Oh My GOSH! Not a "Berk" but a true Kanawha!

[u18b]

C&O fans rejoice!

http://www.bachmannindustriesinc.com/pdf/NMRA_2014.pdf

Scroll to the bottom of page 5.

As most C&O fans know, the C&O 2-8-4s had the sand dome in a different place from NKP Berks.

(now I know what Chessiefan wants for Christmas!)

 

[mmagliaro]

Well, I'm not a Chessie fan (although I do love the look of their steam!)... but this does make me wonder
if that natty dome on that Berkshire will be a separate part so that Bachmann can reuse it on the two different shells.
(just more data for the back of my brain for future parts sources!)

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Despite what is said there I can't help but to wonder if this will be what Bachmann intends to do.  Most importantly is a little blurb at the bottom of the page, below the models being shown...

"(HO models shown for illustrative purposes.)"

Much was hoped for with the former Life-Like/Walthers Berkshire, especially so when it came down to specific boilers being done in HO, just as the Bachmann image shows... but when reality hit the truth of the matter was that N-scale just did not deserve having tooling for both types, and once again, we were left disappointed.

More disconcerting is the idea of whether or not this is simply a rehash of the earlier Life-Like/Walthers model.  It wouldn't be unheard of for Bachmann to acquire the tooling that Walthers has no desire to use once again (maybe this is the reason behind Walthers not doing more).  I just hope that finally the Kanawah will be properly modeled by a manufacturer but only time will tell for sure.

[u18b]

Jerry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You read the fine print and ruined my day!!!!!!!!!!

If those are HO models, then they probably won't do the sand dome correctly.

[Chris333]

Sorry (for the crappy pics)

[jmlaboda - RIP]

I now believe its all new tooling... comparing the shot of the Life-Like Berk on Spookshow's website shows some differences in the detail, specifically some of the boiler bands are different (which one accurate or not???) and the Bachmann bell sits higher so I feel a little better but whether the boiler differences will be addressed still remains to be seen.  Call me crazy but I would like to have a correct C&O boiler in as much because it might allow for a C&O Greenbrier to be modeled, though I would still have some detail differences as would be possible.

The differences in the placement of the domes was purely a mechanical issue.  On the NKP and PM Berks the placement was good for running on fairly flat geography but for the C&O the mountain territories were a major problem (can't exactly remember the exact issue) which was addressed by the moving of the domes.

Lets hope that two boilers will be done.  And, if the sand dome is a separate detail, that even more possibilities (maybe a VGN engine) can be gained.

[jdcolombo]

Jerry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You read the fine print and ruined my day!!!!!!!!!!

If those are HO models, then they probably won't do the sand dome correctly.

I wouldn't be so quick to give up hope.  Bachmann, after all, owns its own factory in China.   I actually think it is highly likely that they WILL produce a correct C&O shell; they own the factory, it will be their own tooling, and they've obviously got the CAD/CAM files ready to go from HO scale.    Producing shell tooling using modern software and mills isn't nearly as costly as it used to be, and we have dozens of examples in the diesel world of even small manufacturers like FVM doing prototype-specific shells.

I realize that we were all disappointed by LifeLike back in the early 2000's (I was especially disappointed by the PA-1's, which were nearly NKP-perfect in HO and nothing but a generic shell in N), but this just feels different to me.  Maybe it's just that I'm so giddy about having an NKP unit with the Mars light that might actually pull more than six cars out of the box . . .

John C.

[up1950s]

Gayglo orange brake shoes and hangers are something that will make some sing and prance .

[Leggy]

So how long till they hit extend and do the T1?

[Chris333]

More crappy pics

[Lemosteam]

But I LOVE LOVE LOVE those Laird slides.  Now those might come in VERY handy.

[asarge]

Thanks for the pics confirming the Kanawha's sand dome location Chris. I almost fell outta my chair when I saw it.

At least Ron didn't call them Berkshire's! 

[Chris333]

I was there for 4 hours till they kicked up out. I had no idea the photos were so crappy till I got home 

[reinhardtjh]

So how long till they hit extend and do the T1?

Yes!  And then a Pennsy J1/J1a!   

[Spikre]

 
  one class of C&O Hudson can be done with the Kanawha boiler with
  minimal changes to the shell.
  some had Poppet valves,that should be easier to model than Baker
  valve gear.
  the Greenbriars were a bit longer,drivers may be larger also.
   the NKP could also be used for W&LE and RF&P,tenders may not match
  as there was some different ones used.
  more work could get the L&N M-1s.
  a T-1/J1 would also be longer if close to accurate.
   Spikre