Nelson,
While others have already responded to your question, here is some additional information that may help. You already have the basic cab information. The Q's O-5s can really be separated into three groups. The first group, entirely built by Baldwin in 1930, (some might call them "stretched" Hudsons) were equipped with open cabs, Elesco bundle type feedwater heaters in front of the stack and all welded tenders, (no visible rivets). The first group was numbered 5600 - 5607. None were preserved.
The second group, built in 1936 and 1937, were built at the Q's West Burlington shop with boilers supplied by Baldwin. These were numbered 5608 - 5620. These also had open cabs, but were equipped with newer Worthington SA feedwater heaters which is the rectangular box in front of the stack and the hot water pump on the pilot deck. (as you note, the shield in front of the pimp on these locomotives was somewhat open on the sides. They were also basic fabricated assemblies with no rounded corners that varied slightly from locomotive to locomotive.) The tenders on this group were riveted construction. No. 5614 is the only member of this group to survive and as noted, is nicely displayed in St. Joseph, MO.
The last group, nos. 5621 - 5635, were built between 1938 and 1940. They also had boilers supplied by Baldwin. These locomotives were equipped with the all weather enclosed cabs. Like the previous group, they also had Worthington SA feedwater heaters and riveted tenders. The shield over the hot water pump was more streamlined and fully enclosed the pump so that it was difficult to see. In addition, this group also was equipped with the solid streamlined pilot. These locomotives represented Q's finest and last steam power. Three of these have been preserved, no. 5629 at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO, no. 5631 in Sheridan, Wy and no. 5633 in Douglas, Wy.
Be careful with Sunset. While they have generally built some very fine models with accurate details, they occasionally have allowed errors to creep into some versions, probably due to cost or expediency. In 2003, they built models of the last two versions of the Q's O-5s in O scale. The models of the last group were pretty accurate, but the model of no. 5614 in the second group had a few notable errors, one of which affects the operation of the model. The major error was the tender. Because of the cabs, the tenders for the middle group was different from the tender for the locomotive with the all weather cab. Sunset used the third version tender as a basis for the second version. While the front of the tender appears OK, the side sheet top front corners do not have enough of a "notch" to clear the cab roof. The only choice is to run with a wide gap between the engine and the tender. The second error is the shield over the hot water pump. They used the same shield for both versions and it really isn't correct for either one. It more closely matches the last group of locomotives. BTW, in early 2004, I paid $1040 for my model of no. 5614. Prices have really gone up for new brass. (Used brass not so much. A Precision Scale model of Q's M-4 2-10-4 sold on EBay last week for $1475. When it came out in 2004, it was $3100!
On last comment about Q's O-5 fleet. Details varied over the years. All were built as coal burners, but six were converted to oil in the early 1950s. All were equipped with Mars lights in later years. The last group was built with box pok drivers, but there is a photo of no. 5622 with spoked drivers on castlegraphics.com. The middle group was built with spoked drivers. All were later rebuilt with a box pok driver in the main driver position (no. 2 axle) and some, like no. 5620 had all box pok drivers in later years. Up through about no. 5622, all were built with spoked lead wheels, but eventually , all received solid pilot wheels in later years. Time period makes a difference.
I apologize for the long post. Hopefully, this helps with your questions. Sure wish the Burlington Route Historical Society would come out with a bulletin on the O-5s like they did a number of years ago on the S-4 Hudson.
Bill Barber Gravois Mills, MO Sunset Models is taking orders for an HO painted and lettered brass CB&Q O-5 Northern with QSI DCC sound decoder at a price of $1,199.95. They offer either open cab or closed cab versions. I thought all Q Northerns had closed cabs. Also, the photos on the Sunset Models web page don't provide much information about the forthcoming model, but it appears that the road number is 5614, the Northern preserved in St. Joseph, MO. If so, the hot water pump shield should have open sides, instead of the shield with closed sides like the one on O-5As. I've emailed Sunset Models asking for clarification, but I'll like to engage the expertise within this group to get more information about the accuracy of the model Sunset Models is offering. I'm particularly curious about the open and closed cab options. Does 5614 have an open or closed cab? Here's the URL for Sunset Models HO offerings. http://www.3rdrail.com/ho_scale.htmNelson Moyer
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