Westside Model Company B&O Q-4b

Nick B. posted:

While this isn't a question about 2 rail scale, it is a question about this model. Does anyone know anything about the prototype? The more people I talk to about this model, the more references to a very specific story I get about how Westside chose this locomotive to model for its unusual operating conditions with the "water bottle." 

What do you want to know? I saw a lot of Q-4b's and a few with water bottles running through Baltimore in the 1940's- '50's. They were pulled by electrics through Mt Royal headed northbound.

rheil posted:

Nick B. posted:

While this isn't a question about 2 rail scale, it is a question about this model. Does anyone know anything about the prototype? The more people I talk to about this model, the more references to a very specific story I get about how Westside chose this locomotive to model for its unusual operating conditions with the "water bottle." 

What do you want to know? I saw a lot of Q-4b's and a few with water bottles running through Baltimore in the 1940's- '50's. They were pulled by electrics through Mt Royal headed northbound.

The biggest thing I need to know is 4625's specific territory. I found pictures of it on Northeast Railfan having both the appearance of a Q4b (1950) in Baltimore with the ladder and B&O herald and as the appearance as a Q7 (1940) in Philly with the single step to the boiler walkway (the way it's modeled by Westside). Was there a specific operating condition I can model that made the "water bottle" necessary?

As I recall there were very few water bottle tenders used behind Q-4b's. For every 100 Q-4's I saw maybe 2 of them had water bottles.

My unfounded opinion is that Dick Trusdale (Westside) made the aux tender to make additional money on his Q-4 model. The locomotive he modeled did have a water bottle at one time.

Nick B. posted:

railroad-guy posted:

Don't know about that but there was a two or three page pamphlet that Westside out out with the engine specs...  I can copy and Email is you want one.

That would be fantastic and much appreciated! Let me know if you need my email!

Here you go...  The price is for the HO version ;-)

 So the westside Q4b is more or less just a generic Q4b model and any Q4b may have had or not had the extended tender or pulled along the water bottle at some point in time?  I have seen pictures of Ts with a water bottle,  even a Q3 in B&O power with the water bottle.

Dan, thanks for posting the info.  

I find it interesting that Westside decided to go with what appears to be a Q3 switching pilot instead of the Q4 slat pilot. They put the slats on the HO model but not the O. Also, the information I have gotten on the tenders is that the larger tender and water bottle were designed to go together. It's possible 4625 wasn't outfitted with these tenders. I'm still researching it before I get the model repaired (there was a fire in the coal bunker after a bad short). So I may modify this or try to pick up a normal Q4 tender.

Q-4's had both road pilots and switching pilots although all 135 were built with road pilots as I recall. I do not believe that the use of the auxiliary tenders depended upon which regular tender was used.

I see that you are a member of the BSME. Perhaps you can have Doug A. introduce you at some point. I live above Baltimore and know Doug well. I have some knowledge of the B&O from steam days as I saw a lot of Q-4's running.

rheil posted:

Q-4's had both road pilots and switching pilots although all 135 were built with road pilots as I recall. I do not believe that the use of the auxiliary tenders depended upon which regular tender was used.

I see that you are a member of the BSME. Perhaps you can have Doug A. introduce you at some point. I live above Baltimore and know Doug well. I have some knowledge of the B&O from steam days as I saw a lot of Q-4's running.

Interesting. I intend to use my 4625 as a short line locomotive, so maybe the switching pilot is more appropriate. I talked with Doug for a bit about this during a meet. Apparently in the book Q (Which I need to get a copy of) it talks about the 6 water bottles the B&O had. Allegedly the modeled tender is 2 S1 tender water tanks soldered together. It was specifically made to be paired with the tender Westside modeled.

I'll ask Doug about introducing us! Always like meeting people and especially fellow B&O modelers! I'm at Peabody now and am still in the city. I'll ask him next meet we are at together!