The 2-10-0 project

[mike_lawyer]

Some of you may remember about 10 years ago on the Atlas forum, I built a PRR I1 2-10-0 based upon Max's stellar articles in Model Railroad Craftsman.  I really enjoyed that project, and am currently building up my locomotive roster in anticipation of building a layout later this year.  I am modeling the PRR in the mid-50s, so I1s and J1s are going to be plentiful.

I have decided to go ahead and build another I1 and an I1sa, using a Kato Mikado chassis and GHQ L-1 kits.  I also intend to build a J1 at sometime in the future, but for now I am just sticking with the 2-10-0s.  I plan on posting periodic photos of the project as it develops.  So, this thread will serve as the project update as I proceed along.

The first step, which I will conduct in the next week, will be the frame modification for the fifth driver.  I will post a photograph showing the modified frames in the next week.  If anyone has any questions, feel free to post!   

[dougnelson]

Looking forward to seeing your progress on this project.  Here is some inspiration:
 
PRR Shamokin Branch.  Ore train leaving Shamokin headed to Mt. Carmel.  Philip Hastings photograph.


PRR Hollidaysburg & Petersburg Branch.  Philip Hastings photograph.


PRR Elmira Branch, Watkins Glen.  Philip Hastings photograph.

[randgust]

Yeah, good for you.    I've always looked at those because those were the defining power on the Salamanca Branch.   My uncle fired one, one day, as a fireman trainee, and quit when he got to Olean and became an RPO clerk instead.    My father took great sport in putting grease on the rails when the tail-end helpers backed up to take water and coupled back on - and got coal thrown at him.

Like most PRR steam, there's ONE left.... it's at Hamburg, NY of all places, on an ex-Erie branch, under the ownership of the Western NY Railway Historical Society.
http://www.trainweb.org/wnyrhs/4483Frame1Source1.htm

[MichaelWinicki]

Yeah, good for you.    I've always looked at those because those were the defining power on the Salamanca Branch.   My uncle fired one, one day, as a fireman trainee, and quit when he got to Olean and became an RPO clerk instead.    My father took great sport in putting grease on the rails when the tail-end helpers backed up to take water and coupled back on - and got coal thrown at him.

Like most PRR steam, there's ONE left.... it's at Hamburg, NY of all places, on an ex-Erie branch, under the ownership of the Western NY Railway Historical Society.
http://www.trainweb.org/wnyrhs/4483Frame1Source1.htm

Any idea what year that was when your uncle changed jobs?

From my understanding steam was "dead" on the Buffalo line in '53... I would think that included the Salamanca Branch since Olean removed all steam loco servicing about that time.

[Lemosteam]

You can actually change the Kato Mike to have Laird slides (my only issue with the build using a Kato Mike).  I cannot recall what model these parts were from, but I bought them from @mmagliaro .

See here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XXsCt3DAzR5vwgCj6

[mike_lawyer]

Wow, where did you find those Laird slides?  They look really cool! 

[Chris333]

They look like Con Cor Berkshire parts.

[randgust]

Everybody has 'that colorful uncle'.   I'm guessing that given his age, and the stories I've heard, he was a student fireman probably about 1928-32; he worked on the PRR as a mail clerk until '53 when they dropped the Oil City-Buffalo passenger train via Brockton as near as I can tell.

He was remembered by an ex-Conrail senior employee; Bill Murphy, when I was track inspecting with him in Ohio when he asked if I had any relatives that had ever worked on the railroad.   "HIM!!  I remember HIM!  That lazy %$##!! He got off the locomotive at Olean and threw his shovel at me!" as he was the lead fireman - when they had to hand-bomb with two firemen.    Loaded coal trains to Buffalo, all upriver, Oil City to Olean, with (according to my dad) one locomotive up front and two pushers at the rear.   Apparently not everything had stokers then.

My uncle remembered it as "I never worked that hard before in my life and I never intended to work that hard again" and never mentioned the part about throwing his shovel at the senior fireman.

I did 'Fireman for an Hour' on PM 1225 a few years back (twice) and even with a light engine, hand-bombing the firebox corners gave me an education as the stoker rarely lays coal when you actually want it to keep a good fire.

[Cajonpassfan]

This is so cool, I’m following with great interest.
My own Kato mike extension project got put on the back burner some years ago when I decided to expand the layout😜
Mine is (will be?) a 2-10-2 but the challenges are similar...
Otto K.

[mmagliaro]

Those Laird slides came from an old Rivarossi/Rowa/MRC Bershire.
I happened to have a dead one lying around when John needed them.  They are not common parts to find.

[Lemosteam]

Yes Max, that's right, I remember.

It's true, they are a unicorn, but the Bachmann versions should work too!

[propmeup1]

I too was thinking about doing a J using the Bachmann Berk. Have to find some extra drivers because Bachmanns site shows them sold out.  Can still get the pilot for the K4 from them.   All that unless someone produces one like BLI but then we have to contend with their decoder issues that I seem to have a lot of.

[peteski]

Yes Max, that's right, I remember.

It's true, they are a unicorn, but the Bachmann versions should work too!

Aren't some Kato steam locos (both American and Japanese prototype) using that type of valve gear?  And those parts are likely available from Kato.

The upside down loco is Kato Japanese D51. I think many other Japanese prototypes use that type of valve gear.

[mike_lawyer]

To remove the frame material for the 5th driver, does anyone have a recommendation of what Dremel cutoff bit I should use?  I can't remember specifically what I used years ago to do it.  Maybe it doesn't really matter, but I thought I would ask.

[mmagliaro]

I am pretty sure I just used a standard Dremel abrasive cut-off (the thick one they sell, like .025" ?)
And then some flat-filing to even things up.