Spectrum Southern 4-6-0 #1004, 1006 Prototype Question

[Searsport]

Hi I have just added SOU #1004 (Spectrum 84904) to my pre-existing #1006 (Spectrum 82304). I am wondering if anyone knows which actual Southern locos these most closely match. The #s were allocated to SOU class F11, which comprised # 1001-4 built 1899 Schenectady, #1005-8 built 1900 Richmond, and # 1009-40 built 1901 Burnham, Williams & Co. But that class all had 70-inch drivers, so do not fit the models. I ask in particular because the models include a detail pack with tender chains to restrain excess truck-swing, alternate pilot detail, and there is always the question whether they should be coal, oil or wood burners. It would be nice to find a photo of a more exact prototype operating in SOU colors, and if anyone has already done the research and can provide a quick reference I would be very grateful.

Thanks,
Bill.

[WoundedBear]

I started with the same base SOU 1004 models for my layout. They had the least amount of factory lettering to remove. Can't speak as to a prototype, but I will tell you that putting the chains on the tender is no easy feat.....lol.

They are far too long and the rings need to be relocated to different links. Once you handle that, they look really nice. If you don't, they drag on the ground.

Sid

[J3a-614]

This list is anything but exhaustive, but some engines that might be kind of similar were Southern's 6889-6893, six engines in classes Es-23 and E-22 (or were they really Fs-23 and F-22--the result of a reprint or copy error?).

All of these engines were sublettered for subsidiary New Orleans & Northeastern.

The numbers of individual engines suggest the E (or F)s-23 was a superheated rebuilding of the E (or F)-22:

http://hawkinsrails.net/steam/sou/sou_steam.htm

Both engines on the page were photographed in the early 1940s; the paint scheme they wear suggests they were assigned to freight service, at least at that time.

[J3a-614]

A little more looking brought up this Southern Railway photo collection.

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/steam.html

This is the 4-6-0 page.

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/460/460.html

There are some other photos of the engines in question, but what stands out in the pictures is how large they are compared to the Bachmann model!  At the same time some showed up in a passenger paint scheme, though it's hard to tell the real color (they look to be black, in spite of wearing passenger lettering). 

Anyway, I hope this helps out.

[Len]

Here's a shot of 6892 from the 'Fallen Flags' site:



Len

[Searsport]

Hi, thanks very much for your comments and a treasure trove of pics. I am committed to retaining the large tender numerals as big numbers make life easy for DCC!

Regarding the Southern prototypes being larger than the small-driver Spectrum 4-6-0, the model is, however, virtually identical to small 4-6-0s owned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern (http://taplines.net/0307/chn03.html) - see photos of #6, #26 + #28, and the Georgia, Florida & Alabama (http://www.taplines.net/gfa/gfa.html) - see photo of #128 halfway down the page, which were inherited by the SAL, and though the #s are wrong as the SAL renumbered these into the 600s, the livery of the Spectrum SOU models is identical to that of their SAL Baldwin and Richmond 4-4-0s except for "Southern" on the cab side instead of "SAL Ry Co", so on reflection I may use this pair to add to my SAL fleet.

ATTN WOUNDED BEAR - re the overlong tender chains - if you look at these pics of the Spectrum Ma & Pa 4-4-0 #6 you will see that the outer links of the chains attach to the hooks on the outer ends of the bogies, thus there are 5 attachment points, not just the three hooks on the tender frame (http://www.hattons.co.uk/28653/Bachmann_USA_85105_Maryland_Pennsylvania_6_with_steel_cab_DCC_Sound/StockDetail.aspx).

Best Regards,
Bill.

[WoundedBear]

Good reference pic Sears.

But the chains in the 4-6-0 models only have the three rings on the chain itself and are not positioned correctly to use like the reference photo. No where to link to on the truck either. Maybe I'm missing something?

Sid

[Len]

Sid - I blew the tender pic up and it looks like the end links of the chain are attached to some kind of frame, outboard of the trucks and almost in line with the tender sides. The resolution got to fuzzy to make out details.

Len

[WoundedBear]

Len........

Gotcha, but I still don't see anywhere on my 4-6-0's to hook the chains there. Only hooks are the three on the sides.

I don't see anywhere near the ends to hook them. If that is the case, then the chains still aren't made correctly to fit and would need two more rings.

Sid

[Searsport]

Hi, I have not yet taken the chains out of the bag for #1004 to inspect them, but:

On my Ma & Pa #6 (which is a "Richmond" with their Richmond tender, which is not quite the same as their small Baldwin tender) Bachmann have inserted a metal pin with an eye into the outer ends of the truck side-frames, and the ends of the chain are attached to those eyes, so the last link on the actual chain is a normal sized link.

On my #1004 the tender truck sideframes have small hooks on top of each end of each sideframe. I am not sure if these are plastic or metal, and if plastic they will be fragile and as they are open hooks I can see the chains frequently falling out, but... Remember that the prototype purpose of the chains is to restrict the swing of the trucks and to do that they must be attached to the trucks at their outer ends.

Best Regards,
Bill

[WoundedBear]

Thanks guys. I will have a look today once I get down in the train room.

Sid