Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0

[NW Modeling List]

Roger,

Thanks for the info. I think the Alco G-1 is a fine little model, it  
has a wealth of detail compared to many other brass model, and once  
the running problems are taken care of, should be a valuable piece of  
brass.

To be honest, I bought mine at a very good price, and put a fair  
amount of time into fixing the gearbox, and tuning up the mechanism,  
so i'd like to sell it for a decent profit. I'm glad to hear from you  
that I didn't make a mistake on the value.

The gearbox was warped from zinc disease, and I had to replace it,  
but reused the original gears. That took a bit of fiddling to  
accomplish ! I have run into a number of other diseased gearboxes in  
other brass models of this time period from other importers. Perhaps  
they are from the same Korean builder, but I haven't verified it.

Dave
http;//daveayers.com
http;//brassbackshop.com


On Nov 6, 2009, at 4:06 PM, NW Modeling List wrote:


> I was a custom painter for over 20+ years and painted several of  

> the Alco Models N&W G-1s. They were not the best quality engines  

> Alco Models imported! Every one I dealt with had running problems.  

> First off, the gearbox was sloppy and needed to be replaced with  

> one from NWSL or Precision. The second problem I encountered was  

> the large amount of clearance between the axle bearings and the  

> frame slots. This allowed the drivers to move fore and aft which  

> isn't a good thing for running smoothly. The other item I saw was  

> the holes in the rods for the crank screws were too large  

> amplifying the sloppy mechanism problems. A couple required new  

> motors due to burning out. I considered this a result of the poor  

> construction noted and trying to force it to run. The details and  

> workmanship on the boiler and tender seemed to not be anything more  

> than a few parts loose.

>

> With a new gearbox and some shimming it could be made to run very  

> smoothly and reliably. The N&W didn't have many and they were only  

> kept until the end as Jim Nichols said for the Honaker Branch. They  

> were quite handsome, to me, and I wish they had been better models.

>

> They show up fairly often on ebay and in some brass shops. I think  

> they are going for prices that do not reflect the quality of the  

> engines as much as the novelty and less-than-common availability of  

> the models. The last one I saw on ebay was over $350 which  

> considering the amount of work to make one work well is way over  

> priced.

>

> My 2¢,

> Roger Huber

>

> --- On Fri, 11/6/09, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>  

> wrote:

>

> From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: RE: Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0

> To: "'NW Modeling List'" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Date: Friday, November 6, 2009, 5:25 AM

>

> There were very few G1’s although they were almost identical to the  

> much larger G class.  After the late 1940’s, there were only two of  

> them (6 & 7), which were based in Bluefield for use on the Honaker  

> branch, which had bridges that would not support a larger  

> locomotive. They were retired in 1955 and donated, the 6 to Roanoke  

> and the 7 to Bluefield, where both still exist.

>

>

> The model is relatively old, though I don’t know the year it was  

> produced. As far as I know, it was done only once, so they don’t  

> turn up very often. Value is hard to estimate, but should be pretty  

> good, due to fact that it is rare.     Jim Nichols

>

>

> From: nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org [mailto:nw-modeling-list- 

> bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Modeling List

> Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 4:51 PM

> To: NW Modeling List

> Subject: Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0

>

>

> I recently acquired an Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0, HO brass model  

> locomotive. It had  a gearbox with zinc disease, which I managed to  

> replace, and a few other, minor, problems. It now runs fine, and  

> looks good to me.

>

> I tried Googling the model, without results, and no hits on eBay  

> either. The Brown Book says "quality problems", but not much else.

>

>

> Can someone tell me more about this nice model engine ?

>

>

> Was the G-1 very 'popular on the N&W ?

>

> What is the N&W modelers opinion of this model ?

>

> Why there is so little info around on the model ?

>

> Any idea what the model is worth ?

>

>

>

> Dave

>

> http;//daveayers.com

>

> http;//brassbackshop.com

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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