DRGW 4-8-2 Mountains

[J3a-614]

You might also be interested in this book by Robert LeMassena:

http://www.amazon.com/Denver-Rio-Grande-Western-Superpower/dp/1883089484

Of course, he had a book on what he considered the "Superpower Railroad of the Northeast."

http://www.amazon.com/Lackawanna-Superpower-Railroad-Northeast-Robert-Lamassena/dp/1883089328

Good luck.

[ryeguyisme]

J3a,

i love your posts, very informative to say the least

[ryeguyisme]

J3a,

do you have any good online sources you might know of for the Rio Grande Mountains?

[J3a-614]

Not right off, but I'll do some looking and see what I can find.

One thing you might want to keep in mind if you have to scratch up such a beast--these engines had 63-inch drivers, relatively low for a 4-8-2, but a common size for a 2-8-2.  You may want to start with a 2-8-2 mechanism and stretch it at the front end, similar to what you did for the G&D 4-10-0.  Note that the main rod connects to the No. 3 driving axle on all of these D&RGW 4-8-2s.  There was also one series you may have a bit of trouble with; I don't recall the number series, but it was a three-cylinder variation, with a double set of Walschearts valve gear on the right side and a weird double eccentric crank to drive the two sets of gear.  I don't know if I would want to attempt that version!

I'll get back when I can.

[glennk28]

I believe that Rob Grandt (R.Robb) has  a softcover pictorial "The Grande Mountains"   I don't have it because it is about Wide Gauge locos
gj

[J3a-614]

Well, did a little looking, and here's what I've found so far.  Not all of it may be directly usable, but it may lead you to something.

General data; looks like my memory was wrong on driver diameter, which is the somewhat unusual 67 inches (interestingly, the same as a UP 4-12-2):

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mountain/?page=drgw

Some other material to check out:

http://www.drgw.org/

A 2-10-2 and a 4-8-2 on a passenger train:

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/RG1403X2.JPG

Those drivers are only a couple of inches smaller than those of the USRA 4-8-2 Bachmann sells, and the valve gear is a short frame version of Baker:

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/RG1501.JPG

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/RG1501C.JPG

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/RG1524.JPG

Where those photos came from:

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/denriog.htm

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/

More photos:

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=/p15330coll22&CISOBOX1=4-8-2

One of those 3-cylinder jobs:

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15330coll22&CISOPTR=29391&CISOBOX=1&REC=7

1939 roster info and photos:

http://ghostdepot.com/rg/rolling%20stock/locomotive/drgw1939roster.htm

Another roster:

http://orion.math.iastate.edu/jdhsmith/term/slusdrgw.htm

Photo of one of the 1600s (3-cylinder job); note double valve gear, including double eccentrics:

http://www.brasstrains.com/images/products/030049/DSC01787.jpg

A two-cylindered 1500:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=206915

That's as much as I could find that seemed worthwhile; hope it's a decent start.

[ryeguyisme]

Thanks J3a!!!

another set of pics that I don't have on file

through the research I've done, the M-75 4-8-2's were the 3-cylinder ones

PFM made a crown one I believe, that commands a used car price range,
but Key Imports(Samhongsa I HOPE!) that goes around for reasonable pricing, I've been eyeballing one from this one dealer that I might pick it up from


and another dealer shot me an email on one particular I know I'm set on getting is an M-78 all painted and weathered nicely--->







^the thing that's apparent is going to bother me is the wheel wear, and the locomotive does not look 22 inch radius friendly(subject for tinker/ chassis conversion) I typically design my locomotives to 'handle' 18 inch radius but prefer to run on 22 or greater, 24-26 most likely



one big reason why this locomotive catches my eye is it's elite look, with modernization mixed in but at the same time a steam locomotive in the 40's war era(my era is typically 30's to early50's ALL STEAM) Characteristics shown are the number boards, stack shield(I wonder if thats used to direct smoke through the Moffat tunnels) It's heavy appearance at a towering 15-16 maybe even 17 feet in height. I wonder if John Allen would've bought a few of these had he been alive for their releases in brass


those 2-10-2's are huge and so is the price of them in brass, they have them in brass with a chunky short vanderbilt tender or those Norfolk and Western Water Buffalo tenders

[ryeguyisme]

the M-75's did have dual eccentric rods for the third cylinders: