Why Brass
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Now it is just a matter of waiting for the locos I want to be redone with the new technology be it plastic, die cast, or brass.
So what happened? Somebody made a typographical error on the Purchase Order and Baldwin went and built one before anyone noticed the error?
I'm guessing that the real answer is that it was an attempt at a compound locomotive (one that uses steam twice) balance the amout of force in the first set of pistons with a reduced amount of force in the second set of pistons where the steam is being used for a second time? Actually, at first glance at least, it sounds like a reasonable idea. Why didn't it work out?
I'm a little confused... I originally read your post to mean that only one 2-6-8-0 was built. But a bit of online research seems to indicate that 35 of them were built.
So can you explain a bit more of what you meant?
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CP9302
Member
Brass is low volume production runs at high cost, so they can afford to make just about any model out there and still make a profit by charging the consumer through the nose. If you've seen it on the rails, you can usually buy it in brass. The same can't be said for plastic models, though the number of models in plastic is rising very fast, and if you toss in resin kits, there is a lot available in plastic too.
Brass is also faster to market. Brass SD70ACe's and GEVO's have been out for a few years, Tower 55's GEVO is less than a year old and the ACe isn't even out yet. And they are owned by a Overland, a huge importer of Brass stuff.
NickB is also correct about the level of detail. Brass used to be far more detailed but now, Athearn Genesis and Atlas look just as good as brass.
Brass is also faster to market. Brass SD70ACe's and GEVO's have been out for a few years, Tower 55's GEVO is less than a year old and the ACe isn't even out yet. And they are owned by a Overland, a huge importer of Brass stuff.
NickB is also correct about the level of detail. Brass used to be far more detailed but now, Athearn Genesis and Atlas look just as good as brass.
HaggisKennedy
Coal Shoveler
I go brass for steamers since I model the Great Northern, and unless you are interested in a P2 Mountain or O-3 Mikado, you won't find an accurate steamer in plastic. That's because most of their locomotives have a Belpaire boiler; only the Pennsy had the majority of their locos with them, and the Pennsy cab is way different.
You're also not going to get some of the real oddball locos out there in plastic; nobody is going to make a 2-6-8-0....
Kennedy
You're also not going to get some of the real oddball locos out there in plastic; nobody is going to make a 2-6-8-0....
Kennedy
Just like they said.
Brass had much better detail than anything out in plastic, offered models that weren't available in plastic, and some brass models still exceed the level of detail found in any plastic model. In many cases, factory painted brass models have some of the finest paint jobs ever produced. Since they are all assembled by hand, the cost is magnitudes more than plastic. They are still the Rolls-Royce of model railroading.
Brass had much better detail than anything out in plastic, offered models that weren't available in plastic, and some brass models still exceed the level of detail found in any plastic model. In many cases, factory painted brass models have some of the finest paint jobs ever produced. Since they are all assembled by hand, the cost is magnitudes more than plastic. They are still the Rolls-Royce of model railroading.Grande Guy
grande guy
Hello,
I have a fair sized brass collection but have not bought a brass locomotive since 2006. I do buy brass cabooses and have some brass MOW cars but now with the quality of plastic locomotive offerings from Athearn, Atlas, Kato etc. etc. I probably will not shell out the large amount of coin for brass locomotives at 1000.00 a copy when I can get a nicely detailed locomotive for under 200.00.
Regards, Dave
I have a fair sized brass collection but have not bought a brass locomotive since 2006. I do buy brass cabooses and have some brass MOW cars but now with the quality of plastic locomotive offerings from Athearn, Atlas, Kato etc. etc. I probably will not shell out the large amount of coin for brass locomotives at 1000.00 a copy when I can get a nicely detailed locomotive for under 200.00.
Regards, Dave
Grande Guy
grande guy
The added detail is the driving factor. I would be suprised if someone bought brass for the weight factor. The reason I have bought brass is strictly to get quality models of certain prototypes.
ThoroughBreed
Dcc~detail~diesel freak
Brass models of certain types of engines are released before the plastic versions is. Right now you cant get a sd70m-2 in anything but brass, but you still cant find one of them either. Tower55 is to release a plastic version, but its still listed as future........
jbaakko
Diesel Detail Freak
Details, Details, Details... OMI's run SMOOTH too, as good, it not better then Kato in my eye (I have a few OMI chassis).
I'm hoping, now that Tower 55 displayed the ACe & M-2's at Trainfest, and that they'll be out in the coming year, that they can start getting runs out faster & sooner. Maybe they'll start venturing into the NRE Gensets, which were just announced by OMI. The big thing, as I understand it, is they've never worked with this manufacturer before, thus the long wait time. The brass division is well established, thus the short wait time.
I'm hoping, now that Tower 55 displayed the ACe & M-2's at Trainfest, and that they'll be out in the coming year, that they can start getting runs out faster & sooner. Maybe they'll start venturing into the NRE Gensets, which were just announced by OMI. The big thing, as I understand it, is they've never worked with this manufacturer before, thus the long wait time. The brass division is well established, thus the short wait time.
GandyDancer
Member
Ditto. In the old days brass was the only way to get the level of detail. Plastic technology has advanced so much in recent years the new details are great. I saw the writing on the wall a few years ago and sold off most of my brass fleet while the prices were sky high.
Now it is just a matter of waiting for the locos I want to be redone with the new technology be it plastic, die cast, or brass.
GN.2-6-8-0
Member
I go brass for steamers since I model the Great Northern, and unless you are interested in a P2 Mountain or O-3 Mikado, you won't find an accurate steamer in plastic. That's because most of their locomotives have a Belpaire boiler; only the Pennsy had the majority of their locos with them, and the Pennsy cab is way different.
You're also not going to get some of the real oddball locos out there in plastic; nobody is going to make a 2-6-8-0....
Kennedy
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HaggisKennedy
Coal Shoveler
You're slipping! I woulda expected a reply near immediately!
I have one, but it's boxed up right now to be sent to my vendor to have a Tsunami installed.....
One of my favorite Reference Sheets from the GNRHS is the one on how they built the only M-1 2-6-8-0 they did....
Kennedy
I have one, but it's boxed up right now to be sent to my vendor to have a Tsunami installed.....
One of my favorite Reference Sheets from the GNRHS is the one on how they built the only M-1 2-6-8-0 they did....
Kennedy
GN.2-6-8-0
Member
Be sure and let me know how the Tsunami install goes with that Vanderbilt tender....I'm dying to know.
So what happened? Somebody made a typographical error on the Purchase Order and Baldwin went and built one before anyone noticed the error?
I'm guessing that the real answer is that it was an attempt at a compound locomotive (one that uses steam twice) balance the amout of force in the first set of pistons with a reduced amount of force in the second set of pistons where the steam is being used for a second time? Actually, at first glance at least, it sounds like a reasonable idea. Why didn't it work out?
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I'm a little confused... I originally read your post to mean that only one 2-6-8-0 was built. But a bit of online research seems to indicate that 35 of them were built.
So can you explain a bit more of what you meant?
GN.2-6-8-0
Member
Baldwin built the first class M1 GN. built the rest.... class M2
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HaggisKennedy
Coal Shoveler
I have to dig out the sheet, but IIRC, they stuck a Mogul onto the front end of a Consolidation. There's a big, fat riveted band connecting the two halves.
Also, the front end is mainly a superheater/smokebox/etc. There's really no boiler in front of the band.
Kennedy
Also, the front end is mainly a superheater/smokebox/etc. There's really no boiler in front of the band.
Kennedy
GN.2-6-8-0
Member
Must stand corrected seems Great Northern built No. 2000 after recieving 10 2-6-8-0s from Baldwin....confusing yes?
None the less still my all time favorite.
None the less still my all time favorite.
GN.2-6-8-0
Member
Found my copy of GNHS reference no.297 showing no.1959 showing hopefully the collar between the 2 boiler section.
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