BLW announced they're about to receive the new Model Power mogul. Does anybody know if these have traction tires?
I think I'll pass on these MP steamers. All that info should be included in a new release of any loco. I'd be more apt to purchase the MDC 2-6-0. You know you're getting a great steam loco that runs well. Stay cool and run steam.....
Jon Tager of Model Power advised that all future releases would have traction tires, so this one may well have, considering how long it was delayed. The MDC 2-6-0's aren't all perfect, either. Mine took some tuning and sheets of paper in the tender to prevent shorts. Runs fine now, but so does my MP 4-4-0, to which I added a traction tire and am working on a new tender.
Don't know, but if they do, I am in for one or more after what I saw the 3 Pacifics and one Mikado with tires I have do.
I haven't rostered any MP equipment since the miserable excuse of a supposed FA, that was really an FPA-4, and the equally abortive C-420, both with the single powered truck. LL spelled the end of the FAs that now grace the parts box in a dismantled part donor mode, and the only C-420s you saw awhile back both got bashed into a dual drive CP fantasy scheme. Took a wait a see on the first MP Pacifics and on the FP-7. But since I have morphed into not featuring any NP power at all, just some run through passenger and freight cars those have faded into a don't want anymore anyway mode. Now on the other hand an elderly 2-6-0 running off the miles on the branch might catch my attention, IF IT HAS TRACTION TIRES. You see the branchline will be 2%. Already have MDCs 2-8-0 and am happy with it so the MDC 2-6-0 may earn my favor and $$s. Now a 4-4-2 that has been talked about would possibly get my attention if again traction tires are present, and I can figure out how to sucessfully convert a metal shell to a Belpaire. SP&S was one of the few roads to use 4-4-2s in freight service using old GN units. The advent of that loco just might get me to part with some $$ for a MP loco again.
I just called Model Power. The traction tires are installed. I just ordered two from my on line supplier.
I received my undecorated 2-6-0 yesterday, and it can be made into a very convincing #144 of the Rutland, give the extra parts. The cab exchange and smokebox swap are easy, although I could not figure out how to easily remove the high clear plastic smokebox insert. These DO HAVE TRACTION TIRES on the rear drivers, and I can easily pull six heavyweight passenger cars and 11 freight cars on the level. #144 ran on the Addison branch as a short mixed freight and milk collector, so I'm in fine shape.The drive is fairly smooth, although I have a slight hitch in forward, which seems to be going away as it breaks in. Pickup appears to be from two drivers and two wheels on each tender truck. Mine stalls at very slow speeds on some Peco Code 55 Electrofrog turnouts, but I hope this will improve with time. The front dummy coupler mates with MT's, which has not been the case for previous MP steam locos. A very pleasant surpise. MT 1023 mount easily with the snap in, snap out bracket holding the Rapido in place. My overall impression is a good one, despite the shortcomings noted. I do know if the "hitch" remains, Model Power is always ready to correct the problem, to their credit. It would have been nice to see some instructions on making the modifications, such as swapping the light bar.
It is hard to tell. The pickup looks like copper ("PbS" in the instruction sheet) and is parallel to the rails from about 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock behind the drivers. It looks similar to my Pacific pickup, but perhaps more solid. The "hitch" going forward is going away; I loosened the underplate screw and that seems to help. There is no obvious wobble when upside down on the workbench and moving slowly, so the drivers are probably quatered correctly. There is no "click" indicating parts hitting, and I oiled and lubed everything in sight. It is very minor, and the loco is getting to be a really good performer. Only four of the eight tender wheels are powered, and two bronze contacts touch the four axles.
I think you mean only four of the eight tender wheels are used for electrical pick up. They are not powered by the motor, the drivers are.
Yes, that's what I meant. The tender wheels are free-wheeling. I'm having a lot of fun running it, usually with a handful of cars and combine.
That's how I plan to run when I get mine, like B&M's daily mixed from Springfield, MA to Peterboro, NH. :thumbs_up:
Hytec, There are great pictures of that train with both steam (Phil Hastings?) and diesel. I believe RS-2 1500 ("Bloody Nose") replaced steam 2-6-0's initially. That is my favorite B&M diesel, and I allowed myself the luxury of using it to interchange at Bellows Falls on my layout. A black with yellow stripes D&H RS-2 does that same at Rutland. I basically run wayfreights circa 1952. The Rutland's two moguls were gone by then, and the Addison Branch was on the way out. I think the Peterborough Branch is a great modeling subject; I've walked the remnants in Peterborough. Didn't the trains originate in Worcester and cross the main line in Gardner?
Richard, you may be correct about the Peterboro daily originating in Worcester, I'll check it out. Do you happen to know what power was assigned to the daily milk train between Bennington and Chatham, NY over the Corkscrew during the late 40's and early 50's? When I left that area in June 1953, they were still assigning steam, but I don't know what Class. Edit - Richard, you are correct about the Peterboro daily originating in Worcester. I must stop relying on my crippled memory...:embarassed:
Hytec, According to Nimke Vol. IV, "Milk trains on this section of the railroad were a major source of revenue and ran seven days a week. Trains 88 and 83 they were called and many times were run in sections due to the large quantity of milk handled. Train 88 was the southbound job from Rutland to Chatham and was a First Class train with a combination car as a Van. The 30 class engines were used until the 80's came and then the 90's were used. They made the round trip in one day (or night, as the case may be). These two trains were cancelled during the strike in the 50's and the milk was then hauled in the through freights". The 80's (Pacifics) and 90's (Mountains) are clear, but the 30's were Mikados (except for 2-8-0 30-31). They pre date the Pacifics, but perhaps ten wheelers were used. There is a picture from the 1930's showing ten wheelers 73 ahead of 55. The Newsliner, Vol. 3 #1, "The Pre-War Milk Train" by John Stanford, "Except for the appearance of ten wheeler #77, the K-1 light pacifics were used exclusively on nos. 83 and 88 (in 1937). This is in contrast to the '45-'47 trains where double headed ten-wheelers were the power of choice, with the pacifics appearing only a quarter of the time.", when an average of three more cars per train were carried. Frieghts show mostly Consolidations, some Mikados and Ten-wheelers. Rs-3's and Rs-1's succeeded them in the 1950's. My memory is also pretty cripled sometimes, but the Peterborough Branch really stuck, particularly because of Hasting's photos and #1500. I used to model the B&M in HO, and read a lot about it. I stopped with the first Newsliner article I found, but if you need more, please let me know.
Peterboro was kind of the end of the line up there after passing through such thriving burgs as West Rindge and Jeffery. You could always catch a bus from Peterboro to Greenfield and points east if you wanted to go further. Greenfield was on the line out of Nashua that was across the street from our house when I lived in Milford. I missed steam but still remember the old Alco RS's.
Russell, I've camped at Greenfield State Park and eaten at that great diner in Peterboro. The line originally went north from Peterboro and I believe connected to the Henniker Branch and/or went on to Contoocook on the Claremont Branch. Flooding (in the '30's?) split the branch at Peterboro. A beautifully restored station stands in Hancock on the old connector between Keene and Nashua. To say the old B&M was overbuilt is an understatement. It's beautiful country.
