For those of you following the Wallace Branch build series, you may be wondering what kind of locomotives the route will need.
The main locomotive roster consists of GP9s for the Milwaukee, UP and NP, plus a couple of RS2 (UP) and RS3 (NP) road switchers, an SW1500 for the UP, and SD40-2s for the Milwaukee. And, of course, TUME's Little Joes.
On the steam side, I have already created two different 2-8-0s. But I feel the most important asset is bound to be the hardest ... the Northern Pacific Z-3 built by Alco in the 1920s. These were used as helpers on Lookout Pass right to the end of steam. With 4% grades, and plenty of ore cars headed over the pass, the railroad needed a lot of power.
The above is modeled as No. 4025, but also has elements from 4020 and 4024. All were used on Lookout Pass, based on photos of these 3 locomotives in the Borax, Haugan and St Regis areas by Ron V. Nixon as well as those in John Wood's book, "Railroads Through the Coeur d'Alenes."
I'm no steam engine modeling expert. This is basically my 2nd steam engine, and the first where I'm trying to do my own bogeys. Actually, I'm not sure how to do the front part so it rotates correctly, with the working headlight. The above represents about 2/3 through building the base mesh.