Blast from the Past: ALCO T-6 switcher

[u18b]

I was cleaning out some files and found these.
I've never posted them all in one place.

This is a very rare switcher.  An ALCO  T-6.

Major roads that owned them were Pennsy and N&W.
Pennsy went to Penn Central and then Conrail.  I think only one made it into blue paint.

Lots of small roads owned one or two.

I made the master as a shell swap for the old Arnold S-2 switcher.
My master was closest to PRR prototype.
Planned to get a bid on a few castings from the masters at GHQ.

Gregg Scott liked it so much he offered to buy it from me so they could sell it in the GHQ line.
He modified my master and did a wonderful job of making it close to N&W prototype- which they sold.
Not sure if it was a great seller- since the Arnold S-2 had such problems with cracked gears and rather growly motor.

The Pennsy and the Conrail T-6 castings are the only two known to exist.  I could kick myself for not getting Gregg to cast me a couple more.  Bryan Bussey owns the Pennsy and I own the Conrail.

Although I built several T-6s in various paint schemes, the Conrail unit is the only one I superdetailed.  These little switchers can pull as much as an Atlas GP40. IIRC one of mine could once pull about 16-18 50' cars on level track.

I've always wondered if anyone on this board ever bought a GHQ casting and made one.  (would love to see it if you did).

Enjoy.



Lots of photos coming.

[u18b]

[u18b]

[u18b]

That's all unless I find some more shots.

[Philip H]

Still listed in the catalogue:

http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/55028.html

[SD35]

Hi,

nice engine, nice work and nice pictures ! Thanks for looking ................Rainer

[garethashenden]

I remember an article in N Scale, about 10 years ago, about this model. I was quite impressed then and I still am.

[up1950s]

I had a Alco Models T6 and S6 when I was into HO , I would buy N scale versions in a heartbeat , but not that interested in bashin' either .

[haasmarc]

I bought a kit.  Haven't built it.

[71jeep]

Here is mine

[bbussey]

... The Pennsy and the Conrail T-6 castings are the only two known to exist.  I could kick myself for not getting Gregg to cast me a couple more.  Bryan Bussey owns the Pennsy and I own the Conrail...

Here is the lone Pennsy prototype model. 

[jmlaboda]

These little switchers can pull as much as an Atlas GP40.

Norfolk Southern had to use GP30s and GP35s in the same service that the T6s were used in at the time of their retirement with none of the SW1500s and MP15s being able to do the same work... not too far off from being prototypical...

[Lemosteam]

Would this kit be appropriate on a new Bachmann s-4?

[u18b]

Leno. 

No.  You would have to start totally from scratch. 

This shell is designed to be a drop swap for the Arnold s2. 
Just pull the motor parts out and drop them in this new shell.

The hardest part was cutting off the Blount side frames and gluing the new ones on.

[mmagliaro]

I've noted that kit on GHQ's website for years.  Never knew you had anything to do with it, Ron.  Congrats!

Nice looking model.  Like that grill on the front side.

And I looked it up after you posted it.  Northern Pacific Terminal RR (later Portland Terminal RR) actually owned
two T-6's !  I was just about to cannibalize one of my Arnold S-2's (which still run quite nicely with
turned-down flanges and new gears), but then I noticed that NP didn't get the T-6 until 1968... too late for me.