NEB&W Guide to The Locomotive Co. Steam Locomotive ModelsLast Update: 2008-12-05
Locos Table of Contents
Rolling Stock Table of Contents
This line of c. 1900 small loco kits came out a couple of decades ago. (I am pretty sure that Bob Schleicher was behind this line before he was involved with Model Railroading and then Railmodel Journal.) These were cast metal craftsman type kits, but unlike the other kits of the early hobby, these used the latest materials, room temperature curing silicon rubber to make the molds (like SS Ltd. and Fine Scale Miniatures was doing at the same time). This means set up costs were very very low, but since the molds are rubber, not metal, they are easily deformed during use and the resulting castings can be too. This technique is good for structure detail parts, but not so good for working loco models.
The kits contained a number of interchangeable parts to make some 35 different specific Consolidations or Ten-wheelers of the c. 1890's period. (This means the same kit number reappears in the descriptions below.) The kits included a can motor and all the parts were said to have been drilled and tapped, so glue was optional.
- 10-20-30 B&O 2-8-0 - A model of loco number 1241.
- 11-22-30 Great Western 2-8-0 - This sugarbeet-hauling
Colorado road used Colorado & Southern no. 429, before acquiring
their own from Baldwin in 1904. The C&S and the GW were so similar
that this kit can be used to build either.
- [Model.]
- ATSF 4-6-0 - Manchester built 32 Ten-wheelers for the Santa
Fe in 1887-'88, which were originally in the 700's but in 1900, renumbered
317-348. At a first glance, this could be confused with the Mantua/Tyco
Sierra 4-6-0. (This model would supposedly be to scale, the last
driver was closer to the other two, the cab was wood, among other
differences.) The decals included in the kit were said to be
the correct silver color.
- [Model of no. 766, which in 1900 was renumbered 318.]
- 11-21-30 B&O 4-6-0 - A model of number 109, which was originally
built for the Buffalo & Susquehanna, a B&O predecessor.
The same kit number was used for a class of 7 locos originally built
by Pittsburg Loco for the Cleveland Terminal & Valley, unknown date. The
B&O acquired the line in 1909 and these locos were renumbered B&O 156-162,
class B-38. A few survived until 1946.
- C&O 4-6-0 - This is a model of the Chesapeake & Ohio's F-4 class,
built by Rogers in 1881, nos. 114-133. They were said to be typical of
C&O locos at the time, a wagon-top boiler and two-window cab. These F-4 locos
had 56 inch drivers and used for both freight and passenger service. A few
survived until 1914, being used as switchers. This kit included both the
original spoked pilot and the switcher style.
- CB&Q 4-6-0 - This is a model of no. 940, which was built for
the Jacksonville & St. Louis in 1890. In 1903, the Burlington acquired this
loco and sister loco no. 941, and put them into their K-9 class of Ten-wheelers.
This kit includes a detailed cab interior, which was said to be a standard
feature of all these kits.
- 10-21-30 Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton 4-6-0 - Pittsburgh
Loco built a class B-54 Ten-wheeler for the CH&D in 1902. The B&O acquired the
road and the engine was renumbered 242, but apparently it was very
similar to the B&O's 240-265 and 386-387 series.
- [Model painted brass to show how it would pass for an expensive import.]
- 11-21-30 Cleveland Terminal & Valley 4-6-0 - Built by Pittsburgh Loco
(unknown date), this class of 7 locos became part of the B&O in 1909.
- 11-21-30 Colorado Midland 4-6-0 - Baldwin built 10 locos
for the CM in 1888, nos. 29-38. As delivered, they had tiny
56 inch drivers for the rugged grades and sharp curves of the CM's
mountain road. The kit had 56 inch drivers as some of these
prototypes were later retrofitted. The kit also included
the extra air tank which the CM placed on the tenders for
added air capacity for the more strenuous braking requirements
of the line. The CM was abandoned c. 1918.
- M&PA 4-6-0 - Baldwin built nos. 27 and 28 in 1906 and 1910 for the Maryland & Pennsylvania, which were virtually identical. This kit includes the details to model the locos as built, with wood spoke pilot, wood cab and inside Stephenson valve gear. Later, the M&Pa retrofitted them with switcher type footboard pilots, a detail also included in the kit. (Later, one was rebuilt with outside valve gear and steel cab, a prototoype which is what the Bachman low-drivered Ten-Wheeler is based on.)
