Hi guys. While waiting for some paint to dry this weekend I started looking for something that would work on our GP-35 Chassis and give me a switcher. I found the Alco C415 and even though the wheel base is a bit short it fits in my 3' modeling rule at home. If it's within three feet its ok, and if it looks good 3' away, then it's good. This is a bit short of that, but because of the geometry you could Fudge it and have a fine looking unit. Figure you use the deck of the 35 with some mods and the rest is out of the scrap bin. Here is a good site to check out... http://images.google.com/imgres?img...n&safe=off&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-39,RNWE:en&sa=N Some artwork to review: A nice photo: Not to many were built, but they were spread around the country, SP, SP&S and a few others. Still a few months of winter left and you might be able to squeeze this one in. Cheers Joe MTL
good idea joe. people who bought one (or more) of the hallmark UP gas turbines, can use two sets of the truck sideframes (Alco style) to make a more accurate representation of the switcher in the picture. i'm sure we'll now see some of these in the near future. dave f.
Let's hope we don't kill you too much ! I was looking at the chassis today and if you were to mill the gear tower pocket back a little bit and grind off the ends of the Die Cast you could get the truck centers within the correct distance. You would be at the back end of the worm gear, but it would still grab enough....or leave it alone like I plan on doing. Joe MTL... Now where is that stupid MP15 frame I made last year....
Sounds like a good project, but I would think an RS-1, RS-3, or RS-11 might be more popular. I know I can use them. -Robert
Looks like there were variations in the cabs perhaps? The SP photo looks like it has 3 or 4 steps up instead of 2 in the drawing. Also the cab side windows appear to be flush with the top of the hood where in the drawing they are lower. Were these used as yard switchers or more as transfer locomotives? Neat project. Back in the 2002-2003 time frame before he disappeared off the active Z scene, Bob Olson was talking about doing a photo-etch kit to do these as a shell for the Marklin center cab diesel hydraulic chassis. Actually, it may have been one of the Baldwin transfer center-cab diesels, I can't remember. Randy
There were 3 cab types--SP, others (high), Monongahela Connecting (low), Rock Island, others (med). Also 2 truck styles: standard Alco trucks, or High-Adhesion trucks. More info here: http://users.inna.net/~jaydeet/c415.htm
it's a 3 axle, and has connecting rods like a steam engine across the 3 drivers per side. Looks kind of funny to me.
Robert, The one that Randy was talking about was actually a two trucked center cab diesel. And, I think it might have been a GE that Bob was working on.They actually had a quite few etched sheets made, I'm not sure what happened to that Idea. But, anyway, the Marklin had two two axle trucks. Dan S.
Dan, I think Bob was working on the Baldwin or Alco. Someone else was working on a GE. Not sure that one ever made it to brass, but if it did, it would sell well. I'm a critter nut too. ;-) Need soemthing small for all the grain elevators. Randy
I assume it would only look funny in the US. Looks pretty normal from that esoteric standpoint known colloquially as 'the rest of the world' where we have, or had lots of engines to this type of design. This is the three axle unit: http://www.rocousa.com/DETAIL.ASP?PRODUCT_ID=88641 and this is the Marklin centre cab - which has rather shorter wheelbase trucks than a C415 I believe: http://www.rocousa.com/DETAIL.ASP?PRODUCT_ID=88690 Ben
I am sure it's a normal and well loved engine to those that grew up with them , but what looks funny to me is that it's a diesel, yet has connecting rods across the drivers like a steam loco would. Even here in the US we have funny looking diesel locos just like it, known as "Critters" because of their steam era features. Those are still funny to me.
Ben, Actually, a lot of our porter type (Porter, Plymouth, Davenport, etc) and industrial locs were fairly similar to the 3 axle diesel loc. At home, I have dozens of pictures of standard gauge industrial switchers that I have always planned on using the Marklin for. So, this type of diesel was actually fairly common here, as well, Just not so much in mainline service. So, I don't think it's a U.S. vs "The Rest of The World" thing, I think it's just Robert's personal preference in locomotives. Dan S.
Dan I would imagine so . . . the country that invented the railway still has hundreds of these in service. We probably had a couple of hundred ourselves in Australia too . . . Out of interest, this is a 2mm model (British finescale standard invented substantially before N came along to muddy the waters with Rapido couplers and Mehanotechnika . . .) Even comes with outside frames: http://markfielder.photobook.org.uk/p30168350.html Cheers Ben
Hi Dan Just to stretch a point, here's its little brother in Z (took me a while to find it): http://www.exact-messebau.de/minilok/hippel.htm Ben
C415... a little exotic, isn't it? Even N scale hasn't tried to go with a C415... yet. As you mentioned spread out over the country and not many made would limit marketablity for a production in N or Z scales... but... as a kitbash would be a good project. I'd be interested to see how it comes out. SP & SP&S had them so... not far from my interest in model railroading. Keep us posted!
