A bit of progress, I modified the Concor 2-10-2 mechanism grinding away a fair bit around the motor housing. I need to shorten the pipes coming from the steam chest (cylinders) so that the shell will sit correctly.
I have a practice shell so I'm using that to get the fit right. It's still sitting a bit high. a bit more fettling and I'll be there
alister, Looking good! I feel like an idiot asking you this question but have you seen all the "Madame Queen History" videos on You Tube? There are 4, I think and maybe more? Regards, Carl
Thanks for posting; I watched the whole series! It would be awesome if BNSF would sponsor the rehabilitation of any 2-10-4 Texas type survivor to running condition, similar to UP's Big Boy! It is pretty amazing how close the power capacity is between the 2-10-4 and the 4-8-8-4. The Big Boy's extra steam plumbing to the cylinders costs a lot of efficiency! And yet, efficient, unitized, diesel power slayed them all...
Hi Carl, No I hadn't seen those, thanks for posting the link - that's a pretty cool video. I mainly use some ATSF reference books I have and a lot of googling!! for my prototype info.
I am late to this but this is pretty interesting, I will be curious to see how you handle adding the trailing truck. that Madame Queen shell really looks nice. Mark
I've been told that the rear truck from a Concor S2 4-8-4 is a good match, so I'm hunting down a mechanism to grab parts from.
A little update, I've spent the last few nights milling the frame is small steps and have it a lot lower. I still need to mill out some of the top of the frame along the front to middle so the shell sits correctly.
So I've repaired the practice shell a bit ( walkway ) I need to get a bell and add a few details. The next clip is the actual shell I'll use, it still has its bell! I need to add handrails and stantions, finding the stantions is going to be interesting.
After quite a bit of fettling involving removing the metal that holds the motor in place and rotating the motor by 90 degrees the shell fits perfectly. I now have to make a styrene sled to fit under and support the re-oriented motor. As you can see I need to clean the mechanism thoroughly - strip down, clean and relube.
At last a picture of the mechanism with a styrene support under the motor which was turned by 90 degrees
I have ordered a couple of rear trucks from Con-Cor - their S2 4-8-4 / GS4 rear trucks which should fit and look right. I guess I'll find out when they arrive!
Here's an early picture of Madame Queen and look at all the piping I'm going to have to attempt !! I've got some brass wire coming at 0.5mm but it looks like I will need some finer ones (I have a supplier). I might have to get a better magnifier light thingy!! ATSF 2-10-4 #5000, "Madam Queen" - Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe (rrpicturearchives.net)
Boy, she was a beauty! The Big Boy grabbed all the fame, but the Madam Queen just about matched it's power, with better fuel efficiency, in a smaller package to boot. The Big Boy used a less-efficient steam distribution system, with substantial loss of heat in the long, articulated pipes feeding two sets of cylinders on the Big Boy's independent drive trucks. Sometimes simpler is better.
