BLI USRA 2-8-2

[jdcolombo]

Have a look at the Clover Leaf and LE&W steam locomotive rosters on this site: https://www.nkphts.org/rosters
Are there any 2-8-2's or 2-8-4's listed for the Clover Leaf, or any 2-8-4's listed for the LE&W?

I'm not sure what your point is (pun unintended!).  Those are the locomotive rosters at the time the Clover Leaf and LE&W, respectively, were acquired by the NKP (both in the 1920's, if I remember correctly).  They are not rosters of engines assigned to those lines after the acquisitions.  Instead, take a look at the NKP roster.  There you will find all the "modern" steam motive power, but locomotives from that list were assigned everywhere.  Mikes dominated the Peoria Division until the Berks came along and proved they could climb Crandall Hill without helpers (although . . . slowly).  The dominance of the 2-8-2's is why there is a Mike (#639) on display in Bloomington.  It ran on that part of the LE&W Division until the end. 

Anyone interested in the operating history of the NKP should get a copy of John Rehor's "Nickel Plate Story."  While I'm obviously biased as an NKP modeler, I've read a lot of both railroad history books and history in general, and Rehor's book is probably the best railroad history book out there. 

John C. 

PS - George, you have WAY TOO FEW Berks; I've got 12 on the layout and two LifeLike Undecs still in boxes that I will one day number/letter.  The last operating session I had (in February, before COVID took over everyone's lives), I decided to do an all-steam session.  Berks, Mikes, Consolidations (sadly, my two 0-8-0's are inoperative with cracked gears).  It was great!  (But no, I'm not getting rid of my 60+ diesels . . . )

[nickelplate759]

PS - George, you have WAY TOO FEW Berks; I've got 12 on the layout and two LifeLike Undecs still in boxes that I will one day number/letter.  The last operating session I had (in February, before COVID took over everyone's lives), I decided to do an all-steam session.  Berks, Mikes, Consolidations (sadly, my two 0-8-0's are inoperative with cracked gears).  It was great!  (But no, I'm not getting rid of my 60+ diesels . . . )

Well, in my defense I have a much smaller layout.   I also have fewer than 60 diesels (maybe half of that, but I haven't counted).  I do have an 0-8-0, a 4-6-0, and a 2-6-6-2 as well, but only the 4-6-0 is operative.   

[reinhardtjh]

[thread_drift]

If anyone should want/need (we all need more, right?) a Walthers/Life-Like Berk I may have one or seven that won't be converted into C&O Kanawhas since I have plenty of the Bachmann version.  All are from Ebay purchases over the past 7 years, some are in better shape than others (the smokebox front tends to fall off in shipment apparently).  Make me an offer. 

[/thread_drift]

[Cajonpassfan]

Calling @Cajonpassfan ...

PM sent.
Otto

[jdcolombo]

[thread_drift]

If anyone should want/need (we all need more, right?) a Walthers/Life-Like Berk I may have one or seven that won't be converted into C&O Kanawhas since I have plenty of the Bachmann version.  All are from Ebay purchases over the past 7 years, some are in better shape than others (the smokebox front tends to fall off in shipment apparently).  Make me an offer. 

[/thread_drift]

@reinhardtjh

I might be interested in . . . some . . . please e-mail me directly at jdcolombo at gmail. 

John C.

[Mark5]

[thread_drift]

If anyone should want/need (we all need more, right?) a Walthers/Life-Like Berk I may have one or seven that won't be converted into C&O Kanawhas since I have plenty of the Bachmann version.  All are from Ebay purchases over the past 7 years, some are in better shape than others (the smokebox front tends to fall off in shipment apparently).  Make me an offer. 

[/thread_drift]

PM sent drifting. 

[prr7161]

I threw in for an undec heavy.  Considering the entirety of the P&LE road freight roster in 1949 was either USRA heavies or NYC H10s, for right now at least I can't have too many Mikes.  I can live with the electronics  - where I get into "roll your own" territory is the replacement 16k gallon / 12 wheel tenders and Delta trailing trucks that will be needed.  Hoping I can repurpose the factory tenders when the time comes...

[mmagliaro]

Like mooing cows?

Hey!  I have that BLI mooing cow stock car and I love it!   Well, okay, I have the chassis, with Lowell Smith custom NP stock car body fitted on it so it looks good.... and moos...   

[Cajonpassfan]

I assume the lights and heavies have identical mechanisms, right? Or is there more metal inside the heavy?
Thanks, Otto K.

[spookshow]

Light and heavy have the same internals.

-Mark

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks, Mark, appreciated. Makes sense.
Otto

[reinhardtjh]

Just a heads up that the second run of the BLI Mikado is now in stock at MBKlein's.

https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/trains/locomotives/#/filter:custom_scale:N/filter:categories_hierarchy:Trains$253ELocomotives$253ESteam$253E2-8-2/filter:inventory_level:1:*/perpage:60

[nickelplate759]

I just got two (from Hobbysmith, my local store).  A few first impressions.
1. by default, they are LOUD.   I'll have to adjust that.
2. They look wonderful.
3. Speed control is terrific.   Also, both run at identical speeds throughout the throttle range.
4.  They front coupler height doesn't match the rear coupler.  They won't doublehead.
5. One has a bounce at the cab end, once per driver revolution - not a good sign.  Not sure what to do about it.

[jdcolombo]

Hi George.

One of mine had a bounce too - #627.  I narrowed the problem down to a bad traction tire.  I removed the traction tires and replaced them with my double-sided tape, and now the bounce is gone.

You might also look at the valve gear and make sure that (1) nothing is bent vertically (up/down; some bending horizontally is normal in a model) and (2) that the pin (it's actually a screw) holding the rods to the front drivers isn't hitting the valve gear.  I've had this problem (pin hitting valve gear) on a couple of LifeLike Berks, caused by too much play in the front driver set.  In both cases, I fixed it by using an .010-thickness brass thrust washer between the driver and frame, which kept the drivers from sliding too far over.  It also meant, however, that those Berks were limited to 15" radius curves, because I had limited the ability of the drivers to slide and track a narrower curve.  Not a problem for my layout, which uses 16" minimum radii on the mainlines, where the Berks live. 

If you determine that a traction tire is the problem, putting on a new one requires removing the screw holding the rods to the #4 drivers.  This is a tiny hex screw, not a press-fit pin, and needs a tiny hex driver to accomplish the job.  I didn't have one, which is why I defaulted to my double-sided tape for now. 

John C.

[peteski]

I still say that there should be no reason for any manufacturer to produce a new model with non-see-through spoked drivers.  The wheels look like they belong on a child's toy, not on a otherwise well-detailed N scale model.  Come on BLI!