Are there options for sill mounted handrails for LL/WKW SW's?

[Joetrain59]

Just going through some storage totes with locos to run them all a bit. Have a B&M Minuteman SW. Looked at pix on FF site, found one that showed the sill mounted handrails along with hood mounted ones. Doesn't seem like there were any releases with sill mounts.
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[peteski]

Unlike the Arnold SW1 (which has both options), those models never had the sill-mounted handrails option.  You have to roll your own.

[tehachapifan]

But there was or is etched handrails for these models made by Athabasca Scale Models. This was recently discussed in another thread and I believe someone said they're no longer being made but turn up from time-to-time. I have some and they are very nice.

[Joetrain59]

T.F., any chance you have a set you could part with?
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[randgust]

I do brass handrails as custom builds if you can't find a factory set.

I do these on FINISHED AND PAINTED shells.  They are drilled and soldered and ACC'd on rather than assembled on the bench and installed later.  You can either finish painting them yourself of have me do it.    I need a shot of what locomotive you're trying to do and any handrail detail shots, as many units evolved the handrails several times during their lifetimes.  I give you a quote, you send me the shell only, you get it back.   Lots of photos of projects can be provided.   I did a batch of Sacramento Northern EMD and Alco units for a modeler that had to have sill rails and hood side rails, and that odd SN stanchion spacing to boot.

As these are on permanently, you need to do whatever you're going to do behind the rails before I do it, that includes painting and decaling.

On LL units you really need to ACC the sill to the body shell and make the appropriate changes to make it an integral unit rather than try to figure out how to still get it apart on the handrails.  On my own SW I have the LL body shell on a Kato NW2 drive.

Contact me via my randgust web page.

[coosvalley]

i have read that the Athabaska set was too tall to represent early SW or NW series handrails....can anyone prove or disprove this?  Every first generation EMD switcher I want to model has full length handrails, yet only Arnold has made them.....if there was a correct etched kit available, I would be a happy camper!

[tehachapifan]

T.F., any chance you have a set you could part with?
 Thanks,
 Joe D

PM sent.

[randgust]

Here's a good shot - on one of my custom (pre-Hornby!) SW1's.   Buyer did painting, I just did the railings.

[peteski]

Nice thin handrails Randy. But shouldn't the stanchions be attached to the top surface of the walkway (not on the side)?  At least that is how all the B&M SW units are built.

[mandealco]

Hi
This is the Athabasca set on a Life-Like SW-1200.  They don't look too bad to me, but Randy's do look much nicer.
Cheers
Steve
NZ

[randgust]

Nice thin handrails Randy. But shouldn't the stanchions be attached to the top surface of the walkway (not on the side)?  At least that is how all the B&M SW units are built.

Only if I wanted to do it wrong.  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3325412

History indicates these were retro added by SN as standard practice on all their switcher units, heck, I'm not even sure they are EMD handrails.  I am pretty sure they were not original equipment.  There's also a bunch of detail differences between as-delivered, pick-a-year, and current condition of the unit out at Sacramento.   Unit didn't have step grabs for a long time.   That's why I prefer people pick a unit and a year!

[sd45elect2000]

Randy is right , the early SW engines did not come with handrails. The issue I always had with added handrails is that it made the walkway too narrow. Some mining companies bolted the stations to the top of the walkway making it a VERY narrow place to squeeze past.

The narrow hood on the SW 1500 made it easier to walk for sure !!

Randy

[coosvalley]

Randy is right , the early SW engines did not come with handrails.

They certainly did!  The Maine Central's SW7/9s came with them....

Randys handrails look great. So does that CP switcher,but those do sit higher up than B&Ms for sure..

[coosvalley]

Here is a link to a pic that shows why the Athabaska set isn't right for the original posters B&M loco...the height should match the end handrails......


http://www.n-scaler.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=2277

[BobRunty]

Hi
This is the Athabasca set on a Life-Like SW-1200.  They don't look too bad to me, but Randy's do look much nicer.
Cheers
Steve
NZ

Steve,
  Did you scratch build that air/fuel tank or is it a commercial item?

Bob