Finally working my way to the last of my steam that needs decals or couplers I find that I have two that I am undecided about what to do about a road name. My Bmann 2-10-2 was originally destined to be converted to a GN type but the more I look at the drivers and the low slung appearance I am thinking again. And a 4-8-2 light mountain that I had considered for a 4-8-0 is also being reconsidered. I am mulling over converting both to CB&Q locos and the 2-10-2 maybe getting a conversion to a 2-10-4. Have the parts to do the 2-10-4 conversion except the driver size as in the GN version is a factor I don't like. The difference in driver sizes is about 10 inches for the Q 2-10-2 and the mountain could reasonably pass for a CB&Q M-3. Decisions, decisions, and while I was going through my steamers I found that the old CC 2-8-2 carries the wrong numbers for a GN version. Don't know how I missed that all these years but that foobie number has to go.
Frustration is more like it. Just pulled out one that had been in storage for awhile and realized it still had crapidos on the tender. And I think I have two more that way tucked away somewhere dangnabbit. Nottafinga! Plus I am setting inside in prime fishen weather with the bum knee that still isn't better and I don't want to even think about surgery. Looked at the 2-10-2 with the idea of a 2-10-4 after a short senior citizen nap. Found a Kato four wheel trailing truck in the box and found that it would fit with some modifications. Then I broke the danged thing so that put an end to that idea. Better to have broken the $5 Kato truck than the $$$ more locomotive though so it will stay as a 2-10-2. Much easier path anyway rather than having to cut on that metal boiler to install the feedwater heater and move one of the airpumps. And for the folks that may be considering removing the bottom plate on the loco, you might need an air wrench. Never had machine screws so tight as these and it is a wonder that they hadn't stripped the threads.
John: I've been thinking about a conversion of the 2-10-2 myself, but have never actually seen one. Could you tell me the diameter and wheelbase for the drivers? Thanks, Jim R.
Finally found my calipers so here goes. May be some slight error due to working around a fully assembled model and brake shoes. The driving wheels measure 48 mm and the wheel center measurement is 40mm. The driver is about 8mm not including the wheel flange maybe just a tad under. It was reported elsewhere to have 53 inch drivers and taking my N scale rule it confirms the caliper reading as far as wheel size. Small drivers on this with the center being a blind driver. Traction tires on the 2nd and 4th sets of drivers. Since I was looking at the CB&Q versions they had either 59 or 60 inch drivers and so I would be fairly close for the 2-10-2 but not for the 2-10-4.
Thanks John. The beast I'm looking at was a Brooks 2-10-0 "banker" from about 1907. Had 52" drivers and a wheelbase about 2' shorter than this. The cab hung way out behind, and I think this can be shortened enough to work. Lot of other work, but looks do able. More to think about...
Working with what I have the Bmann 2-10-2 will do for me until something better comes along. My research reveals they had three versions. The first on 59 inch drivers while the 2nd were 60 and the 3rd were 63. Wheelbase wise they are about a foot and a half short of the heavy. Eyeballing a heavy mountain versus the 2-10-2 on the workbench shows them to be close in size so it is reasonably large enough for my purpose since I decided to do the 1st version. One of these days Bmann may just decide to do the heavy version at which time I will have one much closer for both GN and CB&Q. Until then though I'll make do.
