I've been pondering something for a while now, does anyone think it would be possible to kitbash a 2-10-4 from one of the USRA 2-10-2s produced by Con-Cor or Bachmann? And how passable would one be with just the trailing truck swapped for a 4 wheel one? I'm not going prototypical, just a freelanced steamer for some fan trip running. Many thanks, Mitchell
If you do, I would use the CC engine as it is actually a lolt longer than the protype. Bachmann's is a surprisingly small engine.
I agree with Dan, the Bman is the wrong engine for a Texas type. The Concor on the other hand is BIG, and may be a good starting point. Santa Fe actually experimented with one of its 2-10-2's, adding a four wheel trailing truck before committing to the big 5000 and 5001 class Texans. I would think adding a four wheel truck from a Berk or a CC northern would be relatively easy, the harder part would be getting rid of the USRA look... Sounds like a fun project! Good luck, Otto
The Bmann 2-10-2 is pretty close to the actual measurements while the Concor 2-10-2 is about 4 to 5 N scale feet too long so it is probably the better choice for the project. Find a trailing truck from a Berkshire and you probably would be close at least in appearance if not dimensions.
The Bachmann 2-10-2 is pretty close to the actual measurements of a small- drivered Light USRA. The Concor is an oversized model of a Heavy USRA 2-10-2. Using it will yield a nice big loco, a bit bigger that the original Texas and Pacific 2-10-4 after which the type was named, but smaller than the enormous Santa Fe and Pennsy Texans. I'm not aware of any small-drivered 2-10-4's; the reason for four wheel trailing trucks was to allow for bigger fireboxes to generate more steam at higher speeds, something a small drivered loco couldn't deliver regardless of boiler do firebox size. Just my opinion, of course. Kind regards, Otto
Right before and right again. The 3900 Class engine you mentioned above (3929??) had 63" drivers, which is about the smallest Texas type drivers I know of. The smallest Texas types were, I believe, those of the Central Vermont. An interesting engine, indeed. Might not seem to make much of a difference if you're not modeling an actual prototype, but you're after that Texas look, not a Decapod look, so taller drivers are very much in order.
Well, you could always model a Central Vermont 2-10-4. That was the smallest with 60" drivers. The trailing truck is kind of unique. Mark
Thanks for the replies guys, I'm not exactly a machinist so I can't take a larger drivered 4-8-4 for example and add an axle to it (a 4-10-4 would be alot cooler i must admit). Seems the C-C 2-10-2 is the way to go to get a 'good enough' loco.
