The first thing the C&O dieselized was its switching operations. EMD SW switchers had most regions dieselised, but some steam still ran untill 1955 or so. Among these were the C&O's Class C-16 0-8-0 switchers, purchased from Alco in 1930 and basically of USRA design.
I saw a Rivarossi Indiana Harbor Belt 0-8-0 engine for sale on Ebay and, when compared to a picture I had, discovered it looks similar to the C&O engine I wanted to model. The IHB engine had 3 cylinders with a resulting very large boiler. Although the boiler and firebox are too big C&O switchers tended to be large and heavy so the look is not that far off.
The engine is almost all plastic but it has detail usually found only on brass steamers. For example, it has complete valve gear and brake shoes. In addition, much of the piping is applied rather than cast on.
I removed the 3rd cylinder valve gear and feedwater heater from the top of the smokebox. I added an MTH smoke unit and used the MTH 4 wire plug for the connection between the engine and tender. I mounted some 3rd rail pickups under the engine. A real coal load was installed in the tender, as was a back-up light. A bell and a whistle were added in the correct location on the boiler. The tender trucks were replaced with Babbitt andrews tender trucks, which have proven unsatisfactory. They will be replaced with some metal trucks from Auel Industries.
The engine was painted with Scalecoat II paint. I painted the cab windowsills yellow. The driver sidewalls were painted white along with the side of the walkways. The windows were glazed with microscale Krystal Klear. Champ decals were used to letter the engine.
I can't really say how the engine runs - it ran well during testing
before final assembly but since then the electronic reverse unit has died.
All drivers are flanged so 0-54 track is the tightest curve it can handle.
It is quite light so it will not pull a whole lot but it seems to have
very good slow speed operation.
The above 3/4 view shows the model well. Very visible is the engine's
most visible weakness, the boiler front. I butchered the original one removing
the feedwater heater and trying to add rivet detail. Can anybody suggest
a source for new boiler fronts? If nothing is available I may try to build
one.
This shot shows the fireman's side.
Here is a view of the rear of the tender. Turned out pretty nice!
Please let me know what you think! If you have any questions just email me.