My Locomotives
A.T.&S.F. articulated 2-8-8-2 Mallet
Southern Pacific Line's 4-6-2 Daylight
Sante Fe 4-6-4 Hudson "Blue Goose"
Virginia & Truckee 4-4-0 American
The Pennsylvania Railroad's 2-6-0, in this
case, model number 2584, was built by Schen in 1907 and were retired between 1926 and
1928. There was no special reason why I bought this one. My wife and I were
at the Great American Train Show at Bakersfield and it was priced at $10. You get
what you pay for. This one is inoperative, the drive gears don't engage, so I use it
under the coal bunker. I've been burned twice.
The Atlantic Coastline's 4-6-2
wheel configuration Pacific was built from 1911 until about 1926 by more than one
manufacturer. Most of them were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. I
bought this model number 5238 at the Great American Train Show at Pomona last year and it
runs great. No surprise, it is a Rivarossi.
The A.T.&S.F. 0-8-0 swither
was a converstion from 2-6-0's or 2-8-0's. They performed their tasks throughout the
yard in excellent fashion and were soon referred to as the "yard goat."
this model of the yard goat was purchased by Henry in 1977. The manufacturer
is Rivarossi.
The Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement articulated locomotive known as "The Big Boy" was built at the American Locomotive company to facilitate in the long and steep runs, particularly between Ogden, Utah, and Green River, Wyoming. 25 locomotives were built between 1941 and 1944. I purchased this model, number 4003 through the kind folks at The Train Room here in Tehachapi. It was manufactured by Rivarossi and it just happens to be my favorite locomotive in my entire collection.
The A.T.&S.F. articulated 2-8-8-2 Mallet had a very short production figure, as far as this company is concerned as only a few were built for them and by two separate manufacturers. Their worth, however, was proven by the Norfolk & Western Railway as they purchased just over 200 of them. The tender that was in the box with the locomotive carries the company name of A.T.&S.F., but the box identifies what is in it as "USRA." This is the locomotive I refer to in my story, "History of My Layout." This model number 2197 is a Rivarossi. Thanks to Karl for clearing question on this.
The Southern Pacific Line's 4-6-2 Daylight was assigned to passenger service sometime after World War II. Painted orange and red, it made its run from Sacramento to Lathrop in California. The 4-6-2 was built by a few different companies and went through several modifications. It remained in service until 1958. The Daylight was purchased by Henry in 1977. It carries the number 6789 and was manufactured in Yugoslavia. On the underside of the engine it has the letters RSO, followed by "A test z-75157." Does anyone out there know the significance of those number or who might have distrubuted it? It looks mint and performs beautifully.
The Sante Fe 4-6-4 Hudson "Blue Goose," as it is referred to, was built sometime around 1937. It was a streamlined version of which only five or six were built by The Baldwin Locomotive Works. I acquired this model of the "Goose," number 3460, after a lengthy search as described in one of my featured stories, "History of My Layout." The engine is a Rivarossi and purchased in its orignal box dated 1972. The engine is somewhat top heavy and it kept losing a screw on its right side, causing it to roll over on its side. It is now held in place by lock-tight. The engine runs well and pulls eight Rivarossi passenger cars with ease.
The Virginia
& Truckee 4-4-0 American was
built during the 1870's. It is an improved version of the older 4-2-0. Henry
purchased this version of the V & T in 1977. It was built in Italy by
Rivarossi. My problem is this: the model honorably displayed for public
viewing is a 2-4-0. Does anyone out there have the answer?
The EMD of GM built the E-8 from around 1949 to 1963. It was designed for passenger service. By then, head-on lighting for passender cars was made a part of the locomotive, hence the extended chassis. The models shown, numbers 4020 and 4021 are Proto 2000 and were purchased from my friend in Bakersfield. They are a pair of beautiful machines and as I mentioned elsewhere, they are the smoothest running locomotives in my collection. These carry the Conrail name and logo.
The Santa Fe SD 45-2 was built by EMD of
GM. The model shown, number 5707, was among those in the estate sale that had me
working on the layout day and night for months. This Santa Fe is a running machine
and has a sound all its own as it makes its way around the track. I enjoy it very
much.