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Locomotives - Steam Articles

"Babies and Contractor's" The 7 and 10-ton Shays

This article describes the small and somewhat rare 7- and 10-ton Shays, where they were used, and their history. This installment contains scale drawings, prototype photos, and references.

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The author describes how he is converting an O-scale "Poiter switcher" to S-scale.

36-ton Shay

Converting the Atlas Shay into a light-weight wood-burning unit. Includes many close-up photos of the cosmetic changes made.

5550 T1 Trust Update

An update from the PRR T1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Inc.

A Central Vermont 2-8-0 in HO Scale

The author took a Bachmann Baldwin 2-8-0 and created an accurate model of the CV's N-5a class Consolidation. Includes prototype photos, construction model photos, parts diagrams, and a materials list. A sound decoder was installed in the tender.

A Review: Backhead Kit for the American Models Northern

Painting and installing the backhead kit.

A Standard Gauge Baldwin Locomotive Works Geared Locomotive

This page shows scale drawings of the engine. Only one engine was ever built.

A Standard Gauge Forney

An old AHM Bowker model was used as a starting point, but it required a new motor, Kadee couplers, and much scratchbuilding to complete the model.

A Steam Dummy for My On30 Owen Thurteah & Weystead

This model was constructed from a Hawk Model Company cable car kit fitted with HO 0-4-0 mechanism. Includes model photos.

A Styrene Tender

Bob describes how he built a tender for a steam locomotive that he couldn't buy ready-to-run. Includes many detailed construction photos.

A Torque-arm Drive for Steam Locomotives

Combining an idler gearbox, can motor, and slipjoint coupling for improved locomotive performance.

A USRA Mikado in Brass 3

This installment the author describes how he made the bearings, gearbox, drive train, and cylinders for the locomotive. The article includes many detailed drawings and a sidebar on lathe operations.

A USRA Mikado in Brass 6

In this installment, the author focuses on boiler details such as steam pipes, running boards, steam turret, air reservoirs, air pump, power reverse, various fittings, boiler bands, handrails, steps, smokebox front, ashpan, deck braces, and piping. Includes details pointed out on model photos and exploded diagrams.

A4 Shifters

The history of the A4 (along with the A5), which worked industrial sites in Eastern cities on trackage with close clearances and tight curves. Juniata Shops built all 64 A4 locomotives from 1906 through 1913. Includes prototype photos and scaled drawings.

Adding Elesco Feedwater Heaters

American Flyer 4-8-8-4s Make the Grade

The author describes running the two Lionel 4-8-8-4 locomotives recently purchased on the Southwestern Ohio Oxford Two-Rail Train Club layout (which measures 30'x50'). Includes many professional photos of the engines staged on the layout.

American Models K5 Conversion

This article describes taking an old American Flyer K5 that had been converted to scale using Nixon parts many years ago, and updating it with taking the chassis and parts from a new American Models K4 model.

An N Scale Mikado and Consolidation

The author took a Bachmann 2-8-2 and a 2-8-0 and converted them into good models for his Rocky Coast Line layout.

An On30 Docksider

This article describes how the author used a Bachmann 2-4-4T Forney to create a 0-4-0 Docksider. Includes construction photos, how to convert the engine to DCC, and how to detail it.

Ann Arbor 2480: Customizing a Generic Model for a Specific Prototype Part 1

The author will describe in this multi-part article how he converted a Mantua (Tyco) Mikado into this model. Includes prototype and model photos, and historical scale drawings. This installment covers the mechanism, boiler, cab, tender, and boiler jacket.

Ann Arbor 2480: Customizing a Generic Model for a Specific Prototype Pt II

The author takes you through steps of building a specific steam locomotive. Includes a sidebar on the Ann Arbor steam power.

Another Approach to an H5

The author describes how he took an old English Mikado and converted it into a NYC Mikado.

Apex of the Atlantics

This article discusses the history and how to model the Pennsylvania Railroad E6 4-4-2. Article includes prototype photos, model photos, construction detail photos, and parts list. The author started with the Bowser E6 kit. He built both a 1914 and a 1920s version.

Applying Locomotive Assignment Symbols to Models

Champ Decals and John Frantz have produced decals for these symbols (John's might be available in scales other than HO upon request). It is a short article with several steam locomotive models shown.

B&O President Class P7 Pacifics Plans

The background story behind the American Models 4-6-2 locomotive, which is based on this B&O prototype. Includes drawings for the original and the 1930s version of the locomotive.

Baldwin 0-6-0 Switcher

A description of the Maryland & Pennsylvania RR's 0-6-0 switcher. Includes prototype photos and scaled drawings.

Banked Fires

A reprint of the identical article that appeared in the Altoona Mirror of August 7, 2016, which describes the current state of the Altoona-built K-4 steam locomotive PRR #1361 begin rebuilt to operating condition. Includes two photos of the engine.

Basics of Steam Part 2

This installment of the series describes the purpose and inner workings of the steam locomotive's cylinders. Includes photos and drawings of the different cylinder types.

Basics of Steam Part 3

This installment covers valve gears, accompanied by close-up prototype photos of the Stephenson, Walschaerts, and Baker valve gears.

Basics of Steam: External Details Part 5

Covers the lifting injection system, the air compressor system, and the Elesco feedwater heater system. Includes lots of close-up photos of prototype engines.

Better-running N Scale Switchers

N-scale 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 steam switchers can be very troublesome to run, especially over insulated frog turnouts. The author describes how he adds wipers to the middle set of drivers on these engines (Model Power, Life-Like, and Atlas). His experience show a dramatic improvement in the running characteristics of these engines.

Boston & Maine Atlantic in HO Scale

Accompanied by the finished model photos, the article describes how the author built this model almost completely from scratch.

Building a Classic Mikado Part 3

In this final installment the author completes the construction and attaching the details, and painting and applying decals. Includes diagrams of boiler piping and detail locations.

Building a Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Berkshire

The project has a long history, and was built from a wide variety of donor projects and some creative modeling. The author provides the history of the Class A-2a P&LE Berkshires, how he built it and the tender, how he painted it, and the parts list.

Building a PRR B8a 0-6-0 Part 2

This installment covers the construction of the cab, the rear deck, bunker, steps, boiler, cylinders, front pilots, and interior details.

Constant Directional Lighting for N Scale Steam Engines

The author describes how he installed directional lighting in a Model Power 0-6-0. Includes construction photos and drawings.

Converting a Sunset 1947 H8SC to a 1930 H8SB

The title says it all. Includes close-up model photos of detail parts, construction highlights, and DCC wiring.

Custom Painting Makes an Unusual UP Northern

A brief note about repainting an AF 4-8-4 to Union Pacific Northern gray with Armour yellow trim. Also mentioned is the conversion to straight DC. Includes two photos.

D&RGW Class 8-33 0-6-0

James "Rusty" Rustermier of San Jose, California built the S-scale model of D&RGW #51 from brass, silver and 303 stainless steel. The frame was machined from solid brass stock, and the boiler began as a solid round piece, turned down to size, then bored out. Includes one photo of the finished model.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway #777

This is a 2-foot Gauge 0-4-0T engine that ran the very steep railway track. It is now retired in a museum. Many prototype photos. Also included are scale drawings and two photos of the small passenger cars.

Dave Butterfield's SP Locomotives

Dave Butterfield has built several fairly accurate SP engines from American Flyer parts, and some scratchbuilding, of course.

Denver & Rio Grande Western Narrow-Gauge 4-6-0

Prototype photos and S-scale drawings of this locomotive.

Detroit Yukon Mining Co.'s Porter No. 4 in Sn3

The author built a Backwoods Miniatures 7-ton 0-4-0 into an 0-4-0T Porter. Includes two model and two prototype photos.

Die-cast steam locomotive kits: S scale

The Rex Models' 0-6-0 is a freelance job that looks like a shortened version of the Pennsy B6sa, the only non-Belpaire firebox loco built at Altoona after 1900. The 2-6-0 is very similar but with a pilot instead of footboards, a flared smokestack, a longer smokebox, and a square tender. The only complaint the author had was that the wheels on the 0-4-0 are slightly out of round, which results in a slight wobble as the engine runs.

DL&W Q1 4-8-4

Two prototype photos, a brief description, and scale drawings make up this article about this engine.

Dunckley Northern Railway #4 and #5

Several before and after painted photos accompany this article on the author's scratchbuilt, 1:24, 45mm gauge "Colonial Engines". These are engines designed for the British Colonies. He built them over modified commercial mechanisms by LGB, Bachmann, and Hartland.

Duplicate Exposure

Photo and description of the photo of PRR T1 #5505.

Earl Johnson's Siamese Twins

A prototype photo of two 0-6-0 engines merged together at the cab proved the validity of Earl Johnson's Duplex Compound 0-6-6-0T engine.

From Main Line to Branch Line: Two Locomotives in One

The author converts a Bachmann 2-8-2 into a 2-6-2 Prairie.

Front Coupler for an N Scale BLI M1A

Using close-up photos, the author shows how he replaced the non-functioning front coupler with one from an Intermountain tank car.

Gary Mittner's 1:29 Scale Class B6SB - 4001

Final photos of the model, whose progress can be see at this web site: http://www.angelfire.com/film/prrpics/B6.html

Getting Better Performance from Your MDC Shay

The author converted a Model Die Casting HO-scale two-truck Shay kit to Sn3 using one of the V&T Shops conversion kits. The kit requires a bit of work to get it to operate well, so he describes what he did to improve the engine.

Have You Tried These?

Detailing parts made by Kemtron that are intended for other scales, but that will work in S.

Heavy Pacific and Mikado

The article covers upgrading two Rivarossi HO-scale models. Includes model photos and detail drawings.

HO Pennsy I1 Decapod

One prototype photo. Model photos with changes made to the Bowser model. Lighting circuit correction is in April 2000 issue page 14.

HO Steam Kit Dimensional Data

The author compares various manufacturer's HO-scale kits of various wheel arrangements to determine which would make good basis for kitbashing or scratchbuilding your own steam locomotive.

How a Steam Locomotive Works

What a modeler needs to know about the operation of a steam engine and tender.

How I Built the Record-setting New York Central #999

The author describes how he scratchbuilt this locomotive. Includes two photos.

How I Scratchbuilt My First Steam Locomotive Part 1

The author shares how he got to write this article series, what the main steps are for building a steam locomotive from scratch, and the basic skills required.

How I Scratchbuilt My First Steam Locomotive Part 2

Bob continues his story of how he built his first locomotive. This installment covers the basic frame. It includes a materials and tools list, frame diagrams, and a drill size chart.

How I Scratchbuilt My First Steam Locomotive Part 3

In this installment of the construction of the Virginia Midland 4-6-0 covers the running gear, boiler, and cab. Includes diagrams and close-up photos.

How I Started With an American Models Pacific to Make The Canadian National Railways K-3b Pacific #5584

The author used the model's pilot, chassis, mechanism, and tender trucks, while the boiler, cab, and tender were replaced. Includes one model and one prototype photo of the engine, and a listing of the commercial parts used.

How To Scratch Build a Steam Engine Frame Or, The Steamer of Your Dreams

This first installment covers selecting the proper drivers, the matching axle, the cylinder blocks, and the crosshead assemblies. Next, the author uses steel or aluminum U-shaped shelf brackets for the frame. Next up are making scale drawings.

Improving Coal Loads on Ready-to-run Steam Locomotive Tenders

The author describes how he removed the plastic coal load in his Broadway Limited PRR M1 tender with a very realistic-looking load. Includes step-by-step photos as well as one prototype photo of a PRR M1, taken from above.

Interpreting A B&O P1-d Pacific

The author takes an American Models 4-6-2 and details it for a B&O locomotive used for passenger railfan trips into his BC&G layout. Includes on prototype photo and many model photos indicating the details and changes he made to the model. The project also includes installing DCC and sound, and painting and weathering the model.

Kitbashing a Seven-ton Shay

The author describes how he used the HO-scale MDC Shay kit to build a replica of the Gilpin No. 1 Shay. The article includes model photos, various diagrams, scaled drawings, and a parts list. Includes a sidebar by Wayne Weatherstone on mastering the infamous MDC Shay mechanism.

L&N's H-29

The author describes how he converted two Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 locomotives to match the Louisville & Nashville H-29 Consolidation. Includes several prototype photos, many construction photos, and includes DCC conversion. An exploded parts diagram of the model is shown on page 54.

Labor of Love

The author describes what he went through to try to build a static one-inch scale model of a Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0.

Lack of Oversight Derailed K-4 Project, Report Says

Information about the history of the K-4 restoration project at Steamtown National Historic Site.

Lima: 100 Years of Steam and Steel

The story of the watchmaker of locomotives from Shays to Super Power: the Lima Locomotive works of Lima, Ohio. Includes photos of engines, diamond plates, and an artist's sketch of the manufacturing facilities.

Long Island 4-6-0

The author modifies a Roundhouse model kit to represent a LIRR G5, which was identical to the parent company, the PRR's G5 engines. Includes a prototype photo, photos of details added to the model, and final model photos.

Making Headlight Lenses the Easy Way

Using 5-minute epoxy to create headlight lenses.

Making Steamers Perform Part 1

This installment covers how to get a Rex 2-6-0 to run better.

Making Steamers Perform Part 2

In this installment, the author covers how to check and fix whether or not driver wheels are truly round, whether they are quartered correctly, and whether or not the spacing is correct between the axles and the crank pins.

Making the Rex 0-6-0 and 2-6-0 Locomotives Behave

The author tackles some design problems that they locomotives have to make them run smoother.

Model of the Month

The photo is of an Illinois Central 2-8-4 that is a scratchbuild engine made out of sheet and bar brass started by Leonard. He passed away, and so Charles Sanderfeld bought it and continued to work on it. He also passed away before the model was completed. Finally, three friends bought the engine and continued to work on it to completion.

Model of the Month

Simon won the award for modeling Canadian National class J-3b 4-6-2 Pacific #5076 in S-scale.

Modeling a PRR I1 Class 2-10-0 in N scale

This N-scale Pennsy I1 was kitbashed from a Kato 2-8-2 and a GHQ L1 conversion kit. Minitrix and Con-Cor parts were used for the tender. In this installment the author discusses the prototype engine, the basics of the construction, the mechanism and drivers, the frame modifications, side rods, making blind drivers, and brake shoe hangers. Includes many prototype, and model construction photos.

Modeling a PRR I1 Class 2-10-0 in N scale

In this installment the author covers the construction of the boiler and adding details. Includes two prototype photos, and lots of close-up detail photos of the model under construction.

Modeling an H6SB in N-Scale

This article is a step-by-step photo documentation of how to take an Atlas 2-8-2 chassis and a Minitrix B6sb shell to build this engine.

Modeling China's - and Now Iowa's - Mighty QJ 2-10-2's

These engines were brought to the U.S. for possible tourist service from China. The article includes prototype photos of the engines in their native China and now in Iowa. The second half of the article covers how to model this engine using the Bachmann HO-scale model.

Modeling Eastern Narrow Gauge Steam Using the Roundhouse 2-8-0

The author shows how he modified this locomotive to work reliably on narrow gauge track. He also briefly discusses the 4-6-0 he converted.

Modeling Philadelphia & Reading "Russian Decapod" No. 1127

Article includes history of the 2-10-0 destined for Russia in the early 1900s. 200 of these didn't make it there, so the article covers where they ended up and more specifically covers the P&R 1127. Includes many prototype photos. Many close-up photos of the modifications made to the model are also included.

Modeling the Class T1 Duplex 4-4-4-4 5523 Part 1

This article starts off describing how the author built this engine from a Bowser boiler and a PennLine chassis and tender. Includes construction photos as well as detail drawings.

Modeling the Class T1 Duplex 4-4-4-4 5523 Part 2

This installment covers building the tender, painting, weathering, and applying decals (including drawings of prototype placement of the decals), and installing wiring, DCC, and lighting.

Modeling The Jersey Central Lines' Back Track Behemoths Part 1

This article covers many steam locomotives of the CNJ. It contains many prototype photos, and a track diagram of the Wilkes-Barre Mountain area. A sidebar discusses the details of a CNJ Mikado.

Modeling the Jersey Central Lines' Back Track Behemoths Part I

The author describes how he converted a Broadway Limited USRA Heavy Mikado into a model of this locomotive. The articles includes a parts list, modeling photos (including intermediate modifications).

Modeling The Jersey Central Lines' Back Track Behemoths Part II

This installment of the article concludes by discussing the tender, its sound system, added details, and painting and lettering.

MR Workshop

Answers the question about why steam engines sometimes produce black smoke. Includes a simplified diagram on how a steam engine works.

My First Two Steam Locomotive Kits

The author builds the pilot beams for two Stevenson Preservation Lines New York Central switch engine kits converted to Nickel Plate class B-11 switchers.

New Motors for Old Locomotives

The author examines the sources of noise in our steam locomotives, what we can do to improve their running abilities while keeping them quiet, and his conclusions after replacing and testing several motors. He used four different Rex steam locomotives for his tests.

New York Central Class K-3q Pacific

The author spent 50 years accumulating the necessary parts to scratchbuild this locomotive and tender. He shares how he kept track of the parts, and buy them when spotted in a project or a kit. Includes final and construction photos.

News from the North

Paul Raham describes how he built his fleet of steam locomotives in a difficult-to-model time period of 1919.

Norfolk and Western's Y3 and Y3a

The history of the Y3 captured with both photos and scale drawings.

North Pacific Coast Railroad

This two-pager shows scale drawings of the Baldwin Locomotive Works engine. No other information is provided.

O&W's Light 400's

In 1922 the New York, Ontario & Western received four "400" 4-8-2 steam locomotives for passenger train service. This article includes many prototype photos, a center-spread painting, and scale drawings

On3 to S

The story of how to convert a Flying Zoo On3 2-6-0 to standard-gauge S-scale. The work was done by outside contractors. Includes several photos of the completed model.

Presenting the ACE 3000

A "new steam" locomotive in the 1980's. The article includes an artist's rendition of the locomotive, scale drawings, and modeling notes.

Preserving the Finale of Long Island Steam

This article primarily covers the LIRR's G5 4-6-0 steam engines at the time that they were being replaced with first-generation diesels. Includes lots of photos, including of the movement of the preserved models.

Reading RR Atlantics

The Reading RR had ten camelbacks for passenger service. They were built in 1905 and 1906. The article includes prototype photos, complete scale drawings, and notes on how one might model these in HO-scale.

Realistic Weathering for Steam Locomotives

Here's how to weather your plastic steamers to look like the real thing. Includes information on how prototype engines weather.

Rebuilding a Docksider

Redetailing a Sakura Docksider.

Rebuilding the Dorothy

"The Dorothy" was a 4-2-4 steam locomotive used to inspect and review the tracks by the Lehigh Valley.

Remotoring for Better Performance

The author describes how to remotor (mostly) steam models by AHM/Rivarossi, Athearn, Bowser, MDC, and Mantua (Tyco). An Athearn GP9 is also covered.

Restoring American Flyer Steam Locomotives

While building his A.F. collection, the author has gotten into finding "basket cases" that he attempts to restore to running condition. He describes how he does that in this article.

Rex Dockside Upgrade

When the Rex product line was owned by Terry Putt, the author learned that Putt Trains offered three upgrade kits for his original model. One for the motor, one for the directional headlights, and one for the smoke unit. A replacement for the gear on the driver axle was also offered. The author describes how to install these upgrades, and how they improved his engine.

RMC/Dremel Kitbashing Award

Some quick notes about how the Pacific Fast Mail Santa Fe 2-8-0 was converted into a 0-8-0.

Rockton & Rion Porter 0-4-0T

This engine was built between 1893 and 1897 and was in operation until 1970. It didn't have a road number. Includes prototype photos and scale drawings.

Russians and Yellow Jackets

This article covers two locomotives of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry, and how the author built his models.

Rusty - A Four-wheel Climax

The model is built to Gn15 scale. These cars were used to pull logs out of forests. They were ugly, but powerful. The mechanism for this odd car came from a Bachmann On30 streetcar. Scale drawings and close-up detail photos are included.

S Pikes

Photos by members of the S Scale Model Railway Society in the U.K. Includes two track plans of the club's members layouts.

S Roots

This new column looks into S-scale roots. This issue covers the Rex Engineering steam locomotives.

S Stands for Steam

The author encourages the reader to visit prototype steam locomotive operations.

Scale Scene

The author provides information on the various Rex steam locomotives, and some of the modifications he has made to some. Includes photos of them.

Scratch-building Steam Engine Mechanisms Part II

In this next installment of the series on how build your own steam locomotive, the author starts the work of building the frame and installing the driver wheels.

Scratch-building Steam Engine Mechanisms Part III

In this installment the construction and installation of the side rods is accomplished, including how to resolve any binding. Also covered is drive quartering.

Scratch-building Steam Engine Mechanisms Part IV

This final installment of building a steam locomotive frame will deal with the main rod cylinder set and crosshead assembly.

Scratchbuilding a Shay: A Case Study in Obsessive-compulsive Detailing

The author describes how he eventually wound up scratchbuilding a Shay locomotive using various parts from other models. Includes lots of close-up photos of construction details.

Shay

A summary of imported brass Shays in HO narrow and standard gauge with photographic studies of typical representatives of the sidewinder breed of steam locomotives.

Shay Improvement

This article covers modifying the couplers to look more prototypical, installing the DCC decoder (with lots of close-up photos on the modifications made), and making some minor cosmetic improvements to the engine.

She's a Lady

Models of the 2-2-2, 4-4-0, and 4-4-2 toy trains.

Short & Easy

The author describes how he built a diamond smokestack for his Franklin old-time A.F. locomotive.

Simple T1 Tender Modifications

The author describes how he removed portions of the Broadway Ltd's T1 tender cowling to simulate the removal of those sections that were done to the prototype tenders.

Slim Gauge Observations

With this issue the "Sn3 Column" is renamed. This article covers the new P-B-L hybrid K-27, a ready-to-run Sn3 steam locomotive that features a combination of plastic and brass to reduce the cost (and the super fine detailing) as compared to pure brass models.

Sn3 Reviews

This review is of three Pacific Fast Mail 4-6-0 wheel arrangement steam locomotive motive power. Made in Korea by Ski, the three new models include the Rio Grande Southern Nos. 20, 22, and 25.

South Pacific Coast Railroad #13

Scale drawings of engines #13, 18, and 19

SouthWind Models' Union Pacific 2-8-0

The author describes how he took this excellent model and made some corrections to it as well as super-detailed it to make it an accurate UP model. A few construction photos are included.

SP&S 4-6-2 in N Scale Part 1

After covering the history of this locomotive, the article discusses the plan-of-attack, the re-motoring, the frame/chassis modifications, and the trailing truck changes.

SP&S 4-6-2 in N Scale Part 2

In this installment, the author covers the construction of the cab, the pilot, the basic boiler, the smokebox front, and the walkways.

SP&S 4-6-2 in N Scale Part 3

This installment covers making the tender body and underframe, installing the light, and building the drawbar.

SP&S 4-6-2 in N Scale Part 4

This installment covers making the boiler and tender detailing.

Steam Country

Photo essay of steam locomotives set in the 1940s of the Chicago & Illinois Midland. Many close-ups of scenic details as locomotive come through the layout.

Steam Locomotives: What, Why, and Where

This article describes how you can choose which steam locomotives you might want to run on your layout. Includes a description of the various wheel arrangements, and many prototype photos.

Superdetailing a Pacific Coast Shay 1

The author starts his series on how he built and then superdetailed the O-scale Sunset Models Pacific Coast Shay, a standard gauge engine. The article contains prototype photos, completed model photos, parts photos and diagrams, and construction detail drawings.

Taconic-type 4-8-4s

Building a flagship steam engine for the Rensselaer Model Railroad Society's HO-scale New England, Berkshire & Western RR. Includes prototype and model photos, as well as construction photos and diagrams.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

The author describes how he built his Sn3 Heisler, by converting an IHC HO standard-gauge Heisler. There is a sidebar to includes the remaining text from the previous issue's article that got chopped off.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

What would it take to model in Sn42? The author recommends using HO-scale track, and some projects for conversion to S-scale.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

The author shares his research into prototype narrow-gauge steam locomotives. He also briefly describes the Sn3 models produced up until that time. Two prototype photos of locomotives are included.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

This column covers outside frame locomotives, Sn3 2-6-0 availability, achieving a "family look" among your equipment. Includes prototype photos of a Cumbres & Toltec K-36 outside frame 2-8-2.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

Using an MDC HO-scale Shay to build one for Sn3, and how to do the conversion. Includes final model photos.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

How to model in Sn3 and shifting your era to the early part of the 1900s.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

Narrow-gauge lines kept their rolling stock lettering to a minimum to save on money. Also covered are the possibility of kitbashing an HO-scale Bachmann Shay, and how an On30 Bachmann engine might be better suited for S-scale standard-gauge as a kitbash.

The 'S'traight & Narrow

The author provides tips and a bit of a product review of the Railmaster Exports 4-4-0 kit. Includes a model photo.

The Art of Steam

Improving an Atlas 2-8-8-2.

The Art of Steam

Taking a Kato Pacific Japanese 4-6-2, converted with GHQ's W-3 conversion kit, to build a NP Pacific.

The Art of Steam

Converting a NP Q-5.

The Art of Steam

SP 2-10-2 F-4 and F-5

The Art of Steam Part 2

Model the tender for the Pennsylvania Railroad I1 Class "Decapod". A styrene model was built and then cast into polyurethane. Details were added, including a water scoop, and the model was painted. Includes how the author created eight-wheel trucks.

The Essence of Daylight

The author converts a Bachmann Northern to model the Southern Pacific's GS Daylight. Model modification drawings and some construction photos are included.

The Ever-popular Streamlined Pennsy K-4

After some prototype information, the author reviews the new American Models PRR K4 model. Includes one model and one prototype photo, and a small copy of the scale drawings.

The Passumpsic Heisler

This article covers the history and workings of a Heisler geared locomotive in general, and then covers the specifics of the Passumpsic #1, which is now a privately-owned, fully-restored engine. Includes prototype photos and scaled drawings.

The Roundhouse

The author covers some of the newer techniques, tools, and materials he is using to repair American Flyer items.

The Roundhouse

The author bought an AF #343 on eBay and describes how he restored it to operating condition.

The Roundhouse

The author describes how to repair horns and whistle sounds in American Flyer steam locomotives, tenders, and diesels.

The Roundhouse

The author describes the techniques he uses to make his American Flyer steam engines perform better.

The Straight & Narrow

Photos of the author's Sn2 equipment by Train & Trooper, as well as two P-B-L Sn3 pieces.

The Ten-Wheeler that Gilbert Never Had

The author takes various A.F. parts to build a 4-6-0 that A.C. Gilbert never built.

The Unforgettable Class T1

The Valve Pilot

Describes the purpose of the valve pilot, shows a diagram of how it is installed, and includes prototype close-up photos.

Tl Trust Casts the First Boxpok Driver in Nearly 70 Years

Progress report on the rebuilding of the PRR T1.

Trackside Photos

Features a photo of Brooks Stover's 2-8-8-0, which was made from an S-scale Lionel 2-8-8-2, replacing the boiler front and pilot, relocating and adding details, and scratchbuilding the Vanderbilt tender.

Train Signals Part 1

This article covers steam locomotives headlights, markers, and class lights.

Upgrading the MDC Shay Part I

The author states that the model runs very well if as built, but adding an NWSL metal gearbox and a Sagami motor with flywheels really makes it purr. Also discussed are contact wipers, side rods, and universal shafts

Walthers' HO Scale Broadway Limited

How the new Broadway Limited can be used to make prototypical trains. Various time periods are covered.

Western Pacific locomotive No. 14

Photo taken in 1939.

What's on Your Workbench Today?

The author shows the work he is doing on an O-scale steam engine.

What's on Your Workbench Today?

Using some old OO wheels for building a steam locomotive project.

Where 4-8-4's were Poconos

On the Delaware & Lackawanna the 4-8-4's were called "Notherns", but rather "Poconos". The article provides complete history and many prototype photos.

Whyte's Classification System for Steam Locomotives

The objective is for the reader to match the common name to the Whyte system's steam locomotive wheel arrangements listing. The answers were provided in the Spring 1987 issue.

Whyte's Classification System for Steam Locomotives

The answers to the reader quiz included in the Fall 1986 issue, to match up the common names to the Whyte steam locomotive wheel arrangements.

Window Glazing for a Tender's Dog House

The author shows how he installed glass (acetate) in his P-B-L K-37 tender's dog house (which is soldered in place). The special technique is how he installed the acetate without removing the dog house from the tender.

Working Windows, Hatches Part 3

Building working roof hatches.

Working Windows, Hatches & Doors Part 1

This series of articles will cover how to making working windows, hatches, and doors for steam locomotives. This first part covers the typical tools you need.

Working Windows, Hatches & Doors Part 2

This installment covers building working cab windows for a steam engine. Includes construction drawings.

Workshop

Orientation of eccentric crank in Walschaerts valve gear.