4-8-0

[rogertra]

The 4-8-0 was still a "rare" bird, no matter that a few roads rotered them, usually in small lots.

[Pacific Northern]

The 4-8-0 was still a "rare" bird, no matter that a few roads rotered them, usually in small lots.

Did you check out the information on the link?

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mastodon/

Not so rare a bird

[rogertra]

The 4-8-0 was still a "rare" bird, no matter that a few roads rotered them, usually in small lots.

Did you check out the information on the link?

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mastodon/

Not so rare a bird

Yes, I checked the link and that doesn't change the fact that it's still a rare bird.  Even one of the listing within the link says that the 4-8-0 was rare. 

[Atlantic Central]

Just how rare, lets see.

The NMRA steam locomotive data sheet D9a.1 says that about 600 4-8-0's were built between 1870 and 1933 in North America.

As compared with 33,000 2-8-0's, 25,000 4-4-0's, 17,000 4-6-0's, 14,000 2-8-2's, 4,100 2-10-0's and about 6,800 4-6-2's

But lets compare it to some others:

There were only about 1,000 4-8-4's, 500 4-6-4's, 60 4-10-2's, 25 4-8-8-4's, 200 4-6-6-4's, 70 2-6-6-6's, etc, etc.

So yes they were rare, but that it not the single critera for deciding if a model should be made of them.

There are models of all those other "rare" locos I listed. Most way more rare than a 4-8-0.

Sheldon

[rogertra]

Sheldon.

Thanks for the stats showing how rare they were. 

Just pulling your chain.

BTW, there were 1,126 4-8-4s, the largest fleet of them, 126 I think, owned by Canadian National Railways.

[Pacific Northern]

Sheldon.

Thanks for the stats showing how rare they were. 

Just pulling your chain.

BTW, there were 1,126 4-8-4s, the largest fleet of them, 126 I think, owned by Canadian National Railways.

CN had 160 of these engines in total. By far the largest fleet.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/

[rogertra]

Sheldon.

Thanks for the stats showing how rare they were. 

Just pulling your chain.

BTW, there were 1,126 4-8-4s, the largest fleet of them, 126 I think, owned by Canadian National Railways.

CN had 160 of these engines in total. By far the largest fleet.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/

Thanks for the correction, I mis-read the same data.  DOH!

[Atlantic Central]

Roger, that's OK. I agree they are rare, so are Union Pacific Big Boys, but models of those things are like belly buttons, well almost. I have a belly button but I don't have a Big Boy.

Sheldon

[rogertra]

Roger, that's OK. I agree they are rare, so are Union Pacific Big Boys, but models of those things are like belly buttons, well almost. I have a belly button but I don't have a Big Boy.

Sheldon

I agree with the articulateds.  Far too many models available but, as you say, they are really popular, though not with me. 

Largest engines I currently have are three President's Choice (IHC) 2-10-2s representing two classes.  They are 2-10-2s at the moment but there seems to be an awful lot of space under the cab between the trailing truck and the tender so they may become 2-10-4s.

[Johnson Bar Jeff]

Roger, that's OK. I agree they are rare, so are Union Pacific Big Boys, but models of those things are like belly buttons, well almost.

You mean, everybody has one (except Barbara Eden on I Dream of Jeannie)?   

I have a belly button but I don't have a Big Boy.

Sheldon

Me neither--nothing larger than a Hudson and a big "Mike" on my "roster." 

[nickco201]

ya a N&W 4-8-0 would be great. Especially the larger M-2c with the longer 6 axle tender and the baker valve gear.  I think a great locomotive that NO one has done in plastic would be a USRA heavy 4-6-2... then I could make a Southern Ps-4 from it! Or someone like Broadway could just make a accurate Ps-4 with hodges trailing truck, baker valve gear, 14K tender.  Would be Great!!!   
  But honestly everyone has heard of the big boy even though there were only I believe 25 or so. But its simply that they think that the 4-8-0 would not be as popular. So they could not sell as many of them.

[rogertra]

If they really want a seller, where's the 2-6-0?  If ever there was a useful and potentially big seller it's a well made, good running, 2-6-0.

Two versions, slide valves and piston valves please.

[Nigel]

Another approach for rarity would be to look at the steam locomotives that ran in North America in recently, or are likely to run.

Articulated: I am aware of two: UP's 3985 and Black Hills Central 110
http://www.1880train.com/locomotive110.html

The Strasburg Rail Road #475 (ex N&W 475) is a 4-8-0 running.

Milw 261 is heading back to the museum, leaving UP 844 and AT&SF 3751 as the last two 4-8-4's on the rails.

Thus the operating 4-8-0 is more common than most wheel arrangements that once roamed North America.

[Nigel]

.....think a great locomotive that NO one has done in plastic would be a USRA heavy 4-6-2... then I could make a Southern Ps-4 from it! Or someone like Broadway could just make a accurate Ps-4 .......

Rivarossi offered one for many years (decades).  Converting a USRA Heavy 4-6-2 to a SR Ps-4 is nontrivial; driver diameter (80" to 70") and driver spacing are biggies.  If you are serious about trying to make one, a USRA Heavy Mike boiler on a USRA Light Pacific (or similar) chassis is a starting point - I'd use a Cary boiler on a Bowser NYC K11 chassis, or one of the plastic boilers on a Mehano chassis.

[FECfan]

Milw 261 is heading back to the museum, leaving UP 844 and AT&SF 3751 as the last two 4-8-4's on the rails.

what about SP 4449 and SP&S 700?