On Nov 10, 2022, at 11:53 AM, William Reed <bigbiggarage@...> wrote:



Can you post a picture? That would help a lot in identifying the prototype it may be based on. Thanks. 

William

aka drgwk37

---

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Clarence Zink <clarence.zink@...>
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2022 12:49 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io>
Subject: [RealSTMFC] D&RG 4-6-0 #234

 

Hi -
I'm aware this might not be the place for this question, but this group is about the "steam era".

I got an old brass Rio Grande 4-6-0 steam locomotive, #234, at a club raffle the other night, and want to authenticate it's existence.  It was a donation to the club, but has a broken rear truck on the tender.  There are no manufacturer's identification marks on it that I can find from an  external investigation.

It doesn't come up in any of the D&RGW websites I've tried.

Can anyone suggest a website that would/might contain some info about this loco?

Thanks,

CRZ

On Nov 11, 2022, at 8:53 PM, Douglas Harding <iowacentralrr@...> wrote:



Certainly not brass, though it does have some brass parts, like ladders made from common ladder stock and brass drivers. It looks like an early MDC old timer, but MDC did not make a 4-6-0 old timer. Nor does it match a Mantua 4-6-0. There were other manufactures of similar steam engines back in the 50s. It looks to be made of cast metal, most likely zamac. As early as at is, be careful of zamac rot. Even the tender trucks were cast metal and easily broke. You can replace the trucks. The freewheeling indicates you have broken or missing gears. NWSL offers a variety of replacement gears. I don’t believe there is a prototype. It could be a kitbash of some sort, but I doubt it.

 

There should be room in the tender for a decoder. You will need to isolate the motor from the frame, or better install a can motor with gear box. The drivers will need the flanges turned down, or replace them.

 

But in the end you will still have a crude, generic steam engine in which you have invested a ton of money. You would be better to invest your funds in a better engine.

 

Doug Harding

https://www.facebook.com/douglas.harding.3156/

Youtube: Douglas Harding Iowa Central Railroad

On Nov 11, 2022, at 8:53 PM, Douglas Harding <iowacentralrr@...> wrote:



Certainly not brass, though it does have some brass parts, like ladders made from common ladder stock and brass drivers. It looks like an early MDC old timer, but MDC did not make a 4-6-0 old timer. Nor does it match a Mantua 4-6-0. There were other manufactures of similar steam engines back in the 50s. It looks to be made of cast metal, most likely zamac. As early as at is, be careful of zamac rot. Even the tender trucks were cast metal and easily broke. You can replace the trucks. The freewheeling indicates you have broken or missing gears. NWSL offers a variety of replacement gears. I don’t believe there is a prototype. It could be a kitbash of some sort, but I doubt it.

 

There should be room in the tender for a decoder. You will need to isolate the motor from the frame, or better install a can motor with gear box. The drivers will need the flanges turned down, or replace them.

 

But in the end you will still have a crude, generic steam engine in which you have invested a ton of money. You would be better to invest your funds in a better engine.

 

Doug Harding

https://www.facebook.com/douglas.harding.3156/

Youtube: Douglas Harding Iowa Central Railroad

On Nov 11, 2022, at 11:04 PM, Charlie Vlk <cvlk@...> wrote:

All-

'New One" in Japan made zamac cast locomotives.

The boiler/cab is reminiscent of a Roundhouse /MDC 0-6-0 but it would have been too short for a 4-6-0.   Not Varney, Bowser, Penn Line or Mantua.  

A mystery!

Charlie Vlk

On Nov 11, 2022, at 8:53 PM, Douglas Harding <iowacentralrr@...> wrote:



Certainly not brass, though it does have some brass parts, like ladders made from common ladder stock and brass drivers. It looks like an early MDC old timer, but MDC did not make a 4-6-0 old timer. Nor does it match a Mantua 4-6-0. There were other manufactures of similar steam engines back in the 50s. It looks to be made of cast metal, most likely zamac. As early as at is, be careful of zamac rot. Even the tender trucks were cast metal and easily broke. You can replace the trucks. The freewheeling indicates you have broken or missing gears. NWSL offers a variety of replacement gears. I don’t believe there is a prototype. It could be a kitbash of some sort, but I doubt it.

 

There should be room in the tender for a decoder. You will need to isolate the motor from the frame, or better install a can motor with gear box. The drivers will need the flanges turned down, or replace them.

 

But in the end you will still have a crude, generic steam engine in which you have invested a ton of money. You would be better to invest your funds in a better engine.

 

Doug Harding

https://www.facebook.com/douglas.harding.3156/

Youtube: Douglas Harding Iowa Central Railroad

On Nov 12, 2022, at 4:58 PM, Philip Dove <philipdove22@...> wrote:



In reality l don't think locomotives got displayed in parks because their flanges were deep and detail a mite clunky. The big CN loco in Sarnia Ontario certainly has authentic wheels and bolt heads. 

On Thu 11 10 2022 12:49:30 PM, Clarence Zink <clarence.zink@...> wrote:

Hi -
I'm aware this might not be the place for this question, but this group is about the "steam era".

I got an old brass Rio Grande 4-6-0 steam locomotive, #234, at a club raffle the other night, and want to authenticate it's existence.  It was a donation to the club, but has a broken rear truck on the tender.  There are no manufacturer's identification marks on it that I can find from an  external investigation.

It doesn't come up in any of the D&RGW websites I've tried.

Can anyone suggest a website that would/might contain some info about this loco?

Thanks,

CRZ