I've read that when the EMD FT units displaced the 2-8-2 steamers on road freights, the 2-8-2 were given frontend footboards for brakemen. The 2-8-2's then served out the rest of their days on local freights. Has anyone modeled these "local" 2-8-2's? I would love to see a photo or hear any input about this. I've seen one picture of a 2-8-2 on the Brooksville sub, which was local freight only anyway, but the frontend sideview is blocked by another train. Any answers would be appreciated!

-- Richard Stallworth (ThisIsR@aol.com), June 13, 2000

Answers

I am posting here, hoping for some information/help.

I have a signed lithograph by Jerry Miller of the "seaboard air line train" "Q3 370 2-8-2"

its a 24/500. Anyone know when it was orginally sold? and any information about it?

-- Helen Hanes (raven39@mindspring.com), June 18, 2000.

Absolutely - in stock and ready to ship. The ACL reprint is available too. $45 each, plus S/H of $3 for one book, $5 for two or more.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), June 14, 2000.

Richard-I looked through Richard Prince's SAL book on steam locomotives last night. There are a few photos of Q-3's with footboards in the freight action shots toward the rear of the book. I believe the society still has reprints of Prince's book available (Larry-is this still true??). Hope this helps.

-- Buddy Hill (palmettoLTD@hotmail.com), June 14, 2000.

I don't have a photo of a SAL Q3 mike with footboards, but I have a photo of Southern Ms Mikado 4576 with a road switcher pilot. Southern leased the 4567 and 4576 (and possibly some other Ms class-- same class as preserved engine 4501) to SAL starting in 12/47. The photo of 4576 with road switcher pilot was made 2/14/48. I have photos of SAL 2-8-0 903 and decapod 508 with switch engine (full width footboard) pilots. One does not think of Pacifics doing switching chores, but I have photos of two SAL light Pacifics--823 and 872--with road switcher pilots!

-- Lamar Wadsworth (LW.Sou.Ry.steam@juno.com), June 13, 2000.

While I can't offer anything regarding the application of footboards, I think Athearn's 2-8-2 would be an excellent starting point for an SAL Q-3. The biggest obstacles facing you would be scratchbuilding a vanderbuilt tender and engine cab as well as lengthening the boiler and frame approximately scale 1.5 feet to give the engine that long boilered "racy" look. You would also have to find a Baker valve gear hanger (Bachmann 2-8-0?) to replace the Athearn model's long framed Walscheart valve gear. The SAL Q-3's were beautiful engines and are definitely worthy of modelling. Richard, just out of curiosity, how were you planning to model this engine? (always looking for new and better ways to skin a cat)

-- Buddy Hill (palmettoLTD@hotmail.com), June 13, 2000.

For modeling purposes there are several NYC 2-8-2 photos with the brakeman footboard at http://www.dnaco.net/~gelwood

-- Randall Bass (Randall_Bass@despo.odedodea.edu), June 13, 2000.