I am currently
building (as time permits) a brass model in HO scale of CB&Q G-3 #1553. I
have started with the tender as I figured it would be simpler and work my way
up to the engine. However, I soon found out that the top and rear of the
tenders must have been top secret as I could not find any pictures or drawings
of those areas. It seems that everyone took photos from the front ¾ view of the
engine so the tenders do not show up very well and most of the photos are
grainy to boot.
I have uploaded some pictures output from my CAD program
of #1553 CB&Q G-3 long Tender. I would like feedback on any
inaccuracies you see / improvements that I can make before I start to cut
metal.
For references, I used;
- Bernard Corbin’s book
“Steam Locomotives of the Burlington
Route ”. It has a scale drawing which shows a
side view only. This book is a great reference on CB&Q locomotives!
- Dave Beck’s CD with
original Class Diagrams. Unfortunately, these are pretty notional and
mainly has dimensions like wheel spacing. Also, #1553 was converted to oil
so has an oil tank while the drawings were the original coal versions.
- Otto Perry photograph from
the Denver Library of #1553 in Deadwood S.D. in 1935. Since I am modeling
the CB&Q in the Black Hills in ~1940, this is the photo that put me on
to modeling #1553. Unfortunately, the photo is a ¾ right side view from
the engine and there is a stack of ties obscuring part of the tender.
Interestingly, the main rods have been removed so probably idle due to the
depression(?).
- Another photograph from
Corbin’s book that shows a left side view of #1553 in 1953 in Sterling
Colorado. By 1953, however, it looks like the tender has some kind of
raised structure on the oil tank (and the engine has a new headlight and
double air pump).
- Photograph of CB&Q #
1548 which is on display in Quaker Square Akron, OH. Not sure how “stock”
it is as has newer trucks etc and haven’t had a chance to see it in
person.
Areas where I was not sure about are;
- Top and rear of tender.
Since I could not find any pictures or drawings, I referenced drawings or
photographs of other classes like the H-1 Moguls and K-4 Ten Wheeler for
clues.
- I am not sure what the
front of the tender looked like as the standard coal bunker had been
replaced with an oil tank and all the photos have the locomotives cab in
the way.
- Not sure what kind of
brake gear was used but looks like it has an air reservoir under the
tender indicating it is an older style similar to that used on cars with a
plain triple valve off of the train pipe. I am going to use a Cal Scale
“Westinghouse Type U brake kit #190-306” although I could not find any
information on exactly what a Type U was.
- Oil Tank fittings. I added
a manhole and tank dipstick as a guess.
Thanks,
Bruce Collins
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