Railworks America

I'm a local from Los Angeles' "South Bay", and I have been a fan of Steam Locomotives since I was 3 years old watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Being a LA local, theres always been one active Steam Locomotive thats always caught my eye, Santa Fe's 3751 4-8-4 Northern. When I was 16 I was invited to watch the locomotive steam up and head out for San Bernadino.

https://myspace.com/angers4014/video/37 ... up/6108190

I know the quality is bad, this was back in 06 when digital cameras first started having video which was bad quality back then. Anyhow, I was pretty happy with getting to drive the 3751 on Microsoft Train Simulator, but now I badly want to drive it for Railworks Train Simulator. Obviously I am not a modeler, nor would I have patience to do so haha. There is someone I believe though that could easily build this beauty, his code name is "Smokebox"

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smokebox/132794016882582

He is known for making the AT&N Consolidation a few months back and is currently working on the Union Pacific 844 4-8-4 Northern. Ive talked with him before and he has had many loco requests to do, including Santa Fe's 3751. He has stated big interest in building it, but I think he needs some motivation.

So long story short, PLEASE, ANYONE, build or help convince smokebox to make 3751!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Why don't you ask him yourself. He is here under mrennie.

Hi Brian,

Nice to see you on this forum

I loved the video However, as I might have mentioned, it's still too early to decide what to build after the FEF-3 (which still has quite a way to go ... tender, cab interior, sounds, special effects, physics). A lot depends on the availability of the original engineering drawings (the huge ones that take up all my floor space, not those little front, side and top drawings you see in books - they're not nearly detailed enough for my purposes) - that's the first thing I'll do when the FEF-3 goes into beta testing. I'll see what drawings are available. Now, if there happen to be a set of highly-detailed drawings for AT&SF 3751, well, it would make it a strong candidate.



Mike

P.S. Something it has in its favour is that I could probably reuse some bits from the FEF-3 (or at least use them as a basis from which to mold them into the specific parts for 3751).

Well on skematic drawings, I might possably be able to help. When I visited the 3751, I was given a little book about the locomotive, its diagrams, measurements, excersions, storys, etc. This book is back home in So Cal but I will be going back at the end of December. If the drawings are in there Ill scan em for ya and send them your way. If you want as well I have some decent connection with Bob Kittle, one of the chairman for the San Bernadino Railroad Historical Society (there the ones who restored the beauty) I could hit him up and he could possably help me out. Just let me know haha

angers4014 wrote:Well on skematic drawings, I might possably be able to help. When I visited the 3751, I was given a little book about the locomotive, its diagrams, measurements, excersions, storys, etc. This book is back home in So Cal but I will be going back at the end of December. If the drawings are in there Ill scan em for ya and send them your way. If you want as well I have some decent connection with Bob Kittle, one of the chairman for the San Bernadino Railroad Historical Society (there the ones who restored the beauty) I could hit him up and he could possably help me out. Just let me know haha

The schematic drawings you get in books aren't much use for this kind of modelling. The drawings I'm talking about can be 12 feet long - they literally take up most of the floor space in my lounge when fully rolled out. Most of them are 1/8th scale (so you can imagine the size of the FEF-3's erecting diagram!), and some of the smaller parts are 1/4 scale. These are the drawings that the actual locomotive builders used to forge and assemble the parts. The ones I get, from the USA, set me back several hundred dollars per set - I assume the cost comes mainly from what's involved in making copies on such large rolls of paper (not something you can do on your average office scanner/photocopier).

But anyway, let's wait until the FEF-3 is in beta testing (which is looking more likely to be sometime early next year, if there are no setbacks).

I'm one who would also like to see 3751 at some time, but I am hoping that a Pennsylvania RR J-1 is next. Horseshoe Curve is so missing Steam and so perfect for it.

Ericmopar wrote:I'm one who would also like to see 3751 at some time, but I am hoping that a Pennsylvania RR J-1 is next. Horseshoe Curve is so missing Steam and so perfect for it.

The PRR J-1 is certainly moving up the top ten chart.

I'm personally biased toward a new UP Challenger and Big Boy to be made as the current ones are not prototypical...

But I think I'd personally prefer the Santa Fe 2900 Class 4-8-4s. ATSF 2926 is currently being restored to operation and I think it looks awesome!(and bigger than 3751)
Others I would like to see (as I simply share thoughts...)

N&W J Class
Would it be possible to take the G Trax Big Steam models (4449, 700, 765) and rework them to a little higher quality? (maybe it's just a texture thing, IDK..)

Whatever is done next will I'm sure be incredible!

[/quote]The PRR J-1 is certainly moving up the top ten chart.[/quote]

What currently is your top 10 chart? lol

angers4014 wrote:

The PRR J-1 is certainly moving up the top ten chart.[/quote]

What currently is your top 10 chart? lol[/quote]

Don't tell em mrennie, make em sweat...

angers4014 wrote:

The PRR J-1 is certainly moving up the top ten chart.[/quote]

What currently is your top 10 chart? lol[/quote]

Oh, it varies from one moment to the next, depending on my mood, and on the posts I read.

Some that come to mind at the moment are:

Pennsy J1 2-10-4

PRR H8,H9,H10

Northern Pacific Z5 "Yellowstone" 2-8-8-4 (Double Berkshire)

NYC Hudson

Santa Fe 3751 (of course!)

An 0-6-0 switcher


It's anyone's guess which one I'll actually do.
Any of the locos currently operating or being restored to running order in the USA.

mrennie wrote:

angers4014 wrote:Well on skematic drawings, I might possably be able to help. When I visited the 3751, I was given a little book about the locomotive, its diagrams, measurements, excersions, storys, etc. This book is back home in So Cal but I will be going back at the end of December. If the drawings are in there Ill scan em for ya and send them your way. If you want as well I have some decent connection with Bob Kittle, one of the chairman for the San Bernadino Railroad Historical Society (there the ones who restored the beauty) I could hit him up and he could possably help me out. Just let me know haha

The schematic drawings you get in books aren't much use for this kind of modelling. The drawings I'm talking about can be 12 feet long - they literally take up most of the floor space in my lounge when fully rolled out. Most of them are 1/8th scale (so you can imagine the size of the FEF-3's erecting diagram!), and some of the smaller parts are 1/4 scale. These are the drawings that the actual locomotive builders used to forge and assemble the parts. The ones I get, from the USA, set me back several hundred dollars per set - I assume the cost comes mainly from what's involved in making copies on such large rolls of paper (not something you can do on your average office scanner/photocopier).

But anyway, let's wait until the FEF-3 is in beta testing (which is looking more likely to be sometime early next year, if there are no setbacks).

When it comes to Santa Fe steam locomotive, I prefer a 3776/2900 class 4-8-4, their biggest and most powerful. These engines are one size bigger than the FEF's
Since 2926 is currently being restored to operating condition in Albuquerque and erecting diagrams are available (at the steep price Mr. Rennie mentioned) a 100% accurate model can be created.

http://www.nmslrhs.org/ with superb photos of the engine being restored, look at those gleaming roller bearing main- and side rods.
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/?page=atsf
http://www.sbrhs.org/comparison.html
http://www.keymodels.net/id24.html with lots of photos of the different prototype classes and their phases. Notice all the different rods, wheels, stacks, domes, headlights providing ample variations to model.

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:When it comes to Santa Fe steam locomotive, I prefer a 3776/2900 class 4-8-4, their biggest and most powerful. These engines are one size bigger than the FEF's
Since 2926 is currently being restored to operating condition in Albuquerque and erecting diagrams are available (at the steep price Mr. Rennie mentioned) a 100% accurate model can be created.

http://www.nmslrhs.org/ with superb photos of the engine being restored, look at those gleaming roller bearing main- and side rods.
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/?page=atsf
http://www.sbrhs.org/comparison.html
http://www.keymodels.net/id24.html with lots of photos of the different prototype classes and their phases. Notice all the different rods, wheels, stacks, domes, headlights providing ample variations to model.

The competition just heated up

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