There seem to be no really good images of the Baldwin Centipede on the Web. I've downloaded what I could find through Google, including a PRR engineering drawing that gives me the basic dimensions and scheme. The NorthEast Rails site has a few 3/4ths frontal views. I can see that the Centipede rode on an articulated subframe, much like an articulated steam engine, while the cab unit above was not articulated. I believe I can build this subframe out of styrene, with something like a Sagami 1220 powering each truck. The Sagamis would be mounted in the subframe(s), so they would move independently around curves. Side-to-side clearance in the shell should not be a problem with my broad curves--I think! If that proves to be untrue, I'll go to a single bigger motor driving the trucks through some type of double-ended U-joints. Before starting on the subframe, I'd like better pictures than I have now. Does anyone have or know of a straight-on shot? The shell will be totally scratchbuilt, and I'm thinking of offering resin castings if I can make them with sufficient quality. The trucks come from the Bachmann DD-40X (thanks to Barstow Rick!) The wheelbase is about spot-on. In the Centipede they are in the center of the body rather than at the ends, so a new frame is needed. Any help here would be much appreciated!
Pete, if you trust brass manufacturers, maybe someone in whatever scale modeling could take photos of a brass model to your specs, providing a couple of measurements as a guide. I've been on the giving end of this process once, and I was glad to help, but I don't own a Centipede. Edit: I'm assuming you've checked this out, but maybe not: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/Diesels//sm_bp-1_E437703b.gif
Dave, I've got that one, which will be the basis of my model if I can't get something better. If someone could take a Centipede of any scale, lay it on a scanner, and take a scan, that would help. This will be totally scratchbuilt, aside from the trucks, so there are no copyright problems.
Pete, maybe this will help. Carstens "Loco 1 the Diesel" 66-26778 (1966) has a Baldwin Centipede in it with drawings, pages 116-7. PRR unit shown is 5825. Drawings are a right side elevation, roof, nose, and rear end. Specific model isn't identified. If you have trouble locating the book contact me offline. The drawings are more detailed than the PRR ones, particularly the truck details. And I see the PRR ones don't have back or roof and this does.
Heve you checked out this link? It is a picture of the N-scale brass version. Not the most detailed shot but maybe helpful. http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/centipede.html
Have you tried George Elwood's site, www.fallenflags.org The same diagrams David linked to are posted by link on the Fallen Flags site, but there may be other photos there if you know any other roads that operated them. I'm not sure how to run a search on his web site.
On the "Fallen Flags" site, I've never perused the Pennsy part, but there are no centipedes in the Seaboard section. Actually I've been able to find quite a few photos, but they were taken in the '40's and '50's and as you said, not very good. Mike's Train House (MTH) did these units in O guage, as did Overland in HO, you may be able to find some there if either has a web-site. Since this is what I consider a "signature" engine for the SAL, keep hoping that someone will produce a P2K, even a P1K model in HO. After all, we have two models of the RSC-2 (70 engines), RS-27 (27), and DL-109 (74 units) - why not a DR-12-8-1500/2 - 40 units?
My sole acquaintance with these units is through photographs and models - which includes photographs of the models. randgust kind of stole my thunder; I remember that drawings of the Baldwin Centipede appeared in RMC in the early-'60s; at least one photograph and perhaps more accompanied these drawings. RMC was printed on non-slick paper in those heady days of yesteryear so you might find any photos of dubious value. I would do a search at the Kalmbach All-Time Index and see what that turns up.
Pete, I know I've seen scale drawings in MR or MRC. It was an extremely old issue though, and I can't recall which one it was I can't wait to see the finished product
Pictures: http://64.251.25.20/cgi-bin/shopdb.pl/page=index.htm/SID=PUT_SID_HERE http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr5824.jpg http://www.answers.com/topic/baldwin-locomotive-works http://www.byz.org/~morven/Railway32/diesel/index.html http://www.toytrains1.com/baldwin.htm http://www.prrths.com/PRR_Weaver_Baldwin_5827.htm http://kc.pennsyrr.com/layouts/breon/models4.html http://www.toltecimages.com/trains/5812.jpg http://cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_155_sea_baldwin_centipede_reefer_train_1946.jpg Plans: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=bp-1_E437703b.gif&sel=die&sz=sm&fr= http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=bh-50.gif&sel=die&sz=sm&fr= Any of these help? Mr X
I really like the Centipedes. When I was a kid my father would take me and my brother to Englewood Station in Chicago, and we'd watch trains for an afternoon or so. According to what I've been told, we saw T1's, K4's and other good stuff, but the only memory I retain is of a set of Pennsy Centipedes. All those wheels! It was going from right to left, which means it was an outbound passenger train--likely the Broadway. I realize this is not useful information to anybody, but I'll continue my search for something that might be helpful. Good luck on this project, and please show us how you're coming along with it.
Pete I should still have the original line drawing that I used for my template. I will check tonight on my computer.
Not to knock this too far off topic.... What was the purpose of the Centipedes? Mainly, why a locomotive with so many wheels??
Pete: The painting & lettering diagrams were published in Rails Northeast in 1980. I have the issue if you need a scan. I do own a set of the Hallmark brass units. I could provide specific photos if you tell me what you need. Then again, there could be flaws in the Hallmarks!
Pete The PRR class centipede is in the Railroad Model Craftsman issue February 1967 http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=I&MAG=RMC&MO=2&YR=1967&output=3&sort=D I only have a copy of page but I could send you a copy (no scanner anymore) if you cannot get hold of anything else. I also have a copy of the page of the same magazin (no date) of the Seaboard model.
I would tend to disagree with the comment that the centipedes delivered to PRR/SAL/NdeM were quite different. Actually if one looks at the units as originally built, they are all very similiar. Of course, over time, the different railroads made modifications which made some small differences. A partial quote from page BLW-309 of the "Second Diesel Spotters Guide" is 'Side panels varied slightly among centipedes: ...' However, if one looks at the DL-109 variances among these units were even more pronounced, but LifeLike still did a very credible job of representing these variations with just one model. The widest variation from the production models would have to be the first centipede produced, SAL #4500, which retained that fake clerestory over the cab until the end. I do believe that one of the first line manufacturers could easily produced a model that would be acceptable to fans of this diesel.
good work there, engineshop; I knew it was in the sixties but I thought it was earlier than the date you specify; I did remember that it was RMC, however.
From an engineering standpoint, yes, but from a financial reality standpoint... no way. The PCM's of the world do runs, it has been said, around 5,000. And they charge a premium price for the plastic market. The Atlas's and Kato's of the world need to run many more to spread the up-front costs across the lot to gain a per-unit profit as well as recover their investment. So, how many Centipede's would need to be sold? Given how many existed in reality, how many roads had them (3), and how many people model them, I don't see it happending... ever! I wouldn't state that there would never be another brass run, however. I think that would be feasible, though expensive. Probably $1,500-2,000 a pair.
