@GG1 4877 posted:NdeM Niagaras were the second lightest 4-8-4s produced. Why NdeM decided on that name is anyone's guess, but they are very interesting locomotives and unlike their NYC counterpart had long successful careers.
I am very happy to see more people take an interest in what I consider to be the most interesting railroad on the North American continent. I would model it if I wasn't invested in other roads of the southwest already. The RK ATSF Northern may be a good starting point!
No - not "anyones guess" - the reps of the NdeM were visiting Schenectady about the time that the NYC Niagara were being built and liked the name. They were there regarding their own 4-8-4 order.
The NdeM "Niagra" (note correct NdeM spelling - it's not "Niagara") was essentially a copy of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St Louls 4-8-4's, which were called "Dixies" (as they should have been) by that railroad. There is one Dixie surviving, in Nashville, and there is hope of a restoration. Unfortumately it is in the less-stream-styled end-of-career form. Better than scrapped, though.
The later Dixies (there was an earlier 4-8-4), NC&StL class "J-3", were stream-styled and extremely sleek (I wish that a skyline casing had been added, also). There were 2 orders of later 4-8-4's, the first nicknamed "Yellow Jackets" because of the broad yellow stripe on the running board skirting, and the second were called "Stripes", as the running boards had no skirts.
I have long had plans to model a Dixie, but I have never been able to decide on the correct donor engine. There are possibilities. Some think of the Dixies (and the NdeM Niagra) as "small". Smaller than a Santa Fe 2900 or even a NYC "Niagara", yes - but that's like saying "small elephant".
