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Elsewhere, folks are discussing small steeple cabs.  I figured that things are slow here today, so I will show you mine, and maybe a few other electric locomotives if this gets any response.  These are among the best IMP models - I know that is not saying much, but they are satisfactory for my purposes, and darn near free.

DSC02404Steeplecab trucksSteeplecab

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interesting. What are the drives?  Are they one of those early 50s food mixer-type things?

Stock IMP ones are as you colorfully describe - early 50s food mixer-type.  The trucks one the one are not stock IMP; probably an improvement. The white metal bearing blocks tend to not be in very good condition on these and prone to fragmenting....

Here are the Y1/FF2 Electrics.  I admit I am using the designations from memory . . .

The one on the left is Sunset - they did a superb job, except for only powering four axles.  Takes two of them to haul six of my Empire Builder cars.  The one on the right was cobbled together using castings from Stevenson Preservation Models.  How he finds the time to produce small production runs of such varied models baffles me - but it is a great thing for that part of the hobby that likes to build stuff.

DSC03044

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@mwb posted:

Here's one of my prizes from the Strasburg show several years ago; scratchbuilt from produce or lubricant can brass; remains of the label are on the inside.  After cleaning, tidying up the wiring, and straightening the poles, it runs nicely.

Warrior River Railway,eh? I have two boxcars lettered for the Rat River Railway; I can think of some interesting merger names!

Anyway, on to the real reason for this post. TBill Robbins built this box motor out of metal oil cans (remember them?) many years ago, the other side (no photos) is not painted and the brand of the oil (Esso? on this one) is visible:

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Here are two more of his creations; he did build with an assembly-line method; the box motor is mine, a friend owns the combine and somewhere I have a matching coach:

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One final comment; whatever brand of oil can that Bill used for the white box motor was what he used for all of his many builds.

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Last edited by PRRMP54

Please don't repeat my photos in your quotes.  I already post them too many times.

Here are a few GG1 photos - first, the awesome Sunset import (photos are mine):

New GG1 003New GG1 005

If one wanted a fairly accurate GG1, this and it's sister "rivets" would be a really good choice.  the only flaw I could find was that only four axles are powered, which is not good for 2-rail pulling.

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By the way, this photo was for a Lionel project involving deteriorating zinc castings.  The lower frame is the Wolfer/Duddy/Stevenson frame (still available) and the upper is the Lionel.  As far as I can tell, the Wolfer frame is the most accurate ever done in O Scale, and I would bet that includes Kohs.  Three of my GG1s are equipped with these frames, and only a couple have the earlier Alexander trucks.

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@bob2 posted:


If one wanted a fairly accurate GG1, this and it's sister "rivets" would be a really good choice. the only flaw I could find was that only four axles are powered, which is not good for 2-rail pulling.

Actually you just need to change the weight distribution.  I have four of these 2 rail Sunsets in regular use, and once you take care of that and unload the 4 wheel trucks they run and pull just fine.

Saying you need all six axles powered (meaning a  4-6-6-4) would imply a Northern, Hudson, Pacific, or even an Atlantic have pulling problems

Last edited by John Sethian
@bob2 posted:

As far as I can tell, the Wolfer frame is the most accurate ever done in O Scale, and I would bet that includes Kohs.

DSC02769

Suggest you take another look at those Kohs trucks (your photo repeated to allow an A-B comparison):

4530

The Kohs side frames are not just a single casting as in other models, but are an assembly of multiple components (including both an inner and outer sideframe) with hollow cavities to house all the suspension components.  Note the three springs, speed recorder, sanding lines, etc.  Just as the prototype.   

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Last edited by John Sethian

What a genuine treasure trove!  I need to go back and study those.

On the Kohs truck - I concede, but also offer that there are lots of add-ons for the Wolfer truck, including slack adjusters, speed cables, and the like.  I doubt those three springs are there, though, and these puppies are substantial, unlike a totally accurate hollow casting.   If we scale things down exactly, we wind up with beautiful, delicate, and very fragile models.  Case in point: say a box car has 1/8" steel plate siding.  1/8" in 1/4" scale is less than .003" - thinner than tin foil.

That, of course, is the problem with truly accurate locomotive beds, especially the cast type.  I use 1/4"x 5/8" brass bar, which is way more than twice the size of a truly scaled down frame.  But again, I concede.

Back to GG1s:

GG1 003GG1 002

Top is what I believe to be a "Baldwin" GG1.  I finished and painted it, but it is essentially the actual kit, except for the pans.

Lower is a bronze Duddy casting, mounted on Wolfer trucks, again without the supplied slack adjusters and speed cables.  Pans are imports, which are a lot better looking than the lost wax kind on "Baldwin" up there.

For Martin, the larger pans are roughly 4" when retracted.  I have a spare set of smaller ones, which I still need to measure - I think they are under 3 1/2"

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And one more, before I revert to New Haven:

New GG1 008

Another Baldwin, but this one has Wolfer trucks.  I do cheat on those drivers; these are just cast-iron spoked.  I play a little loose sometimes - and someday I have to get that package of slack adjusters out.

You know what?  I burned out with the CLW Baldwin transfer trucks under my H 16-66.  There were so many tiny little pieces on those trucks it made me happy to be a doorstop kinda guy.  I'll let the next modeler do the slack adjusters - and in a lot of cases, the power!

There are two more Gs around here - one has a body I got from Dan Henon, and the other is an aluminum-bodied Duddy complete with the Alexander trucks (the iteration before he got the Wolfer trucks on-line).  Wish I had a photo of the Egolf Pullman I traded to Dan - a true classic!

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Lived on the Main Line 1956-61.  Saw and rode behind PRR steam.  I did see a silver GG1, but by golly I cannot abide by anything other than Dulux cat whiskers (well, maybe gold).  But capturing "Rivets" was a smart move - probably the best GG1 model (again, opinion!).  So, off to New Haven for me. 

This one may look like Carey's, but it is not - it resides here.  Unlike some of my models, this one is fully powered with CLW transmissions on each main axle, and Pittman motors.  It also has those spring-loaded plungers that transfer the body weight to the engine trucks.  I really should get some decals; the lettering is by stencil.

Parmele & Sturgis:

Parmele

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You know what?  I am really not finished with PRR electrics.  Let me finish up with my first GG1, followed with the MTH P5a (which so far has not crumbled).  I may someday get rid of those stripes, since all the P5s I saw were simply black/Brunswick with the road name.  As far as I can tell, the big flaw with the MTH (aside from zinc pest) is the depth of those screens in the side.  I can probably live with that.  I will add the boxy P5 in the maybe not too distant future.  We were going to make sand castings, but Allan (and his foundry) are on that last train west.

Alexander GG1

This is the body I got from Dan, and the trucks are from Ed Alexander, purchased right there in his shop in Yardley.  I doubled the sideframe thickness with brass plate, so I could use outside journal bearings.  The body casting needed lots of work, including some Bondo in the notches.

P5a converted

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@bob2 posted:Being

Lived on the Main Line 1956-61.  Saw and rode behind PRR steam.  I did see a silver GG1, but by golly I cannot abide by anything other than Dulux cat whiskers (well, maybe gold).  But capturing "Rivets" was a smart move - probably the best GG1 model (again, opinion!).  So, off to New Haven for me.



I'll balance out my previous post of 4800 with this sacrilegious post

Being born just prior to the PC bankruptcy, I actually think the worms and all black give the G a brutish look.  I am young enough though to not have remembered the corporate disaster this entity was.  These are both Weaver models.  Not truly scale as they are short by about 1/2".  The MTH and Williams versions are derivations of this model and most of the parts are interchangeable.

Weaver GG1 4901

For those of you that can't unsee the above image, here is your safe space.

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Since P5s were mentioned some of those as well.

A Sunset on my 2nd O gauge layout circa 2007.

IGP9128

An MTH modified from a TCA public event in Mesa, Arizona in 2003.  I have since sold this locomotive as the details were too pronounced for my liking.

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I replaced the MTH model with this Overland one.  Is it a better model?  It depends on your definition, but it more closely suits my interests and I prefer the more subtle detailing.

processed-7b9d7c3b-ab44-4fa3-8949-169ca914bfdc_586OtuYd

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For your veiwing pleasure, a MTH Conrail E44 & E33, a MTH Conrail GG1 4800 and a MTH Penn Central P2 Boxcab. I acquired the boxcab about 7-8 years ago,off the Bay. I've never seen another come up for sale, so I guess it's a rarity.  I would like to also acquire a Cleveland Union Terminal Boxcab but right now I'm too busy with steam. I already have the NYC Lightening Stripe but that is conventional only.

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My MTH Conrail GG1 - yes it used to be blue - next to my CR 4840 which retained its DGLE single stripe until retirement.  The former CR blue is the start of a future project to make a prototypical NJDOT 4879.  I need to beat the &$%! out of the shell for some added realism.  By the end in 1983 you could see every joint and there were dings and creases everywhere.  I have a lot of future projects these days!

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Who! this electric thread is a hit. Ive been enjoying the pictures and the motivation. I have a 17/64 GG1( scratch building ) under construction, a cast aluminium Little Joe body, and with Bobs help a EP-3 set of casting, the sides almost don. So much work to do, so the motivation is good!     cTr....( Choose the Right )

GG1 17:64 Scale Brase Body and FormerLittle Joe Pattern and Cast BodyLittle Joe Cast Auminium BodySome pictures of some unfinished scratch building electrics projects. I started with a wooden mock up to build around, and help form the brass body, for the GG1. The Little Joe body, happened because, I had access to a foundry that I could play and experiment in. So I made a Pattern ( not so good ) and you see the result.     cTr....( Choose the Right )

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Last edited by Stephen Bloy

This is an enthralling thread. I am fascinated by heavy electric’s as well as the lighter ones. I’m surprise no one has mentioned the side rod electric locomotives like the PRR L5 and FF-1 only made by MTH.  Or the PRR DD-1 made by Max Gray, Sunset and MTH.  Then there is the Virginian EL-3a/b; MTH was going to make some sets then the 2008 recession hit. Let’s not forget about the Milwaukee Road electrics offered by Overland, Weaver and MTH.

Anybody remember Watson House?  Probably the great granddaddy of that TV doctor - but surely a pioneer in the Northeast modeling community.  I believe these are from his collection.  No proof at all . . .

Alex box

I have two of these - one is powered with Pittman/CLW; the other is a dummy.  These are said to be either Alexander or Icken.  Coach is K-Line - true bargains in O Scale.

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and then there is the electric no one wanted to make..  The PRR E2b:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/314266880247096671/

This is my long term (REALLY long term) project. I have gone so far as to:

1) Get donor shells can be suitably kitbashed (MTH EP 5s),  You can see the similarities...and the differences. The primary one being the EP5 is much shorter and less massive).  With the MTH units I'll get the right sounds (close enough) and the nifty panograph movement.

4939 Side compare with EP-54940 End Compare with EP-5

2) Running gear (Sunset F units),

3) The truck sides made in resin, then cast in brass. Work done by Russ Briggs

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4) the 48" wheels  using the Sunset axles. Wheels machined by Carl Jackson

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Stay tuned.

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Last edited by John Sethian

Here's 80% of my electric fleet.

IMG_0847

Williams Conrail E-33, K-Line GN EP-5, K-Line traditional GG1 and a Lionel MPC PRR single stripe EP-5.  I don't know if either the E-33 or the K-Line EP-5 are scale but the K-line EP-5 is significantly longer and marginally wider than the Lionel and the Williams E-33 is significantly longer than Lionel's rectifier.  The last horse in the stable is a Williams Amtrak E-60 that is undergoing long term conversion to a GN Big Sky Blue paint scheme.  I'm also trying to find pantographs to replace the Williams pantographs that are in need of repair.  I've picked up one Atlas AEM 7 pantograph trying to find another.

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@GG1 4877 posted:

Sunset DD1

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I had a set of them and could not get rid of them quick enough. One trip around the layout and one of the gears (worm, ISTR) was stripped

Some more of my miscellaneous electrics, both two and three-rail.

Two-Rail:

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E44 PRR 2-rail-02

New Haven EP-3 0351-001

Now for the oddest NH EP-3; someone did this one up in Denver & Inter Mountain:

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Three-rail, I also have a Weaver gold GG1 and a scale MTH silver GG1 (but no photos of them):

IMG_20160131_102907

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Note this EP-5 is a three-rail version; I have both.

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A humuorous note about the HHP-8. It quit running after about an hour or so; I told a friend about it (he was a tower operator at K Tower at Washington Union Station), he said "Well, Lionel got that right, the real ones were not too reliable, either!" I had planned on two-railing it with the guts of the Atlas AEM-7 so I was not too concerned and I had not opened the factory carton until a couple of years after purchase anyway.



Trolley. I also have several more box motors and steeple-cabs (again, no photos):

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Last edited by PRRMP54
@coach joe posted:

Here's 80% of my electric fleet.

Williams Conrail E-33, K-Line GN EP-5, K-Line traditional GG1 and a Lionel MPC PRR single stripe EP-5.  I don't know if either the E-33 or the K-Line EP-5 are scale but the K-line EP-5 is significantly longer and marginally wider than the Lionel and the Williams E-33 is significantly longer than Lionel's rectifier.  The last horse in the stable is a Williams Amtrak E-60 that is undergoing long term conversion to a GN Big Sky Blue paint scheme.  I'm also trying to find pantographs to replace the Williams pantographs that are in need of repair.  I've picked up one Atlas AEM 7 pantograph trying to find another.

The Williams E33 is fairly close to scale.  The K-Line EP5 is as close to scale as the Overland brass one.

@GG1 4877 posted:

The Williams E33 is fairly close to scale. ...snip...

I took mine over to a friend's and we compared it to his scale one, the only significant difference we could detect was the height of the body, the Williams was about a half-inch or so taller to accommodate the "China drives".  Other than that, it matched up quite well.

@GG1 4877 posted:

...snip... The K-Line EP5 is as close to scale as the Overland brass one.

On another forum (or maybe here, I no longer remember), when I posted my photo of the two-railed version that I had just acquired, one of the posters said that K-Line one was better than the Overland one. One day I would like to be able to compare the two side-by-side.

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