Next steam project: Amador Central 4-6-0 #5

[robwill84]

Just putting down some ideas here for the next steam project I want to work on, this charming little Amador Central 4-6-0:





My plan is to use a Athearn 2-6-0 chassis and tender drive



combined with the boiler and cab from a Bachmann 4-6-0:



Additional parts needed, off the top of my head, will be a 4 wheel lead truck from the 4-6-0, probably a new pilot (that giant coupler pocket ruins it for me), and a pair of Andrews tender trucks.

Modifications will include shortening the Bachmann boiler a bit from the steam dome back, relocating the air pumps, and scratchbuilding an oil bunker for the tender. The bunker should allow a good amount of room for DCC. The big unknowns are how compatible the Bachmann boiler will be with the Athearn chassis, and what I will need to do to use the 4 wheel lead truck.

Like my 2-6-0 project, I'm not going for rivet counting, but am trying to capture the spirit of this little guy. This will be the most extensive steam project I've ever tried so if you have any tips or suggestions, for sure let me know.

[mmagliaro]

Looks like a great choice of engines to bash for this.  It covers all the difficult bases: driver spacing, cylinders,domes, boiler shape, tender size and shape - You'll be really close.

Since the Athearn 2-6-0 has the motor in the tender, I would think that almost any boiler can get on there
without too much trouble.   There might be some work to get it sit down correctly on
the saddle in the front and match up with the position of the cylinders, but I don't think it will be too bad.

The 4-wheel lead truck: that could be trouble.  Is there really enough room between the front driver and the back of the cylinders to fit a wheel in there?

Great project, and it's a charming engine.

[randgust]

Yeah, Max beat me to it.   Looks very feasible...BUT.   To clear that 4-wheel truck you may have to move the cylinders up a bit, which could be a real challenge.  If that happens, you need a longer main rod on both sides as well.   You'll want to see if it is feasible to possibly splice it and add a little bit of something in the middle.   If you eventually Neolube the rods it wouldn't show that much.

The basic drive of that locomotive looks so much like Sierra 3, and also resembles SP 2248, both 4-6-0's.   The 2-6-0 at least has that uneven driver spacing that's critical here.

[robwill84]

Thanks guys, this is exactly the input I was looking for. It looks like I will need to move the cylinders up for sure, to clear the 4 wheel lead truck for one, and also to allow the smokebox to stick out all the way to the front of the pilot beam. I can fabricate new main rods out of brass without too much difficulty. Also, the cab should be centered over the rear driver to be correct. The Athearn model cab sits back quite a bit, so I'll have to see what can be done with the Bachmann boiler to both center the cab over the last driver, and have the smokebox be in the right position. Then I'll probably have to trim a bit off the back frame... Oh well, all part of the fun!

[robwill84]

Randy, I've been looking up info on  2248, interesting history on that loco. Might be a project on its own. Amador Central 5 is also an ex SP loco.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2966580

I found a pic of a similar class T-10 loco from the side. Gives me an idea of what it should look like with the 4 wheel lead truck.

[up1950s]

That would have been a far far better choice for MDC than what they chose . And more room for the motor and gear tower .

[robwill84]

What ruins the looks of the 2-6-0/2-8-0 for me is the squat cab with the giant roof vent, combined with the slightly tall tender. The cab really makes the tender look bad. One guy put a Model Power cab from a 2-6-0 on it and wow, its a whole new model:

http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?16436-2-6-0-Model-Power-or-Athearn (scroll down a little ways in the thread)

[Chris333]

I made a whole new tender with a smaller motor:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/MaPa280#5499840557933004754
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/MaPa280#5493993509572427650
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/MaPa280#5499840579212490578

[robwill84]

Nice. I think what I will focus on is lowering the frame, and adding some detail around it, since it has no steps or pilot.

[up1950s]

What ruins the looks of the 2-6-0/2-8-0 for me is the squat cab with the giant roof vent, combined with the slightly tall tender. The cab really makes the tender look bad. One guy put a Model Power cab from a 2-6-0 on it and wow, its a whole new model:

http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?16436-2-6-0-Model-Power-or-Athearn (scroll down a little ways in the thread)

I am that guy , haha.



I am also one who did it again .

[robwill84]

Haha, that's too funny! I found your first version by googling "Athearn 2-6-0 cab change". I really like that UP 105. Is that a Model Power tender?

[jmlaboda]

I am that guy , haha.



I am also one who did it again .

Up to now I have had little interest in the MDC steamers... they just didn't seem right to me for some reason... but the MP cab sure does look great on them... might have to rethink my attitude about them now since the 2-8-0 sure looks good!!!

[up1950s]

Haha, that's too funny! I found your first version by googling "Athearn 2-6-0 cab change". I really like that UP 105. Is that a Model Power tender?

Tenders are OEM MDC with some cosmetic mods .

[robwill84]

Ok, here's a mystery for you guys- WHAT is that on top of the oil bunker? It looks like... a stack of lumber? Could it be ties? If so, why? Here are a couple more pics:





Notice in the second picture, whatever it is is gone, and it looks like there's some kind of... metal straps left behind. So, WHAT IS IT??