Railworks America

Hi there,

Quick introduction - I'm Tom from Digital Traction. Some of you might know of us, for those that don't, we make steam locos for the British market.

So recently I've been playing with the New Haven Springfield line, and I've started looking into American Railroads more and more. Having had a brief cast round on the web, I've found a fair few well detailed diagrams for New Haven locos. The combination of an available route in roughly the right era and the diagrams has led me to thinking that the time is nigh for some New Haven steam.

Now the tricky part.

Thing is, I know next to nothing about American steam. I have the diagrams of the locos (Specifically classes I-4 and J-2), but no information on what the cab interior should look like. What I'm wondering is if anybody here has information, photos or diagrams of the cab interiors of these two loco types, and, if so, would they be willing to pass them on?

Nothing is set in stone as yet. I'm not saying I'll be producing both loco types, or either of them. It all depends on the information I can find. But I would, personally, love to get my teeth into these machines. With the right information, they should be fairly easy to build...without it, I'd rather not start.

Hope this comes across as intended, and I look forwards to hearing from you all!

Tom

This project looks good.
What are you exactly looking for, a NYC 4-6-4 J-2?


And the I-4 like this?:

Sorry, slight mix up there, I was referring to the New Haven J-2 2-8-2 type, sorry for that!

Though I would like to do the NYC Hudsons in the future, should I get the time (And the diagrams, photos etc etc!)

That is the I-4 I'd like to do though, yes. They look very 'American' to my British eyes, and they pull passenger trains (I'm a massive passenger train fan).

It's a project I'd love to do, especially as I'd love to expand Digital Traction into new arenas (Isn't that what the professionals say?)

Sounds good. Looking forward to some more US steam.

Thank you. We are in dire need of some US steam, particularly genuine New Haven to go with Michael & Bobs' fantastic VNHRR which is coming to its conclusion soon.

Where can I send my $$

It may be worth contacting Broadway Limited imports about the I-4 as they made a HO model of it.

I have looked at all my books and did not find any pics or schematics for these two locos.
I don't know why, but it is much easier to find steamer cab information in Europe than in USA.

Please PM here me at your convenience. I have a fair amount of information on New Haven steam power, and a number of other sources information on and/or experience with the New Haven. You're probably already aware of the VNHRR route, so your locomotives would find a home immediately. If I might make one suggestion, the slightly smaller J-1 was a more successful machine than the J-2, which was built with less-than-optimal grate area. The last of the J-1s, 3016, stood-in as Eastern & Portland 97 in the Doris Day movie, It happened to Jane.

You might reach out to the New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association at http://nhrhta.org/. They certainly have information on NH steamers and might have some technical documents that could prove useful. Their publication The Shoreliner is a wealth of information on all things New Haven.

Thanks for all the responses so far, this project is looking increasingly viable to me.

I'll drop the New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association a line, see if they can help me out, thanks for the suggestion, Rick!

I only hope I can do justice to these locos - I've never modelled American before, the closest I've come is a British Railways Standard loco - high running plate, all the 'gubbins' outside and whatnot.

Of course, with all the NH steam being sadly scrapped, the biggest problem will be the sounds. Oh, and the fact I need somebody over 'the pond' to make the recordings...all good fun!

Tom

You do the rest of it and we will get you some good sounds.

Of course, with all the NH steam being sadly scrapped, the biggest problem will be the sounds. Oh, and the fact I need somebody over 'the pond' to make the recordings...all good fun!

Almost forgot to mention, the Valley Railroad in Essex, CT completely rebuilt a Chinese SY 2-8-2 into a New Haven J-1 2-8-2 replica. It's probably the closest thing we have to NH steam. That might be a somewhat accurate reference if you can find interior photos and/or videos. Would be good for sound capture too. Great people down there and they occasionally allow cab rides. They might be able to help you out http://essexsteamtrain.com/

Good luck!

These may be good sites to ask some questions:
http://thenhrhtanewhavenrailroadforum.yuku.com/reply/62041/Re-Key-J1-282#.Vi-922tvDhU
and
https://sites.google.com/site/nynhhsteam/home/class-a-4-4-0-american-standard-type/class-b-4-4-0-american-standard-type/class-c-1-to-c-9-4-4-0/class-c-10-to-c-22-4-4-0/class-d-1-to-d-7/class-d-9-to-d-17/class-e-4-4-0/class-f-1-atlantics/cne-class-f/class-f-5-2-8-0/class-g-1-to-g-3/class-g-4-4-6-0/class-h-4-6-0/class-i-1-4-6-2/class-i-2-and-i-3-4-6-2/class-i-4-4-6/class-i-5-hudson/class-j-mikado

IIRC there's a USRA Light Pacific in service over in New Jersey - I've forgotten who runs it - that would be good for all sounds except the whistle, since it is about the same size as the prototypes you have in mind. The Valley Railroad has a New Haven whistle that finds its way onto whatever engine is in service from time to time. I don't recall what class it came from, but they've been using it since I worked there, back in the early-'70s. Not all New Haven whistles were alike - the I-5s had low-toned "steamboat" whistles, for example - but it would be an excellent whistle to start with. I know I sure wouldn't fuss ...

(edit on second thought): The Valley's 3025 or 40, while smaller, wouldn't be a bad candidate for other sounds, as well, especially in the hands of a couple of the engineers I know there, who can really make them talk.

RickKfoury wrote:

Here is a useless factoid - I actually saw this loco in the erecting shop at Tangshan Works in March 1989 when I was there - believe it originally went to the Knox Kane & Kinzua. The SY's are a great industrial - great sound and a good all-round workhorse.

Failing specific cab details, surely a "generic" american cab could suffice? As long as all the controls are covered off, - I know it wouldnt be an issue for me. Would hate to see the project wither when it didnt need to... To me it is more about having the controls, mastering them and making it work, rather than their exact positioning down to the last 1/4 inch. Still different strokes for different folks...