Model Reviews; VGN AG etc.

[NW Modeling List]

I'm afraid I do know a very fine Virginian modeler who runs his MTH
Virginian triplex.  He knows how wrong it is, and he has made a decision
not to let it bother him.  This is on a really really fine Virginian layout
that most of us would essentially be in awe of.

On a more practical note, because the triplex only lasted a few years on
the Virginian (if memory serves, the railroad never actually took title
it)before it was sent back to Baldwin to be rebuilt as a 2-8-8-0 and a
2-8-2.  Both of these lasted until the 1950's.  Westside and possibly
Precision, in addition to importing the triplex, also imported the
2-8-8-0.  The Westside 2-8-8-0 is just excellent.  And this has been oft
told on other lists, but the 2-8-8-0, which is the only 2-8-8-0 on all
three Pochahontas roads, had a trailing truck added around 1942 or 43, and
Lloyd Lewis expressed the opinion that it may be the only steam locomotive
that had three different wheel arrangements during its life.

Frank Bongiovanni

On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 3:32 PM, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> Eric: The precision Scale VGN triplex  comes with an appliance that was
> not available until the later 1930's.  It has a Nathan low water
> alarm.  Other than the future low water alarm, the PSC model is very
> accurate and runs well.   Harold
>
>
>   On Wednesday, February 4, 2015 3:20 PM, NW Modeling List <
> nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
>
> It would be hard to assert that MTH's engineering was worse than
> Baldwin's, or Erie's, or VGN's, on the triplexes.  In addition to its
> obvious conformational flaws, the MTH model operates far too well to
> faithfully represent the XA.
>
> I'm suspicious that a modeler would buy a model of an XA to "run", for two
> reasons:  (1) the prototype didn't; and (2) given the isolation of the
> climb to Clarks Gap, the extremely narrow time window of the XA's existance
> as a triplex, and the length of train involved-- not to mention the
> obligatory pair of Mallets at the head of the train, it's hard to believe
> that any layout exists that recreates the necessary operating ambience.
> [Lest you accuse me of boorish recitation of others' authentic first-hand
> observations of Clarks Gap, check out the attached photo.  I have walked
> most of the VGN's electrified route from Mullens to Narrows.  This past
> September I finally managed to find the Virginian's (N&W's, NS's) Clarks
> Gap tunnel-- a non-trivial feat.  A census of Clarks Gap, WV would show a
> population of 26 people (I asked.)  I polled 19.2% of them to see if they
> could direct me to "the railroad tunnel at Clarks Gap".  All claimed to
> know the area intimately.  80% of those polled had no knowledge of the
> tunnel and denied its existence.  20% of them responded, "Sure!  It runs
> right underneath where we're standing."  A short drive and a long and steep
> walk later, I took this photo.  If you blow it up, you can see the cast-in
> 1922 date on the left side of the arch.  On a different note, in no way
> imaginable could it have been an amusing experience to have been an
> engineman on the 3rd articulated loco of a train going East through that
> tunnel!  The preceeding uncompensated 2% grade of 14 miles length, and 10
> degree curve entering the tunnel (and, yes, the XA's 3-5 mph top end) must
> have made that 3rd cab as close to Hell as ever replicated on Earth.]
>
> It seems more credible that a model of an XA would be bought to admire in
> static repose (and therefore should be pretty darn accurate in
> appearance)-- and almost mandatory that it operate like crap, to be
> faithful to prototype.  You'd be FAR better off to waste your money (a lot
> of it) on a Precision Scale model of the XA, or to add sand to the
> gearboxes of a Key model of it.  If you don't live near a beach, a 60# bag
> should be enough.
>
> -Eric Bott
>
> Moderator:
>  http://nwhs.org/mailinglist/2015/20150104.Clarks_Gap_Tunnel.03.8-2-14.JPG
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NW-Modeling-List [mailto:nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On
> Behalf Of NW Modeling List
> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2015 6:40 AM
> To: NW Modeling List
> Subject: Re: Model Reviews; VGN AG etc.
>
> At least the AG has the right number of wheels, which is more than can be
> said of the MTH VGN Triplex!  I asked the MTH staff at last year's NMRA
> Convention why they did not put the four wheel trailing truck on the model.
> As anticipated, the answer was that they would never have got back the
> extra cost.
>
> On a different level, at Roanoke last July there was a specially painted
> bright yellow hopper car celebrating Pier 6. I understand that it is
> available as a N scale model.  What are the prospects of one, or a way of
> creating one, in HO scale??
>
> Ted Roberts (UK)
>
> ________________________________________
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org
> To change your subscription go to
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at
> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/
>
>
> ________________________________________
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org
> To change your subscription go to
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at
> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/attachments/20150204/5f839655/attachment-0001.html>