The MTH DB/DR BR 44 steam locomotive

The German 2-10-0 BR 44 was a big, heavy freight locomotive. The first BR 44s were out shopped in 1926 and nearly 2000 were produced by the end of their production in 1944. The model is a highly detailed 1/45 scale model measuring 531 mm (20 inches) in length that has that massive presence of the prototype.

First shown in the MTH 2014 Vol 2 catalog, MTH produced the locomotive in the DB Era IIIB and Era IV versions, a DRG Era IIC version, and a SNCF Era IIIa version since the locomotive was also produced in occupied France from 1942 onward. Mine was delivered to me in April 2015.

 

Looking for the AS PO 231 4536 Locomotive

March 2014.

As part of my research for my article “Modern European Outline ‘0’ Gauge Trains: “AS” of France”, I acquired four of the ‘0’ gauge, AS locomotives and a strong desire for a couple more.  In particular I am looking to add to my collection the AS model of PO 231 4546.  The lack of boiler detail worked well for the tinplate construction and the AS model is as sleek as the prototype.  Note the unique three axle tender.  If you know of the availability of one of these unique models, please let me know right away. An update, I did finally acquire one of these neat locomotives for my collection.

The Paris à Orléans (PO) was the first to experiment with the 231 arrangement in 1907 and was the first railroad in Europe to employ the wheel configuration. With its clean, unadorned boiler and body and light grey livery, PO 231 4546 had a very sleek appearance for its time.  One of the original locomotives – PO 231 4546 is preserved at the Cité du Train in Mulhouse, France.

LIONEL’s Rock Island Northern

March 2014

With 85 “Northerns” on its roster, the CRI&P had the largest fleet of 4-8-4 locomotives in the United States and was second to the Canadian National Railroad in North America. The last twenty of these Northerns, acquired in the mid-1940s, by the Rock Island were built by ALCO and designated class R-67 with cab numbers 5100 to 5119. These were large engines measuring 108’ 10” in length from coupler end to coupler end. They had 74″ drivers and were primarily used in fast freight service but could haul large passenger loads as well. The Delaware Lackawanna and Western acquired almost identical locomotives from ALCO during the same timeframe.

In the late 80s Lionel was acquired by Richard Kughn who initiated Lionel’s efforts to produce trains that were more scale oriented and prototypically looking.  Lionel’s first two locomotives produced were models of the CRI&P and DL&W Northerns. The Rock Island locomotive (#18001) was made only in 1987. It is a diecast engine powered by the Lionel Pullmore motor with magne-traction. It has a working E-unit, Illuminated headlight and number boards, a smoke generator, a whistle, and a synchronized steam sound that goes from a hissing sound at low speed to louder chugging sound that is rhythmic to the speed of the loco.

The engine used the “old” Lionel 726 Berkshire drive mechanism but had a totally new body shell and tender.  Although it had a massive appearance the model was very undersized.  It had small wheels on the leading truck and undersized drivers from the Berkshire mech and was nearly 20 scale feet short in length if it was to be a 1/48 scale model.  And the locomotive was a noted poor runner due to problems with bushings in the motor.

Never-the-less the Lionel model is a “reasonable representation” of the Rock Island class R-67 Northern locomotive and I include it as one of my Rock Island in steam in 3-rail models.

The Lionel Rock Island 2-6-0 “Mogul” locomotive.

March 2014

Last year Lionel introduced a scale 2-6-0 Mogul in several liveries including the Rock Island.  A look at my primary reference book – Rock Island Motive Power – showed no Moguls on the Rock Island line so I guess I must have decided that Lionel had just painted their model in the Rock Island livery to give them another road name to use with their loco.  I didn’t pay much attention to the Lionel model.

 

But recently I was looking through another reference – Rock Island Steam Power – and discovered that the Rock Island did indeed have a small number – about 50 – of Moguls most of which were scrapped in the 30’s.  Significantly my first reference started its coverage of motive power in the early 30s which is probably why it didn’t address the Moguls.  Even more significantly, one of the photos of a RI Mogul looked very familiar.  Checking the catalog model against the photo I discovered that Lionel had actually used the RI loco #750 as the prototype for it’s model!  The large Brooklyn, NY, Lionel dealer Trainworld had the RI version on-sale at $150 under the Lionel MSRP !  A $400 price isn’t to bad so I bought one.

Finally, while examining the locomotive and its details and deciding that the model was a good course scale model of the original RI loco I made one additional discovery.  Engine #750 was originally made by Baldwin in 1907.  But the builder’s plate on the model says “American Locomotive – Brooks Works”.  Ugh.  Lionel didn’t watch their details.  Three Moguls including #750 were made by Baldwin – 47 others were made by the Brooks Works.

The Prague Gauge 0 Club Layout

February 2014:    The Czech Republic has a history of toy train production that dates back to the 1930s when the firm MERKUR started making toy trains.  Today there are three firms; MERKUR (www.merkurtoys.cz/en), ETS (www.ets.cz), and ZANKA (www.zanka.cz)  that produce 0 gauge trains.  Trains are evidently very popular in the Czech Republic!

A reader from the Czech Republic, of my series of articles on modern European 0 gauge trains, recently sent me several great photos of the tinplate layout of the “PRAGOCLUB”, the Prague O gauge model railroad club. I have copied six of them below.  Note the blend of 3-rail, tinplate trains being used on this layout.  I can identify ACE locomotives and passenger coaches, Marklin “40 cm” coaches”, Zanka freight and passenger wagons, Merkur locomotives and passenger coaches, and an intriguing homemade 4-6-2 Pacific with a distinctive East European look to it.

Looking for some Help with this locomotive

January 2014:  Several years ago I acquired off of eBay the stripped down locomotive shown here.  I’m pretty sure the locomotive is a Spanish 0 gauge locomotive produced by “Mezquida”.  A picture of a complete “Mezquida” locomotive was taken from a catalog for an exhibit of Spanish toy trains at the Railway Museum of Madrid in 1996-1997 titled “Catalogos de la Exposicion “El Juguete Espanol y el Ferrocarril – 100 Anos de Historia”.   According to the catalog Mezquida was created by an “Inspector of Finance” (a taxman) who started manufacturing toy trains in the mid-40s in Barcelona, but produced only a few varieties of models, always steam, and often confused with Manamo locomotives.  They had similar wheels, connecting rods, and similar styles. The only real difference between the two firms machines was the material used in the body, which in the case of Mezquida the tinplate material is 1 mm. in thickness.

Although I like the locomotive in its current stripped-down condition it would be interesting to try to restore the “toy” to close to its original condition.  Finding a tender for the locomotive is essential.  Should you ever run across one that is available, please let me know.