Virginian Passenger Trains/USRA locomotives

Tue Oct 29 17:43:19 EDT 2019

The Virginian Mikes were identical in that they were 2-8-2's and ran on 4' 8 1/2"track. Otherwise you're on your own!
Roger HuberDeer Creek Locomotive Works 

    On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 03:47:22 PM CDT, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:  

 Frank You are correct. The VGN Mikes weren't even close to a USRA. Except for the Overland model there is nothing even close unless you scratchbuild. Jim Kehn  -----Original Message-----
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tue, Oct 29, 2019 2:39 pm
Subject: Virginian Passenger Trains/USRA locomotives

Walter Davis (?)asked some Virginian questions, and it seems that those got lost in the middle of a thread on another subject.  I'll take an attempt at some answers.
Virginian Passenger Cars: as far as I know there are no dead accurate Virginian passenger car models. At  some of the conventions we have had some great clinics on bashing available passenger car models into some very accurate models.  The Atlas/Branchline cars that are available in Virginian, in 3 correct numbers by the way, look quite acceptable (IMHO)from 1-2 feet away.  One of the Crazies has written up a memo, not ready for publication yet, as to just what's "wrong" with them, and is working on a clinic how to majorly improve the details.  I'm hoping to have that clinic available at the convention in June.  One of the importers was talking about doing a set of three Virginian passenger cars in brass, but since he couldn't get 30 or so reservations at $900 for the set...….
USRA 2-8-2's.  I'm 98% confident that none of the multiple VGN Mikes are true USRA Mikes or clones thereof.  Given the going rate for those exquisite Overland Mikes, if anyone has successfully bashed a VGN 2-8-2, any class, from an available model, please let us know.  
VGN 2-8-4's.  There have been articles about bashing a VGN BA from an NKP or C&O 2-8-4.  Since these are all Van Sweringen berks, the fundamentals are there.  Plastic NKP and C&O berks have been done by Rivarossi, Bachman, and Proto.  Of course NKP and C&O berks have been done in brass, but that's probably another discussion.  Changes in some of the fittings, and doing something about the tender, need to be considered depending on how far you want to go.  One of my prized possessions is a VGN BA that was given to me, that was bashed from a Hobbyline plastic kit (non powered but just gorgeous).  
Now with all that said, I would recommend not trying to bash a BA from anything else.  The really excellent Proto BA's are out there, and are still available at train shows, and the prices are in the same ball park as you'd probably have to pay for something else to use as a base.  
Brass BA's are also available; IMHO the Key is better than the PSC.  IMHO.
Now the real experts can take their shots.
Frank Bongiovannirunning back to the workbench________________________________________
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