In the thread of any new steam the post of a Maine Central 4-6-2 was suggested to be a USRA which of course it isn't, but it was also suggested to be a Harriman Standard 4-6-2. I'm dubious about that idea, but I don't know MEC steam power. However, it does illustrate how important a light engine with a straight boiler could be useful to many modelers who only seem to get stuck with the same old USRA locomotives. Such engines could be used for modelers of many different lines that had engines older than USRA designs. Southern 4-6-2s, for example came in light versions long before the PS4 appeared. The first IC Pacifics were light engines with relatively straight boilers.

My preference, of course, would be for a Harriman 2-8-2.


George Waltershausen

Congratulations on a job well done! I'll have to do to my photo file tomorrow and look up the two or three shots I got of 908 in 1956 in the Kankakee roundhouse. What a memory. Thanks for the sharing of your work.

George Waltershausen

The Model Railroader Cyclopedia shows a plan for 908. I don't think it is too far off from those on the other Paducah rebuilt engines. John Uehling has been studying the mechanical drawings for various IC sand boxes so he may soon learn more about variations.

Out of the other 900 series 2-8-0s 904 and I think 910 had similar squared off boxes, but those look like sports - individually built and applied - rather than any standard sand box.

In any case your sand box looks very Paducah IC, and looks very good.

George Waltershausen

Lanny,
     That looks terrific. I know what you mean about the tender. MR several years ago ran an article about changing the B-S 2-8-0 into an engine from some New England road. THe author had chopped down the tender so it is doable. I'm thinking of using the two Hallmark tenders that I have in place of the B-S tenders. That will mean changing the connectors and insulating the brass undercarriage among other things.

     Shortening the tender as in the late 900 series will change the amount of space for sound installation. So one would have to investigate a shorter circuit board for the tender.

George Waltershausen

I've been out of town so much I almost missed this string. There are all sorts of options for the IC modeler of steam - more now than at any time previously except for a few brass models from a generation back.

I think an important point is that the field needs a good Harriman 2-8-2. I've been looking at IC mikes a lot of late along with Central of Georgia's Harriman 2-8-2s some of which came from the IC.

Since the IC owned more 2-8-2s than most other lines such an engine would make sense. Add in the UP, SP, C of G, and several other roads with similar engines the Harriman mikado should be a challenger to the endless stream of USRA 2-8-2s.

So, once again, Bachmann, do seriously consider the Harriman 2-8-2 offered with changeable domes, tenders, and a choice of 63 or 57 inch drivers.

Incidentally, the IC's 900 2-8-0s employed the Harriman boiler, but the drivers were larger than those used by the UP or SP.

George Waltershausen

Lanny,
    I'll be very interested to see what you do to create your IC mallet. I've been doing some research on these going back to their Central of Georgia days. I have two of the 2-6-6-2s myself with the same intention. I plan on using sand domes from the 2-8-0s which need to have their sand domes modified also.
The cab work should be fairly straightforward using styrene.  I'm not sure yet whether or not I will leave the headlight on the pilot or move it to the smoke box front as the IC did.

George Waltershausen