Good evening all!
With the close of one project begins another. And this one is a doozy.
In 1917 the Milwaukee road placed orders with GE and Baldwin Westinghouse for 15 passenger electrics to handle they’re premier passenger trains on the Road’s western extension. In 1919 the first of 5 EP-2 Bipolars (E-1 through E-5) where delivered from GE. The next year Baldwin and Westinghouse delivered 10 (E-10 through E-19) EP-3 Quill driven motors. All 10 Westinghouse motors were assigned to the Rocky Mountain division between Harlowton, MT and Avery, ID with the Bipolars handling the Pacfic extension at Othello, WA.
Very few know of the existance of the Quill Motors as they were not well advertised to the public as the Bipolars were. Though crews preferred the Motors for the power, speed and comfort at high speed, they were plagued from the factory with weak frames and the quill drives were a maintanence headache. Even after numerous rebuilds, they were all scrapped by 1957 and lost to history.
Today I am taking on the project of scratch building this locomotive to pull my in the making Columbian, The Milwaukee’s second named passenger train in the west. Drawings have been expanded to 1/4” scale and progress is already under way with the side frames and body.
Here E-15 is shown handling the Columbian. This loco had many schemes over its 35 year career and is pictured here in a black with silver stripes.
1/4” scale drawings
Here the rebuilt side frame is shown. I will be using this to create molds for all 4 side frames.
The body will be assembled in two sections. A and B ends. Here the “B” end of the Quill is under construction. This end house the controls and side doors. The A end controls were removed in a later rebuild for better electrical and other mechanical upgrades. I will scratch a full cab interior and the roof will remove over the cab.
Updates to follow!
James