"Right sized 44-tonner"

Bachmann's HO 44 Tonner originally had dual truck-mounted motors.

Perhaps this O-gauge Williams by Bachmann loco uses some kind of an up-sized version of the HO trucks?

I had one of the HO locomotives. I used the trucks to power an On30 railbus and a Goose-like railtruck!  lol

If they build it, we will come! 

MTH has said- I think it was Andy Edleman - that because of the development of the 'S' Gauge size of Electronics that they will now fit a 44 Tonner and they are planning on adding one to the 2015 VOL 1 'O' Gauge Catalog..

Well weather MTH builds it or not I am still buying a couple of these guys if the price is not to high. I have a RY PRR version and love it even though it has no TMCC and those god awful couplers. MTH has been promising a 44 for the last 5 years but No engine yet so the bottom line is I am going to buy at least three of these little guys, two PRR and one B&O and modify them to TMCC. Sound and smoke would be nice but not necessary.

The dock area of Philly had a few of these guys running around every day, I hear the B&O had one in Baltimore area.

If MTH comes out with one that would be great however I am not waiting, I will buy an MTH model when and if they ever come out.

I thought the magic number was 45 tons where the locomotive had to have a fireman in addition to the engineer, even though there was no fire to man.

Matt, it was 45 tons that required a fireman.

Stuart

Ditto here!  I plan to buy at couple of the WBB models and have them painted (re-painted) in U.S. Army Transportation Corps livery--an easy enough paint scheme to do.

I will also be buying the MTH PS3 versions if/when they become available because the remote coupling/uncoupling feature would sure be great for switching operations.  Unless they are offered in Transportation Corps or Alaska livery, they also will be repainted.

The smaller the better. I've got a couple of brass SP engines with Vanderbilt tenders that I'd like to upgrade from (gack) QSI OEM. I could probably shoehorn PS/2 in there but I'd rather wait for something more compact.

I guess my question is, why is everyone so caught up in the need for two motors? First the real 44 tonners had very limited pulling power. A local RR (the FJ&G) had one and it had trouble pulling more than 4 loaded 40' boxcars and a caboose up the grade (500' rise over 3 miles) from Fonda (NY) to Johnstown (NY).

On my model RR a Railking Alco PA downgraded to a single 385 can motor will pull a Railking B unit and 6 or 7 passenger cars up a 4.17% grade without any problem!

My point is if the WBB loco has only a single can motor (properly geared), it would have more than prototypical pulling power and there would be plenty of room for TMCC and sound. And, even if it does have two motors, when the WBB electronics are removed there should plenty of room for ERR components.

Perhaps we are making much to do over nothing?

jackson

Excellent point. A lot of old Lionel engines only had one motor. Leaving off one motor would not only leave more room for electronics, it would cut the cost of production and, presumably, the price. My preferred solution would still be to build the motors into the trucks, but either way would work. 

I actually prefer the 45-tonner; is a little more inetresting.

The WBB 44 ton preproduction model looks great!  Now all they need to do is produce a B&M or MEC engine.  They owned more 44 tonners than most anyone other than the PRR and the NH.

Definitely! I'll take one of each! 

I would consider one like this:

Or, this:

Peter

I'll take any of 'm and be happy.  They don't even have this initial puppy on the market yet - I just hope nothing happens to spoil it arriving soon.

Looking to see the MTH version

Micro Mart's catalog listing shows these to have two can motors along with the new WbB sound system. The price is reasonable at a tad more than $200. Since MM is not a sponsor this is strictly FYI. 

It was interesting to note, my foggy head remembers the EBT (East Broad Top RR) having a 44 tonner which may have gone to the Durango Silverton RR.  Both Narrow Gauge for those On30 or On3 modelers. 

Peter,

I don't know if you know Wurlitzer (from JR Junction in Syracuse), but a while back he was able to get his hands (through a custom run, I believe) of two Yoder NYOW scale 44-tonners that he has one (I know that August has the other)...

He gave some details here: WBB 44-Tonner Discussion.

Since you and I both know that lightning (stripes?) could strike twice, you may want to ping him on the details.

Thanks,

-Mario

I second that emotion!

Lets hope MTH Electric Trains produces this early version!  I already have 101 & 105.  102, 103 and 104 would be nice!

How about a Skaneateles Junction one?

Mike said the same thing Andy said. I am hoping it will happen, it will be a nice engine for MTH to get kick started again in American O gauge and hopfully make more new items and start pushing the envelop like they did on the past with north American O gauge.  I hope they do the Sadle tank engine with DCS, maybe a short trolly, a stepple, Pacific Electric had stepples in LA and PTC used them in Philadelphia. I am sure there are many small engines to put the new electronics in that will sell well, I personaly love small engines.

john

LIRR #400

Stuart

I enjoy looking at these little buggers. Even though I'm a tinplate kinda guy I'd love to see a, GE 70 ton unit. The offerings by all three (WbB, Lionel & MTH) are getting a bit boring. Same ol' thing year after year.

The Dansville & Mt.Morris No. 1 was the 373rd and last GE 44 tonner built.

Today the Dansville & Mt.Morris is part of the Rochester & Southern.

Sorry, I don't have a photo.

The Milwaukee Road owned 7 Whitcomb 44-Ton, 2 Davenport 44-Ton and 3 GE 44-Ton which is the one that, as you know, WBB is modeled after. With all the hoopla about this engine from Forum members, I am starting to get the itch for one! Originally I thought that these were so ugly only a mother could love them but they grow on you.

I too will be looking for MTH to release one soon and hopefully in Milw Rd colors.

I'm no expert, but that pre-production model looks just like the one in my Milwaukee Road Historical Association book "Diesel Power". The GE's were built in '40 and '41, the Whitcomb's in '40 and '41 and the Davenports in '42. But, there might be some nuances on this WBB model that could make it a newer model.

It's mostly about the position of the grills. On the front of the short hood - earlier phase. On the side of the short hood - later phase. There are other details but this is the simplified explanation.

Rob

From "The Model Railroader's Guide to Diesel Locomotives: "Phase I models (through Oct '42) had side radiator louvers and a single set of steps on each side. On Phase II models (through May '43) the louvers moved to the ends,  with corner ladders added. Phase III (through June '45) versions have multi-panel access doors on the hoods. Phase IV (through Sept '51) engines have small rectangular air intakes at the top of each hood side. Phase V models (through '56) have ridges in the hood doors and a rectangular headlight instead of round. Going by this, the pre-production model is at least a phase II.

I got that entirety backwards. That's what I get for rushing a post.

the O&W units with the side vents are the earlier style, the Bachmann with the hood end vents are the later style.