N&W K3 4-8-2

[NW Mailing List]

I have one of the brass ones. I am special because I own a Brazelton AutoQuarter to perfectly re-quarter the drivers. I swapped to a NWSL 36:1 gearbox and put heavy duty springs on the 4 axles. I put a bunch of lead strip in the boiler so it could pull lots like the prototype. I modeled 1920-1940 in western Va. my passenger cars had Norfolk & Western just like the small print below the engine number on the cab side. Nothing but tender number on the tender frame. Except
For the rail kinking they were useful during the war. 80K lbs tractive effort is similar to the Z class locos.  They used them at the Radford ammo factory.  
The brass models need new gear boxes and re quartering. Adding weight also helps their performance. 
The K3 is proof that if more is better then too much is just right……..



Mark Lindsey
Y3a at earthlink.net
571-352-6358(cell)


Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 20, 2025, at 3:03 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 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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