Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad Locomotive Number 9

 

 
 

A history of Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes locomotive No. 9.
and building a model of No. 9 in On2 scale, from a Bachmann On30 forney.

SR&RL Number 9 arrived in Maine in 1909, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
She was a sleek and stylish passenger engine, state of the art!

She was first fired up on July 6, 1909 (boiler test date at BLW)
and she arrived on the SR&RL the first week of August, 1909.
Baldwin class 10-16 1/4-C6
c/n 33550

Number 9 served her owner well, hauling the "Rangeley Express" and other trains during her 27 year
career with the SR&RL. She operated until the very end of the railroad in 1935, but was sadly scrapped
a year or so after operations ceased.
(more details about Number 9's life can be found at the bottom of this page.)

I jumped into Maine 2-footer On2 scale modeling in January 2006 after Bachmann announced they were coming
out with a new Forney in On30 scale, based on Maine 2-foot prototypes! I had to have one! 

While waiting for the Forney to come out, I started an On2 coach project, and also began a SR&RL #23
project. Im putting #23 on hold for awhile while I start on the Forney..but dont worry, 23 will be finished!

The models came out, they are fabulous, and it became clear that Bachmann based them very closly on SR&RL
numbers 8 and 9! (No. 8 for inside frame, No. 9 for outside frame) they arent an exact match, but they are very close! (Bachmann says they arent technically supposed to be models of number 8 and 9..instead they are Baldwin "catalog engines"..but for catalog engines, they sure are a great match to numbers 8 and 9!
Thanks Bachmann!  )
 

And now...

...for something about why I must regauge to On2.

So the Bachmann forney is On30 scale, (running on 30-inch gauge track).. which is fine..because On30 is 
becoming a very popular scale, (and if it werent for On30 scale, this forney model wouldnt even exist!
so you won't fine me complaining about On30! 
and most people will probably just keep them as On30 scale..but I quickly deceided I needed to be one of those guys who likes to make things difficult!   I just couldnt accept Maine 2-foot models running on two and a half
foot gauge track..I choose not to accept the visual difference in the track gauge, to me, it just looks "too wrong"....
so I must regauge! 

Its a challenge, but in my opinion its worth it..if its not worth it you, no problem! 
I do undersand the appeal of On30, its ease of use..thats fine, its just not for me.

There has been much disussion around "Regauge to On2 or just keep things in On30?"
the pros and cons of each.. 

On30
Pro - much easier! just run On30 trains as-is!
Con - track and rolling stock gauge is too wide, looks wrong.

On2
Pro - track and rolling stock gauge is correct for 2-footers in 1/48 scale! no compromises,
          and it looks "right"..because it is!
Con - it's a lot more work! 

So you have to weigh those, and decide which is more important to you..
less work but wrong look? (On30)
or more work but right look? (On2)

I choose option 2.
for me, the look outweighs the work.

obviously not regauging is MUCH easier! 
And some say "the difference in gauge isnt really all that noticable anyway..so why bother?"
Well..in my opinion, the difference in gauge really IS quite noticable..

The Maine 2-footers were very interesting and unique because they were 2-foot gauge! If they had
all been built to standard gauge to begin with, no one would really care about them or even be aware of
them today.. the remains of the SR&RL and WW&F today would be just more anonymous abandoned Maine Central branchlines. Probably the only person modeling the original WW&F (if it had been standard gauge)
would be one guy from Wiscassett!  no one else would even be aware of it...

Take a look at the interest in the SR&RL compared to the RF&RL..
the "Rumford Falls and Rangeley Lakes Railroad"..
anyone here modeling the RF&RL??   why not? it pretty much covered the same territory as the SR&RL.
the difference is that the RF&RL was standard gauge..thus, no one really cares..even if you have heard of the
RF&RL, I bet you cant tell me one single thing about any one of its locomotives! 
(I dont know either!  thats the point..)

So 2-foot gauge is the primary "thing" about the Maine 2-footers that made them what they are!
it's what made them interesting and unique, and it's what made us all "2-footer fans" today.
isnt that a pretty important feature to model then?? I think so..

Here is a look at the difference between On30 and On2..
(keep in mind that On30 technically isnt even 30-inch gauge to begin with! its actually 31-inch gauge! )
So the difference is not 6 inches as commonly stated..its actually 7 inches..
31 inches compared to 24 inches.
That makes the On2 track gauge about 75% of On30..thats siginificant enough for me.

Here is a "test track" I made, for testing models with my DCC system.
The "On30" track is a piece of HO scale flextrack, and the On2 track is another piece of
HO scale track, with the ties cut down the middle and re-gauged to On2.
the difference in gauge looks quite substantial to me.

yes I know the tie profile is all wrong..those are HO scale standard gauge ties.
but its equally wrong for both! the only visual difference being the gauge.
 

And what about the idea that "you almost never look at models straight-on (front) or straight-down,
you look at them at an angle..which makes the difference in gauge less noticable"
hmmm..maybe..I agree that the lower the viewing angle the less of the gauge width you will see..
and if you are viewing at track-level, you cant see the width of the gauge at all!

If you build a shelf layout at eye level, always viewing your trains at the angle in the photo below,
then no problem!  The exact gauge is unimportant then.

So in that sense, there is some merit to that idea...but model railroads are often viewed from a much
higher level than are real railroads..we are generally "flying high above" our model railroads as we
view and operate them...so sorry, but I cant quite accept that arguement either! 
even at slightly above and at a 45 degree angle..I can still see it, and it still bothers me.

Below is a fairly typical "model railroad viewing angle", using the real WW&F No. 9

"Mouse over" the photo above to toggle between 24" gauge and 31" gauge.

(Prototype photo of WW&F #9 by Chester Louis, used by permission..thanks Chester!)
 

As I said..I really have nothing against On30!
If it were not for On30, I wouldnt even have this forney to regauge to On2!
And I wouldnt even be modeling Maine 2-footers in On2 at all....so On30 is definately my friend...
Im simply giving my reasons for regauging to On2..and sharing those reasons for anyone who
might be "on the fence"...the great thing about model railroading is..there is no wrong answer! 
 

And..speaking of "no wrong answer"...if even after reading my "reasons for On2" above, you
still arent convinced that regauging to On2 is the route for you, and you prefer to keep your track
gauge at On30, ckeck out this great post on the On2 forum, by Don Mason, for some well thought
out reasoning for modeling Maine 2-footers in On30!
thanks Don!
 
 

January 25, 2008.
the project begins!

Ok then..so I think its been well established that im going to regauge everything to On2! 
that decision has been made..there is no turning back now!

So I got a forney, outside frame, and am ready to get to work! 
First, some photos in the engine in its original, unmodified form, straight from Bachmann:

So first, lets compare the real SR&RL No. 9 with the model to see what mods need to be done:

(the model photo is flipped..its actually a photo of the left side)

Obviously the largest mod is going to be the regauge to On2!
but Bachmann made such an accurate model, that nearly all the other major dimensions are fine as-is!

The On2 group was worried for awhile, before the model came out,  that the forney might end up being too wide overall, because of On30 scale, (wider track, wider everything else?) but this turned out not to be the case! 
ONLY the gauge is "too wide"..the rest of the engine is spot-on for 1/48 scale! very nice..

First modification I made was the tender truck.
Bachmann offers two versions of the truck, "heavy" and "light" versions.
both are prototypically accurate, depending on the prototype engine being modeled.
I could only get the undecorated forney with the "light" truck, and I needed the "heavy" truck for No. 9!
so I swapped tender trucks with Ken from Mount Blue (thanks Ken!), who had the heavy but needed the light,
so thats good to go.

Other obvious mods:
I bought a new wood pilot kit from Mount Blue Model Co.
pilot truck will be moved back slightly. (pilot truck sticks out a bit too far)
will need a new headlight.

at first I thought the smokebox was too long, and the domes too high.
but comparing to the drawing shows this is not the case!
its really some kind of odd optical illusion with the smokebox length, because just looking
at photos, the model's smokebox looks obviously longer than the real No. 9!
but it isnt...weird.

The cab will need some work..originally I ordered the steel cab version because of the door placement,
even though the real No. 9 had a wood cab when built. 
(she later had a replacement steel cab, and a different style tank) (Im going to model No. 9 "as built")
The door placement on the bachmann steel cab version matches No. 9 "as built", 
the bachmann wood cab does not.
but even though I specifically ordered the cab with the correct door placement,
its going to end up not making any difference..
because I think I will scratchbuild new cab sides, to get the windows and the wood paneling correct.
Will also require a new "three window" panel across the front of the cab.
I can keep the cab roof and lower it back down onto the new cab sides...maybe.

The cab/tender deck is sitting just a touch too high..not sure how im going to fix that yet.

But thats basically it! 
nothing super-major..and much easier than my #23 bash! 
 
 

Here are a bunch of observations about Number 9 I made by looking through 4 different books:
this is copied from a post and discussion on the On2 group.
(starting with post 8155..and running through early March..the topic splits a bit)

Two feet between the rails, Volume 2, by Robert Jones.
The Maine Two-Footers, by Linwood Moody. (2nd edition, 1998 version.)
The Maine Scenic Route, by H.T. Crittenden
Maine two foot gauge forneys, Volume 2, by Peter Barney.

Based on the photos, I have come up with 4 distinct "phases" for Number 9..
(please note that these "phases" are totally arbitrary! invented by me, and are in no way "official"..
also, they are subject to change! ;)
 

Phase 1  1909 to ~1912

Number 9 "as built", new from Baldwin in 1909.

Wood cab.
Flared tank.
Russia Iron boiler.
Color scheme - (I have a major surprise concerning paintschemes coming soon!)

Photos for phase 1.
Builders photo (linked above)
Jones page 36 (bottom)
Jones page 37
there is also a photo of "Phase 1" at the very bottom of this page.
 

Phase 2  somewhere between 1909 and 1912
new paintjob and first small detail changes.
Same as Phase 1, except for:
New Paintjob, colors likely Black & 1stclass.
New tender lettering, no tender striping.
Silver smokebox.
Dome number and dome striping are gone.
Round grabiron added to smokebox front.
New cab doors.
(Original cab doors slid back along outside of cab,
new cab doors are hinged and swing inward.)

Photos for phase 2:
Jones page 36 (top)
Jones page 82
Jones page 114 (Frame bend/sag visible..she kept this until the end)
 

Phase 2b   ~1912 to ~1920
- new pilot.
Same as phase 2, except for:
All new pilot.
Pilot steps added.
all new "cowcatcher" with new staves.
Knuckle coupler replaces original link and pin.
coupler release lever.
pilot beam cut flush with edge of pilot deck.
New cab grabs, (both side of door)
New tender grab (rear of tank sides)
Rear tank step.
appears to be same paintjob as phase 2.

Photos for phase 2b:
Jones page 50
Barney page 41
Moody page 119

(im calling it phase 2b because its nearly the same as phase 2,
except for the new pilot, and small detail additions...same
paintscheme as phase 2, with the silver smokebox.)

It is believed that phase 2b occured around 1912.
quote from Ray Christopher on the On2 forum:

"I believe phase 2 and 2a happened very close together, around 1912. 
Government mandated safety appliances were required by that year including
handrail and step upgrades. The law was passed years earlier but SR&RL seems to
have put these off until the very end of the grace period. I believe they were
not installed until shortly after the Maine Central takeover."
-Ray Christopher

Thanks Ray!
This indicates that Number 9's original as-delivered Baldwin paintscheme lasted a very short time!
only 1 to 3 years..because she was clearly repainted by the time she recieved knuckle couplers and a new pilot,
around 1912..Why she was repainted so quickly is a mystery...and her phase 2, 3, and 4 colorsheme is almost
certaintly the "Black & 1stclass" scheme, which was standard after the Maine Central takeover in 1912.
(The Maine Central controlled the SR&RL between 1912 and 1923)
Perhaps there was a mandated repaint for all locomotives in 1912? whether they needed it or not?
perhaps..but thats just a guess at this time.

Also, if the 1912 date for the first repaint is correct, (which im confidant it is)
it appears the original Baldwin lettering and striping faded away VERY quickly!
Look at the photo at the very bottom of this page.
If that photo is between 1909 and 1912, Baldwin had some issues with their paint quality!
Between 1909 and 1912, the tender striping and lettering almost faded away to nothing! in only a few years time.
This could have also been a factor in her quick repainting of the original scheme.

Whatever caused her quick repaint, she sadly wore her original colors a very short time it seems.
 

Phase 3  1920 to 19??
New steel cab, and air tanks, but original flared tender.
Phase 3 adds:
A new steel cab, replacing the original wood cab. (perhaps steel plating over the original wood cab.)
however the original flared tank is NOT yet replaced.
Generator on top of smokebox.
Late "angled" style headlight. (electric)
Airtanks on side, with walkways raised.
Nearly all her "Late" details in place, except for the new tender tank.
Phase 3 and 4 also have the 3rd version of the pilot.
a new pilot beam, with rounded edges, sticking out beyond the edge of
the pilot deck..it appears the rest of the pilot from Phase 2 was
re-used, same cowcather staves, same steps, same coupler pocket.
Just re-bolted to the new pilot beam.

"Air brakes fitted to Number 9, February 1920" - crittenden page 174.

Since phase 3 has the air tanks, this would indicate phase 3 and 4 are
after 1920.

Photos for phase 3:
Jones page 100
Jones page 185

Phase 4. 19?? to 1936
Number 9's last configuration.
This is usually what is referred to as "Late" when models of Number 9
come in "early" and "late" versions..such as the brass forneys.
Same as Phase 3, except with the addition of the "Late" tender tank.
the non-flared replacement tank.
exact date this tank was added is currently unknown.

Click here for a photo of a Phase 4 On2 brass model. (commonly known as "Late" configuration.)

Photos of phase 4:
Jones page 232
242
257
268
293
348
Barney pages 44-45, dated 1934.
Barney page 46
Moody page 33
Crittenden Fig 98, 1934.

Paintscheme for phases 2, 3 and 4 almost certaintly Black with Chromium Yellow lettering.

Two major roundhouse fires, that number 9 was NOT involved in.
(it was postulated that perhaps Number 9's cab and tank changes were the result of one of
these roundhouse fires..this appears not to be the case.)

Rangeley roundhouse fire, October 3, 1917.
Locomotives 10 and 21 damaged.

Phillips Roundhouse fire, February 12, 1923.
(my birthday! - 46 years later)
Nine locomotives in the roundhouse:
6,8,16,17,18,19,21,22,23.
only 6 and 23 pulled out, the rest damaged.
15 was at the Phillips paintshop.
9 and 24 were at Kingfield.
10 was at Rangeley.
(Crittenden page 177.)

Number 9, along with Number 18, were the last two locomotives operating on the SR&RL.
Number 18 was the main power for the "scrap trains"..hauling the flatcars as rails were removed
throughtout the system in 1935. Number 9 was kept in reserve as backup for number 18.
After all rails were removed all the way to Farmington, Number 9 and 18 were scrapped where
they sat, in Farmington, in 1936.

Number 24 survived a year longer, but was not used on the scrap trains, because she was bought
a few months before "the end" by a railfan and put in storage. The railfan unfortunately couldnt afford to keep her,
had nowhere to move her, so 24 was also sold for scrap in 1937..

The only surviving SR&RL locomotive is SR&RL number 6, which was originally Sandy River number 5.
Number 6 was sold to the Kennebec Central in 1925, 10 years before the end, becoming KCRR #4.
She then went to the WW&F in 1933, recieving her fourth and last number change, becoming WW&F No. 9.
Today Sandy River number 5 of 1891 exists at the WW&F Railway in Alna, Maine.
the one and only surviving Portland Forney.

Alas, not one of the SR&RL's big Baldwins escaped the torch.

and thats everything I have for now..
Corrections are VERY welcome!
Im sure I have some of this wrong..
and there is still a lot unknown about these various "phase transitions"..especially the dates!

thanks,
Scot
 
 
 
 
 

Onward to Page 2
 
 
 

Quick Jump to individual pages:

Page 2 - Deconsructing the Forney, and thoughts on "how to regauge".

Page 3 - The new cab.

Page 4 - The regauged frame.

Page 5 - Work continues.
 
 
 

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