Pennsylvania Railroad K-2 Light Pacific

[Yeti]

Greetings everyone,

I suppose once complete, this will technically be a hybrid model, but I thought you would like to see it, as I think it reveals how this hobby mixes
with and enhances others.

Recently I picked up a Marklin Z gauge(1:220) set with longer term plans to build a scenic layout for it. The train represents a Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) steam-powered passenger train, as it might have appeared between 1920-1950.

As far as I can tell, the included cars are very historically accurate, both in form and livery. The locomotive however, while very attractive, is based on
the USRA 4-6-2, which from my research the PRR never used. Additionally, the locomotive is painted "Tuscon Red". While the PRR did paint diesels in that color, I have been unable to find evidence that steam locomotives were painted that way.

To suit my silly, self-imposed realism requirements, I have resolved to paint the USRA 4-6-2 in a more typical PRR scheme. On top of that, I decided I'd build an extra external shell for the locomotive, one that resembles the PRR's K-2 class 4-6-2 locomotive.

What material did I choose to construct the shell? Paper, of course!

Here is the nearly completed result. It's entirely scratch-built, using only the dimension requirements of the Marklin chassis and images of K-2s I've been able to locate. After I finish the paint job, I'll post more photos of the final product.

[Don Boose]

Very well done!

I am delighted to see a Pennsy Pacific executed in paper!

Don

[Vermin_King]

Very nice, sir

[Kevin WS]

Interesting project - looks like a lot of fun. Very nice job as well.

I used to scratch build in N Gauge (1/160) but mainly plasticard - not being a paper modeller back then!

[beckychestney]

Amazing! Especially in Z!

[TramFan]

Very nicely made

[Don Boose]

Would the same running gear work for a K-4?

Don

[Yeti]

Thank you all for the encouragement! Kevin, I figure that paper coated with a bit of resin is sort of like a light plasticard. Becky, this definitely the smallest model that I've worked on. Don, do I think the running gear would be very similar, if not the same for the K-4

The color I've tried to simulate is faded DGLE (Dark Green Locomotive Enamel). There is a lot of controversy on the Internet about what color DGLE actually is. Newly painted Pennsy steam locomotives look black. But, I've been able to find a number of photos where these machines have a grayish-green boiler and a charcoal smokebox.

Here are some pictures of the completed and painted model mounted to the chassis. In one photo I've included the USRA shell for comparison purposes.

[Yeti]

Trying hold steady for a better shot of the Keystone logo...

[beckychestney]

Originally Posted by Yeti

The color I've tried to simulate is faded DGLE (Dark Green Locomotive Enamel). There is a lot of controversy on the Internet about what color DGLE actually is.

There's a club that has authentic samples of logos from dozens of railroads, all of them were done with the road's tuscan red as a background. Of course, not one shade matches another!