Roster Shots

So after spending time routing the helix panels, cleaning a gutter on the house and talking to my neighbor for a while I thought I'd goof off. For inspiration I decided to line up some of the current equipment and took pictures. You get the benefit (or anguish) of having to look at them. Most of the equipment is under construction. Almost everything needs to be repainted and lettered for the All East. I just want to give you an idea of where things are going.

The Steam Fleet

Passenger Equipment

The passenger equipment started with five stainless cars and a set of heavyweights. We're now at two dozen. I stumble across good deals (like $30 for five cars) and buy them. They aren't necessarily any specific prototype with the exception of three lightweight observation cars. One of these is a PRR "squaretail" while another looks to be a NYC car painted in Illinois Central colors. The third could be from any road. The other cars are a mix of Burlington, PRR, IC and Southern Pacific paint schemes. The heavyweights are all tuscan except the Allegheny Eastern business car "Blue Heron" which is DGLE. Oh yeah...Buried in their somewhere is a Bachmann Gas-Electric. It doesn't look like anything the PRR would have owned. It's been "sold" to the Keystone Northern, the short line that connects to the All East at Llyswen.

Pictures of the steam fleet have already been posted so I'll skip them here. The steam roster includes three Mikado's. Two are Kato, one of which is converted to an L1s. There is a another GHQ L1s conversion kit for the second one. The third 2-8-2 is a Model Power or Atlas model. I could just paint it and call it an L2, but I think I'll use it to model another eight coupled locomotive. If I use my "spare" K4 boiler I could make another L1. Both loco's used the same boiler. That would put three "Mikes" on the roster.

 There are two Mini-Trix K4s engines. One needs tweaking. The other, the "spare", is a basket case, but the driver assembly is "sort of" intact. Then there's a Mini-Trix I1s "Hippo". There are some changes that need to be made to these particular Trix models to make them look right. I purchased it with most of these changes already done and MT couplers. There is a tiny Atlas Shay is being used for the Glen White Coal and Logging Company. This little railroad connects to the Allegheny Eastern just west of Kittanning Curve. The "big" engine on the steam roster is a Bachmann 4-8-4. It's being modified to resemble a Pennsy J1 and classified as an R2. The original R class, the R1, consisted of a single electric locomotive with the same wheel arrangement. Though I would love to have an actual model J1 this will have to do for now. Finally, there are two big Bachmann tenders to be rebuilt as Pennsy long distance types.

There is a lot more diesel than steam on the Allegheny Eastern, which is not quite correct for the period being modeled. The PRR had THOUSANDS of steamers. The K4 class alone counted over 400 locomotives. There were perhaps a bit over 800 diesels of all makes on the roster in 1949. Just as on the Pennsy at that time the All East diesels are lashed up in sets that count as one locomotive...

Class BF4, a Baldwin DR-4-4-15 A-B-B-A Set

Delivered to the PRR in 1949, the Baldwin DR-4-4-15 was the first generation of Baldwin "sharknose" freight engine. These 1500 HP units preceded the Baldwin RF16. These models are all ER RF16's, two of which are using V Line shells. All are to be "backdated" to resemble the original DR-4-4-15.

Class EF4, an EMD F7 A-B-B-A Set

The Electro Motive F-7's also came on the property in 1949. They supplemented a stable of EMD F-3s first purchased in 1947. The first two are Bachmann models with new gear/axle assemblies from North West Short Line. Standing in for the other two are Like Like Alco FA's. Pennsy FA's didn't appear until 1951 so these FA mechanisms will be cannibalized to re-power the Trix steamers. Two new F-7's will be purchased, but not from Bachmann. The 4 unit EMD brings up a question...In the older classification scheme how did they differentiate between F-3's and F-7's. Both were rated at 1500 HP and if they both run as A-B-B-A it seems they would both be classed as EF4. The same would apply to the E-units, but the E-7 and E-8 have different horsepower. Gives you an idea why the diesels had to be reclassified as single units.

Class EP3, an EMD E7 A-B-A Set

Electro Motive E-7 passenger diesels were the first passenger units on the Pennsylvania. First purchased in 1946 they were followed in 1950 by the E-8, all A units. The model E-8A will be "kitbashed" with an E-7B body to become an E-7 (unless an E-7A shell comes to hand).

Class FF2, a Fairbanks-Morse "Eriebuilt" A-A Set

The FM Eriebuilts showed up in 1948. They supposedly came in two flavors, freight and passenger. My copy of the roster shows 12 of them, all classed as freight engines. The Allegheny Eastern uses them for the same thing. These units are based on old Con-Cor PA mechanisms with shells ala E-Bay.

Class AF2, an Alco DL109 A-A Set

The Pennsylvania Railroad never owned any Alco DL109's, but the Allegheny Eastern management was impressed with their performance on the New Haven and ordered a few during World War II. These units are long, measuring over 74 feet between coupler faces. I had thought to use the mechanisms as a basis for two 80 foot long Baldwin passenger sharks, and that may still happen, but I need a Baldwin B unit. Until then they are Alco's and still freight units.

Class AP3, an Alco PA A-B-A Set

First purchased by the Pennsylvania in 1947 the Alco PA-1 was considered to be the "prettiest" diesels ever built. It's mechanical claim to fame was its single 2000 HP V-16 prime mover at a time when other builders were using two 1000 HP engines to get the same output. I wish I could blame somebody else for the decal job, but it's all mine. Hopefully the Allegheny Eastern version will look 100% better.

Two Class FS15, Fairbanks-Morse H-15-44 Switchers

I bought these H-15-44 road switchers.shell along with one of my V-Line sharks. Thought I might be able to use them. I forgot about them for the most part until recently. I already had a full set of sharks for the BF4 and still hadn't used the RS-3 mechanisms. It occurred to me that these FM shells might fit the RS-3 mechanisms. I tried fitting them and it almost works. There is a tab of metal of each side of the frame that needs to be ground off before they will sit properly.

Keystone Northern FM H12-44 and EMD SW-9

There are only two diesel switchers on the layout at this time. One is a Mini-Trix model of a Fairbanks Morse HH-12-44 which is has been modified to resemble an HH-10-44. It still needs North West Short Line wheel sets. This locomotive is the Keystone Northern's sole diesel. The other is an EMD demonstrator. Trouble is the demo is an SW9 that looks more like an SW8. Either way, it didn't exist until 1950. This is a fine running model and I hate to give it up. I'm thinking of leaving it as a demo and rationalizing that the demo would be working a year before the production models.

Class BP2, An A-A set of Baldwin DR-12-8-30 "Centipedes"

This set of Baldwin DR-12-8-30 "centipedes" is still an idea, but I have started collecting parts. The main "driver" trucks are from a Bachmann DD-40AX, which have the same spacing as the Baldwin. The leading and trailing trucks are from a Kato GG1, as are the sideframes for the drivers. The side frames will require several GG1 3 axle trucks to make the one 4 axle truck. The shell will have to be kitbashed also by chopping and sectioning several E-unit cabs and shells. The frame is brass channel.

Many of the ideas I'm sharing here were suggested by the guys over in the Railwire forum. They have offered ideas on the track plan and the trains, particularly for the Trix re-powers and the centipede. The forum has been a great deal of help in making the Allegheny Eastern a reality.

Sorry for the tangent. Back to construction of the third and final version of the helix (if it bombs this time I'm taking up golf). I have finished disassembling the old helix and "reclaiming" the code 80 track. Assembly of the new helix should happen over the next few days.

Regards,

Frank Musick

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

Allegheny Eastern Railroad