G Scale: Georgetown Loop RR #14

Klinger

The Chicago CTA guy
Well, with small fire that I recently had on my G scale Bachmann 2-8-0 D&RGW 370, I decided it was time to buy new motive power. One engine just is not enough.

So I bit the bullet and bought a Bachmann G scale Class C Shay, Sound and DCC. I had plans, its a 55 ton model, and I decided it was pretty damn close to an engine that I have worked on, Ex Westside Lumber, Georgetown Loop Railroad 14. 14 is a 58 Ton Class C Shay, Slide valves, saturated (soaker) steam. She operated last in 2007 at the Colorado Railroad Museum, before being taken out of Service for a Bad Axle, and Broken Journal Boxes. Up until 2004, she operated in Passenger Service at the Georgetown Loop Railroad.

So, I got the Bachmann Shay, and Quickly set about making some major Changes. The Dynamo on 14 is on the Smokebox on the Engineers side, and 14 has a Cross Compound Air Compressor on the Smokebox on the Fireman's side. And many other changes. My goal is to closely Represent Shay 14 in 2003/2004, her Final Seasons at the Loop. Many people like to Represent models during their "Working life" hauling freight on Shortlines, or in Passenger Service, I decided that Shay 14 should be modeled in her Last true job, hauling tourists over the Loop. I hope at least this is a first. She will be Lettered "Georgetown Loop RR" on the Tender with Custom Decals.

There has to be a first for everything right?

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Tender, still in the Crappy Westside lettering Bachmann Used. the Lettering is a weird Orange Color, as opposed to Yellow on the Prototype.

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The Smokebox, note the Relocated Dyanmo, and the new handrails. Handrails were first located on the Domes, I made new ones and moved them down to the boiler.

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The Cab, 14 has a Window in the Center of the cab, this is not modeled on the Bachmann Shay, So I had to make my own.

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Current State, in pieces. I am still waiting for my Cross Compound Air Compressor to arrive, should be at least a week or two. First show for this engine is in 1 week, so she will be sporting a Single Stage Compressor unless I get Lucky. Cross your Fingers.


So I still need a few parts, I am doing Custom Plumbing, including cab Details....eventually. Adding Fireman's Injector tonight, as well as new Sanding lines to match the prototype. Stay Tuned!
 
i wish i had the money to do this stuff. I've got a bachmann Big Hauler 4-6-0 that i would love to retrofit into something of a cross between the SPNG and the D&RGW (doodled it out once, kinda looked cool). Anyway, the model looks good so far. I saw GLRR #14 at the CRM this summer, she looked cosmetically fine, but obviously i wouldn't be able to get under the trucks and the frame...not that i could have understood what i was looking at anyway.

If you don't mind me asking, what happened with the 2-8-0?
 
i wish i had the money to do this stuff. I've got a bachmann Big Hauler 4-6-0 that i would love to retrofit into something of a cross between the SPNG and the D&RGW (doodled it out once, kinda looked cool). Anyway, the model looks good so far. I saw GLRR #14 at the CRM this summer, she looked cosmetically fine, but obviously i wouldn't be able to get under the trucks and the frame...not that i could have understood what i was looking at anyway.

If you don't mind me asking, what happened with the 2-8-0?

Helps when you have a good job

Actually, 14 is in pretty bad shape right now, going to see if I can get a small team together and do some major work on her so she at least looks nice.

The 2-8-0 is ok, but the tender wiring is all shot after the fire. No cosmetic damage though. Still runs fine without the tender plugged in, I'll be running both her and the Shay this coming weekend.
 
Did some work recently, all the plumbing is basically done, except I took it all off today to work on painting the smokebox. Also finished removing all the old lettering and numbers. Today I worked on the back of the tender (not in any pictures) and patched over the old mounting holes for the sand boxes, which I am replacing with an older style Lima sand box that I am ordering tomorrow.

Showing off plumbing work
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Engine Sets were removed to paint the firebox
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New Air Compressor
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Not yet mounted, but just placed on the running board near where it should be.
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New Smokebox color, its based off of Phil Readers mixture he made to paint Westside Lumber 9 at the Loop this coming year. So its the real deal as far as color goes.
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Touched up the Number Plate, added a red ring on the outside, to match 14
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That's turning into a real cutie. I love watching a craftsman's work develop. Please keep the updates coming.

Bernie
 
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