N&W K3 4-8-2

[NW Mailing List]

 Check NW01342 and NW01252 in the N&WHS archives for late pictures of the K3. ("Norfolk & Western" on tender)
Jim Nichols
    On Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 02:03:23 PM CDT, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:  
 
  #yiv6033127702 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Afternoon all,
For all N&W designers & engineers would rather gloss over this class that didn't live up to their expectation and are cited as blot on the Roanoke Shops' drawing board, I have always quite liked them and models won't hammer the track like the prototypes so I have always wanted to add one to my roster. Yes I know they were gone by 1944 and I model 1953-6  but rule #1 applies and atleast one didn't get sold...
What was going to be a simple, buy a model, paint it and put into service, became getting a second one already painted and then noticing differences... Only one model run so not a variation. Turns out the painted model was of a D&RGW M-69, which is what they became when 4 of them were sold. I noticed some of the details present on the M-69 were visible on pictures of K3s later in service on N&W so I'm in the process of trying to work out what changes were made to the K3s from as delivered to when they were sold in 43/44. 
Has there been any "comprehensive" article in the Arrow or maybe somewhere else in the press about N&W K3s? Changes/improvements/upgrades etc
I have loads of books on N&W motive power but most gloss over the K3s and at best a single page and maybe a picture.
I have managed to trace history of all 10 through RF&P/D&RGW to W&LE and to NKP ownership. I've found pictures of most at some point in their careers and some I've found a picture in each corporate livery. Ironically pictures of them in N&W service are the hardest to find.
My gut feeling at the moment is that a D&RGW M-69 may be the better starting point for an end of N&W service K3 than an as delivered N&W K3. 
Any guidance appreciated.
If I manage to come up with anything conclusive I will try and put something together for others.
Regards
Martin________________________________________
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