October 27th, 2009

The Pennsylvania Railroad seems to have had a special relationship with the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Whether this was because the Pennsy was BLW's biggest customer or the Baldwin plant was in Philadelphia near the PRR corporate headquarters or a convenient marriage I have no clue. I just know that the railroad and the builder's career were closely intertwined from the earliest days of American Railroading.

The Allegheny Eastern seems to have a similar arrangement although in this case I know the cause. The chief cook and bottle washer has a soft spot for Baldwin products, particularly their cab units. One of the reasons the virtual Allegheny Eastern has stood still for so long is the resources (namely me) have been directed towards 3D models of a host of Baldwin diesels. It's easier to name the ones I haven't modeled. There are no Sharks, passenger (DR-6-4-2000) or freight (RF-16). These models have either been produced by other modelers or are in production. The only shark not attempted by others is the DR-4-4-1500, the redesigned Babyface from 1948. The only customer to purchase this model was the PRR, which requested the shark body based on Loewy designs. There is very little difference in the physical appearance of the DR-4-4-1500 versus the RF-16. The RF-16 was purchased by New York Central, Baltimore & Ohio and, of course, Pennsylvania. Quite a few of this version were purchased second hand by other roads, including the Delaware and Hudson.

I have not modeled any of the export units, nor have I modeled the RP210 used on the NYC "Xplorer" (and the similar Dan'l Webster). The RP210 was powered by a Maybach diesel hydraulic unit.

There were only two other cab units produced by Baldwin for domestic use. The first was the 0-6-6-0 1000/2 DE, a pair of these 2000 hp units were built as demonstrators and eventually purchased by NdeM.

The second was the ill fated 4-8+8-4-750/8-DE, a 6000 HP monster powered by eight 750 HP Maybach V-8 diesels.

The frame and running gear for this failure became the basis for Seaboard's #4500, the first Centipede.

Note that the image shows #4500 on the head end of a passenger train, contrary to the general opinion that the engine was purchased for fast freight. Rather explains the citrus color scheme on a "freight" unit, doesn't it? The Pennsy Centipedes also started as passenger locomotives, despite their Brunswick Green paint.

Aside from the history lesson, the point of this article is that both digital and analog versions of the All East (circa 1950) lean heavily towards Baldwin as a supplier.  The 1859 version of the Allegheny Eastern has very few Baldwin locomotives. The Ross Winans works was the primary source for heavy motive power then and "camel" 0-8-0 coal burners the preferred choice. Times change of course, and by the 1940's the Baldwin Locomotive Works was the number one producer of All East motive power. Currently that means that most of the digital locomotives produced by the Allegheny Eastern model works are based on Baldwin plans. On the N scale All East Baldwins are almost as common as EMD products. There are also plans to attempt N scale versions of the Baldwin "babyface" cab units in Pennsy colors. There is already an A-B set of shark body DR-4-4-1500's on the property, why not the earlier model? I'm also looking at ways to modify a GG-1 chassis to approximate the DR-12-8-3000 centipede. Shells will be resin, I'm still working on the technology to produce those shells. I'm studying resin and other casting materials and techniques in general. Making multiple copies of freight, passenger, and cabin cars will go a long way in maintaining the low budget targets on the N scale layout.

Among the other "odd man out" manufacturers represented on the All East is Fairbanks Morse. The company's big cab units were never given an official model designation (CP-20-6-4?) and were commonly known as "Erie" or "Erie built". Three such units,  an A-B-A set, are in the shops to get their ALCO PA (from older Con-Cor units) running gear and frames. The units will be painted and lettered for Pennsylvania.

Well I think that's about it for now...Thanks for listening.