I’ll take it down again.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/slatecreek/_forumfiles/RubyBasin-1.jpg)

Matthew (OV)

#12

Great response you guys (guess I struck a nerve), but speaking as one who can’t drive a nail into a 2 x 4, what all these prospective bashes need is drivers and side rods. I know ya can make 'em yerself out of styrene and such, but IMHO there’s no substitute for metal side rods such as the ones Barry used to make (and maybe still stocks?). I have three of his 10-wheeler conversions and Barry’s drivetrains are nice pieces of work. So c’mon Bar, c’mon out of retirement and start making some more stuff for us. We gots cash money!

While you’re at it, you could also do some valve gear conversions for those of us like me who hate Baker or whatever it is the Connie has. Too much monkey motion, which may be entertaining to watch at first glance, but isn’t all that prototypical unless you are modeling Cuban sugar railroads or Adler (Alder, Elder?) Gulch or whichever railroad’s loco Lee based the Connie on.

#13
Quote:
but isn't all that prototypical unless you are modeling Cuban sugar railroads or Adler (Alder, Elder?) Gulch or whichever
While I accept your aesthetic personal choice, I'm going to take issue with your factually incorrect final statement.

“The Baker Locomotive Valve Gear was… particularly popular on the Norfolk and Western Railway, and almost all later N&W engines used it (notably NW 611). Other extensive users included the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and the Nickel Plate Road. The New York Central Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad also had large classes which used Baker gear.” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_valve_gear

Photos of Baker equipped engines from 25 or so railroads that were not "Cuban sugar railroads or Adler (Alder, Elder?) Gulch or whichever " from the Pilliod Co. parts catalog
http://www.railarchive.net/bakervalve/index.html http://www.railarchive.net/bakervalve/partscat.htm

If you aren’t modelling a specific prototype then remember, because of the way Pilliod Co. built the Baker gear, just about ANY locomotive could be converted from Walschaerts to Baker in about a day.

#14

Well, if anyone wants to sell off a couple of the Connie chassies, let me know… I don’t really want to buy two whole units for a kitbash.

I’ve designed a 2-8-0+0-8-2 that I want to use teh connie wheelset for.

#15

Matt,

DC no 3 was a different loco indead. I have more info on that loco, but I cant remember off the top of my head. I’m at work right now. That one is on my list of locos to model and I was planning on starting with a Connie chassis. However, I have a few others to do first.

Incidentially, The DC #5 that bachmann models for the Connie is not even close. Though I think most are not surprised by that. DC #5 looks more closer to a DRG&W variant of the 2-8-0 arrangement.

#16

Oh, and Kevin … you’re cheatin! That’s a B-mann, but it’s On30 under that tank! :slight_smile:

#17

I can’t argue with your Wiki facts, Mik, and I don’t know enough about valvegear to recognize all the nuances of the various types. But alls I can see, comparing my quickie, iPhone shot of my Connie’s valvegear with the photos in your two linked sites, is that the Bachmann valvegear doesn’t look like the stuff in the photos. Maybe the Connie’s isn’t really Baker.

As for what the Nickel Plate and NYC used, as a kid I spent dozens of summer hours hangin’ with the NKP telegrapher, watching NKP, Pennsy (which shared trackage) and the NYC (which was next door) steam locos thunder by in Silver Creek, N.Y. but can’t recall what kinda valvegear they used 'cause I didn’t know any better. I did, however, have a number of cab rides, though–on the Pennsy local, mostly–and in the NYC’s Budd Railcar, as my friend’s dad was an engineer. And since ya got me going, the most incredible sight was the NYC’s Niagara locos picking up water on the fly from the between-rail track pans.

#18

IIRC the Baker gear on the Connie is the long frame version.

(http://www.railarchive.net/bakervalve/parts_12_style_1.jpg)

#19

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bear453/_forumfiles/srrl-24.jpg)

This one picture is going to cost me dearly. On the positive side, I now know what to work on this winter. :slight_smile:

#20

Well there ya go then, Mik. I knew there was a reason I didn’t like the Connie’s Baker valvegear. It’s the longframe version.

Mark, now you’re talkin’! That’s the kind of valvegear I prefer, although your loco appears to be a Prairie (2-6-2). But tell me, if it’s Sandy River, etc, does that mean it’s 2-foot gauge?

BTW, whadda ya mean “this one picture is going to cost me dearly.” Did ya buy it? Cause if ya got it off the internets, we all know it’s free, as anything out there is yours for the taking. :slight_smile: