Locomotives of the Empire Builder A gallery of both prototypes & O scale models of Great Northern steam |
A- Class 0-6-0 Switchers |
A-9 number 86 at Fargo date near the end of its career. The A-9 class were the most numerous 0-6-0 switchers on the GN and served system wide. |
This recently acquired model was built by the late Bud Jaggers. The mechanism has been rebuilt by Dave Brown. The picture shows the engine before Dave got it. I'll redetail it before re-painting. It is one of five unfinished models acquired from the estate of Mr. Jaggers in late 2009. |
It has taken a couple of years but this is how the A-9 currently looks with details added, a coat of paint and crew members. The loco has a Tsunami decoder and cam. |
B- Class 4-4-0 Americans |
B-8 number 290 rides the turntable at Vancouver, B.C. in 1926. This engine was assigned to the Cacade Division until scrapped in 1926 |
An AHM 4-4-0 is Crossing the trestle to Fidalgo. Plans are to convert it into a B-8. |
Cold B-13 number 103 being shoved into a round house stall at Marcus Wash. It was renumbered 219 in 1944 and scrapped in 1947. |
This is a picture of an uncomplete model of a B-13. My friend Dave Brown re-built the mechanism. It is now awaiting detailing and painting which I hope to do this year. |
Here it is now. |
C- Class 0-8-0 Switchers |
The date and location of the 847 are unknown. |
The C-1 was scratch built in the early 90's. My friend Dave Brown re-worked the mechanism. Recently I installed a Lenz Gold decoder and Tsunami for sound. The engine has a cam left over from the PFM sound system I installed in 1994 when I painted it. |
E Class Ten Wheelers |
The 933 appears to be the prototype for the 930 that PFM imported years ago |
The 930 is a stock PFM import that draws so little current, a Tsunami alone is all that is needed! |
F Class Consolidations |
F-1 consolidation #545 seen at Burlington, Wash in 1947.
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This is the begining of a F-1 consolidation. There is a lot of work to do on this model. It was acquired from the Bud Jaggers estate in 2009. Yes that is a piece of scotch tape holding the cab on! I have a tender to go with it. What is really needed are rods, gearbox , motor and a lot of TLC. |
1148 a class F-8 is seen switching in the mid-west |
F-8 1152 switching cars at Cashmere on the O scale pike. The F-8 was scratch built in the early 90's. My friend Dave Brown re-worked the mechanism. |
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The model of F-8#1147 is based on this locomotive displayed at a wenatche Washington park. |
F-8#1147 was built by Bud Jaggers and the mechanism was completely rebuilt by Jerry White for Larry Muir. Typical for a JW rebuild, it has lots of weight and pulls like a champ. I was fortunately enough to acquire it from the Muir estate. I added a can motor which draws a low enough current to use a stand alone Tsunami decoder. |
F-12 consolidation #1326 seen above at Butte in 1944. GN acquired sisters 1326 & 1327 from the Butte Anaconda & Pacific. The locomotives became surplus on the BA&P after that road electrified.
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This GN model is an old Thomas 2-8-0 kit that has been heavily modified with many brass castings, a new pilot deck, and a new tender. The next modification will be removal of the Young valve gear and a more accurate handrail around the smoke box. The tender superstructure is from an Oriental Limited import with a scratch built frame and brake rigging. |
G Class Twelve wheelers |
G-1 G-1 # 410 at the Columbian Exhibition at Chicago in 1893 . It was soon renumbered 610.
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G-1 # 410 on the pike shortly after it was acquired. This engine has a very interesting history. It was built in Japan the late 50's and imported by Bill Ryan of PFM. It was a one of a kind model at the same time as batch of HO gage G-1's. It some point it was sent to Fred Icken who rebuilt the mechanism. It was part of an estate in San Antonio Texas, when I purchased it. |
GN 607, the last surviving G-1, is seen switching at Bellingham Wash in 1940. It was scrapped the next year. |
I rebuilt the G-1 again with a hi-torque Pittman can motor and re-painted. She now carries the number 606. GN re-numbered all the G-1s from the 400 series to the 600 series in 1899. Before being placed in service, I'll add a Tsunami. The orange wiring is under the cab will go with the rewiring. |
G-3 G-3 #748 at Kettle Falls in 1948. |
G-3 #748 switching at Fidalgo on the old layout. It was scratch built with a tender drive but did not run well. The late Doug Cockerham rebuilt it. This was one of the first engines Doug worked on when he was starting out. I painted it, added cab interior, crew and a Tsunami decoder. The weathering looks better in person than in the photo. |
H Class Pacifics |
H-4 H-4 #1455 at Interbay in Seattle, 1950. |
H-4 #1442 arrives at Fidalgo with the local. This is a stock factory painted Oriental Limited H-4. All I did was add the crew, lights, a cam, speaker and decoder. Like all Oriental Limited imports, it was a great runner right out of the box. |
GN 1455 southbound with the American near New Westminister B.C June 25, 1935, 15 years earlier than the photo above. |
This is an Oriental Limited H-4. This one came unpainted. Prior to painting, I swapped out the trailing truck, scratch built a tender that sits on the original tender frame and trucks. Back in the '70s when I lived in Seattle, I spoke with many old timers who advised that Cascade Division locomotives had black not red roofs. So that is how I paint mine. |
H-5 GN 1351 at Vancouver BC. It was involved in a head on collision with a CNR train the following year and scrapped. See the Coast Line page for more details. |
This recently acquired model of an H-5 was built by the late Bud Jaggers. Dave Brown sandblasted and put a clear coat on it. I tinkered with the mechanism to get it running. I'm going to add back head detail and a sound decoder it before painting. She'll carry number 1351. It is one of five unfinished models acquired from the estate of Mr. Jaggers in late 2009. |
H-7 An H-7 about to depart St Paulwith the Fast Mail. Model picture coming as soon as I finish building it. |
I have an extra Oriental Limited H-4 Pacific that I plan to convert to an H-7 some time in the future |
L class 2-6-6-2s |
L-1 |
Extra 1909 east Arrives at Fidalgo. The L-1 was imported by NJ Custom Brass but did not run well. Overland bought the run and sent it back to Korea to be rebuilt. Doug Cockerham painted it and installed a chain drive It runs very well and quite. I already had an L-1 and traded it plus a 'tad' bit of cash to Doug for the 1909. I added the tender herald and like some other of my engines it is awaiting a high amp Tsunami decoder. |
M class 2-6-8-0s |
M-2 M-2 1951 is passing the west leg of the wye at Kettle Falls in 1947. Kettle Falls had no turntable and the wye, located on the southside of the yard, was used to turn steam locomotives. |
Model of M-2 #1967 (the year I was married) in O scale. It was scratched built but did not run well. The late Doug Cockerham rebuilt it. This was one of the first articulated engines Doug worked on . I painted it, added cab interior. It too is awaiting a high amp Tsunami decoder. |
N class 2-8-8-0s |
N-3 Location likely Minot ND, date and photographer unknown. |
N-3 #2001 at Fidalgo . This a Oriental Limited import that runs as well as it looks. It too is awaiting a high amp Tsunami decoder. |
O class Mikados |
O-1
The 3100 between runs at Kelly Lake, MN, date unknown. |
O-1#3142 on the point of a freight. The O-1 was scratch built by the late Irv Lange. I was fortunately enough to buy it in 1990. Like all of Irv's engines, it runs flawlessly. The only thing I did was paint the boiler green and install a Lenz Gold Maxi decoder and Tsunami for sound. Irv had built it with a cam for PFM sound. |
O-3 #3205 at Kelly Lake MN, 1952. |
This is an old Hines USRA heavy model I acquired on EBAY. I have already put a new motor, headlight, lights, and a decoder in it. The O-3 still needs more castings before repainting. It is a very smooth and quiet runner. |
O-4The 3224 at Minneapolis 1954.
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O-4 #3216 held by a red board at Cashmere on the old layout. The O-4 was scratch built in the early 90's by Bud Jaggers and has an original 4-wheel tender. My friend Dave Brown re-worked the mechanism. It was painted by the late Mel Horne who was a craftsman. It is awaiting a high amp Tsunami decoder. |
O-5
The 3307 waits for the hi-ball at Vancouver BC in 1933. It's train probably the Seaboard the daily through freight between Vancouver and Delta yard in Everett. This loco is a favorite since my house number is also 3307. Cyril Littlebury photo from Bordertown photos. .
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The 3307 O-5 was built from an Sunset USRA light 2-8-2 mechanism and an Oriental Limited H-4 superstructure. Conversion work was skillfully done by my good friend Dave Brown in 2008. I added the tender light, mount and hand rails before painting it. It also awaits a high amp Tsunami decoder. |
O-6
O-6 #3352 on the point of an extra. Date, location and unknown. Otto Perry photo.
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The model is started with the superstructure from an L-1 import, just like the prototype. I have a mechanism, a number of brass castings and the correct 40' vanderbuilt tender. All that is needed is time to put it together and paint it. Then a picture will be posted after it's finished. |
O-7 O-7 #3381 on the ready track at Minot, ND. Date and photographer unknown.
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This recently acquired model of an O-7 was built by the late Bud Jaggers. Dave Brown sandblasted and put a clear coat on it. I tinkered with the mechanism to get it running. I'm going to back head detail it before painting. It is one of five unfinished models acquired from the estate of Mr. Jaggers in late 2009. |
O-8
O-8 #3394 at Willmar in the 50's. Photographer unknown |
O-8 #3391 departing Cashmere with the second section of manifest freight 402 on the old layout The O-8 is a stock Oriental Limited model that has been an outstanding runner since it was taken out of the box. The only thing I did was add a cam and paint it. Initially I installed PFM sound but it now sports a Lenz Gold-Maxi decoder and Tsunami for sound. |
This is the closed cab version of the Oriental Limited import. It has been painted and equipped with Protocraft Super-Tsunami. The speaker is in the smoke box and sounds great. |
P class Mountains |
P-2 2507. Date, location and photographer unknown. |
2510, a Pecos River model of a P-2 Mountain is passing a fruit packing plant in the town of Cashmere on the old layout. For some these Pecos River mountains have a bad rap among O scalers but I'm extremely pleased with mine. It looks great and runs fine.The 2510 has a Digitraxx 583 decoder and a Tsunami for sound. |
Q class 2-10-2s |
Portland, Ore, 1949 Photographer unknown. |
Q-1 number 2125 is sitting on a roundhouse track. The Q-1 was scratch built in the early 90's by Bud Jaggers. My friend Dave Brown re-worked the mechanism. It was painted by the late Mel Horne who was a craftsman. It is awaiting a high amp Tsunami decoder. |
R class 2-8-8-2s |
R-1 2031 is seen arriving at Minot N.D. in the 50's. Lawrence Stuckey photo. |
The 2040 is a Weaver R-2 import. The Weaver model was basically a stripped down Oriental Limited R-2 model with an open cab. I changed the trailing truck from a delta to an inboard bearing. I also swapped the 48' tender for a 40' style. It is technically a couple of feet too long for an R-1 but with the open cab, trailing truck and shorter tender it does look closer to an R-1 than an R-2. |
R-2
R-2 # 2055 in the 30's near Browning, Mont. with a mile long train strung out behind it. Otto Perry picture.
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R-2 2055 arrives at Fidalgo. R-2 2055 is a stock Oriental Limited import. Like the N-3 above, it is a great, quiet runner. I've added a cam but removed the PFM sound. Note the greater detail on this model compared to the Weaver model above. A high amp Tsunami will be instally when becomes available. |
S class 4-8-4s |
S-1 Loco 2550 on the point of freight train, perhaps 401 or 402. Date and location and photographer not specified.
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S-1 #2550 awaits a highball at Fidalgo. The S-1 was scratch built in the early 90's by Bud Jaggers. My friend Doug Cockerham re-worked the mechanism. I added lights, crew, a cam and PFM sound before painting it. The PFM unit has been removed and a NCE 408 decoder plus a Tsunami have been installed. |
S-2
Willmar Minn. Date and photographer unknown.
S-2 number 2575 is in the hole at Cashmere.
The S-2 was scratch built by the late Irv Lange. I was fortunately enough to buy it in 1990 along with the O-1. Like all of Irv's engines, the S-2 runs flawlessly. The only thing I did was paint the boiler green and installed a Lenz Gold decoder and Tsunami for sound. Irv built it with a cam for PFM sound.
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