LDD MOC/MOD: Vintage Western-style steam train

[Murdoch17]

This train was built in 1881 for the "Constitution Tour", a special train that housed the US Constitution for one year as it was toured around the country from 1882-3. These cars were considered very advanced for their time with all-steel construction... well, everywhere but the seats! It was pulled by a specially-built, cutting-edge locomotive, a 4-6-0. This 4-6-0 was not owned by any specific railroad, but by the government. After the tour, the train itself (no engine) was sold to the highest bidder: a new railway by the name of Brick Railway Systems. It sat around for 20 years, being well kept and ready to roll. The train was then given away for free to the fledgling Fort Legoredo Transportation Museum. It took another 30 years (and around $100,000) to get the engine to the museum.

In reality this is actually redesigned versions of the Lone Ranger Engine, and several My Own Train cars. These models are to show what can be done to make a late 1800's American train. I just used those models as a starting point, as to make it completely new, yet somewhat familier. The LDD file will be avalilbe nad the train is 100% buildable.

The steam engine. This is a modifed version of the Lone Ranger "Constitution Train Chase" locomotive (set 79111) and a Anthony Sava inspired tender.

Rear of the steam engine, with a view of the cab. The 2x2 slope seen in the center is supposed to be this piece: http://www.bricklink...m.asp?P=3039px6

The combination baggage & passenger car. (Or combine, for short) This was built from set 10015, "Green Passenger wagon". This car features only a stove on the inside.

This passenger car is one of two indentical coaches used on this train. It is also based off of set 10015, "Green Passenger wagon".

The inside features several seats and a stove.

The end of the train is this caboose. It was inspired by set 10014, simply named "Caboose".

Inside the caboose is a stove, two chairs and a table.

EDIT:

Ands now, the freight version, featuring a galting car and American Civil War soliders:

This train was originally owned by Brick Railway Systems when it started out of Spingfield, Missouri on August 6th 1861 to the Arsenal in St. Louis . The train was armed with a galting gun along with three cars of ammunition and guns, but was soon secretly rerouted southward by Confederate sympathizers in the Railway official structure, including the engineer of the train. A small band of Confederates ambushed the bewildered Union troops gaurding the train 20 miles south of Rolla and the train soon sped southward as fast as it could, carrying its lethal cargo down to Dixie. Meanwhile, The Union army soon discovered the missing train, and sent a Calvary unit down to Springfield investigate, but did not get very far before the Battle of Wilson's Creek caused them to retreat. It seemed all was in favor of the Confederacy when they had to stop dead in their tracks: a large bridge they needed to cross had burned down, and they were unable to secure another crossing. The band of CSA soldiers soon abandoned thier prize near New Madrid, Missouri.

(In reality, this model and backstroy are 99% fiction. The towns are all real, the Arsenal really exists, and the Battle of Wilsons' Creek is real but everything else is false.)

Built from the Lone Ranger train but in Brick Railway Systems colors.

Made from the Lone Ranger's galting gun car.

These cars are based on the Gatling Gun Car, but with the Calvary cannons inserted instead.

These cars were created from the Toy Story 3 train's Caboose, plus the Union passenger car and combine in dark bluish gray.

The American Civil War soldiers:

The United States of America's Soldiers (USA) are made using stock Lone Ranger figs... these prints are placeholders.

The Confederate States of America's (CSA) soldiers are made using these torsos.

Confederate Officer (BL link: http://www.bricklink...?P=973pb1450c01 )

Confederate Soldier uniform (BL link: http://www.bricklink...?P=973pb1459c01 )

Questions, comments, and complaints are welcome!

Edited August 21, 2013 by Murdoch17

[JopieK]

Nice job! Now you should build it in real of course ;)

[Murdoch17]

The dark green one is next on my list of things to build, while the other Black and red one is lower on my list.

Edited July 24, 2013 by Murdoch17

[Xcod119]

I agree! The public want them in real life!

[Gavinfuzzy]

Nice, the proportions on these passenger cars are much better than my attempt at them. :)

[Sir E Fullner]

Lovely work, I should say. Both the engines have their own specific looks, and the soldiers also look good.

[Murdoch17]

I have been messing with this train and some structures and here is what has come of it:

This is Ironwood station cira 1861. It was replaced with the current Victorian structure around 1899.

The inside of the station.

Also new: The dark green steam engine now has working pistons!

They don't quite work in LDD but do it real life. Go figure!

Here is what the train looks like now:

I'm still working on the LDD file, but be assured, it will be great! And as an extra bonus, it will include this 'wooden' truss bridge I re-discovered on my computer from 2010.

[Hrw-Amen]

I think it is much better with the working pistons. Not sure that dark green looks good though for a US train like this. Most of what I have seen seem to be black with gold banding, or red? Then again I have not seen many American trains so feel free to ignore me.

By the way, I like the soldiers, I am currently building my own army.

[Spitfire2865]

Something about American built locomotives around the 1800s, they were often very colorful, especially the American types. Reds and blues and gold highlights, maybe even some greens. Tough I'm not sure about a dark green...and ten wheelers were often black, with only the smoke box sometimes being a different color ( grey). I think for a ten wheeler, black is the way to go. But, the dark green coaches, now those can be considered accurate, depending on the railroad of course.

And a longer locomotive would also look better IMO. The wheels bunched up just doesn't look right, perhaps moving the rear-most driving axle 2 studs back, and lengthening the boiler along with it. But, just my opinion based on photos of the period.

Also, if I'm correct, these mocs are intended to be civil war era...I'm not sure ten wheelers were in wide use at that point, most likely locos would be American types. Though..I'm no expert on the civil war...but I am a fanatic about steam locomotives...

[lostdriveway]

Love the station! Nice work

[JopieK]

very nice work! you did a great job Murdoch17!

[bp10030]

The passenger cars and the station are very nice. Great work Any updates?

[Murdoch17]

Sorry, I completely forgot about this topic!

Here is the topic I recently posted in regarding these trains and the western town that goes with them.

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=90754

Here is a retyped version of the railroad section:

The far one is engine #272, a 2-6-0 Mogul type. It was built by Zephyr Locomotive Works in 1885 and was a passenger engine, usually only in fast, named-train passenger service. (Thus the large driving wheels for greater speed) It was last used on the faster passenger trains in 1909, when it was painted in the new black & red paint scheme and sent into regular freight / local passenger service. It was supposed to have been scrapped in 1921, but was saved along with late 1800's passenger stock and a caboose. It was sent to the Imperial Western Museum where it is stored in it's original dark green & black paint scheme. Engine #272 is operational, but is only steamed on special occasions. Like all pre-1905 BRS engines, the loco features two different whistles as a kind of early trademark of their ownership.

The near engine is #263, of the 2-6-2 Prairie type. This one was built by Sava Locomotives Incorporated in 1883 and was designed for slow freight trains. (It has smaller diameter wheels than faster passenger engines) It served until 1902, when the engine suffered a boiler explosion near Golden Gulch in Legoredo County. The engineer and fireman died in the explosion, but the engine was salvaged and repaired. Loco #263 was retired in 1925 when it was bought by a Hollywood film company for use in a Western movie. After filming ended, the engine was donated to the Imperial Western Museum in the city of Legoredo, where it rests today in operable condition.

(Thanks to Anthony Sava for his wonderful 2-6-2 instructions, and Benn Coifman for his MOD instructions of the official Lone Ranger engine. I hope you two like what I did to your designs!)

For this model I took some My Own Train cars & repainted / modified them. As you can see, they are now mostly reddish brown with some old brown doors thrown in for good measure. I will be using the dark green 2-6-0 Mogul-type steamer for this train.

This model is a compilation of several train sets that were modified and brought up to date. The tanker car, drop-side gondola and rock-hopper are updated versions from set #2126 (Train Cars), the brown gondola is modified from set #3225 (Classic Train), while the final set mod is #10014 (Caboose). The box car was complied from several different sets. The 2-6-2 Prairie steam loco is going to pull this train once I get it.

This bridge may be built someday too, but probably won't.

NOTE: This is not my design, as it was originally downloaded sometime in 2010 from LEGO Factory from a unknown user. (I forgot, sorry!)

Built in 1871 for the Union Pacific Railroad as the official stop for the Legoredo City area.

This model is a VERY modified Winter Village Toy Shop.

LDD file for the two Western trains without the locomotives: http://www.mocpages....1389981866m.lxf

And the Truss bridge LDD file is here: http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1379435580m.lxf

Edited January 17, 2014 by Murdoch17

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I like the red station very much!

[zephyr1934]

The far one is engine #272, a 2-6-0 Mogul type. It was built by Zephyr Locomotive Works in 1885 and was a passenger engine, usually only in fast, named-train passenger service.

Chuckles...

From this angle you've nailed it spot on, about the only improvement I could see is if you could get the sides of the base down to 2 wide.

I have been messing with this train and some structures and here is what has come of it:

While an older post, you've really captured the look of the depots of that day.

[Murdoch17]

@LEGO Train 12 Volts & @Zephyr1934: Thanks, but that red model is a (very) customized depot built from Brick Journal's instructions from the 24th issue. The bridge was gotten from a (very) talented builder on the Original LEGO Factory site back in 2010 or maybe 2009.

Thanks anyway!

Oh, and here's the town's picture (in case anyone cares) that the train will run to:

...and here's the LDD file that includes the entire town (no trains):

http://www.mocpages.com/user_images/80135/1389894760m.lxf

Edited January 19, 2014 by Murdoch17

[JopieK]

very nice, works well together! Nice little small town.

[FriscoMurph]

First off, I must say that that is a nice town design. The buildings are decent represenations of those found across the American Old West.

Secondly, I find it interesting that you base the Brick Railways System out of Springfield, Missouri. There was a real railroad based out of Springfield called the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway. It was better known as the Frisco though.

I also thought I would give you a suggestion. You might wish to add a trackside baywindow to your depot designs in the future. I've rode many trains across this country and like 90% of old railroad depots and stations featured baywindow.

Good work! I hope you enjoy your layout.

Murphy J.

[Murdoch17]

Thanks FriscoMurph! Yes, I know about the Frisco. I want to build the 4-8-2 Mountain type #1522, (located in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri) someday If I can find a good LEGO model of it.

Also, I will add that Bay Window to the station!

Anyway, here is Locomotive #210:

This 4-4-0 (also known as an American type) was built by Rodgers Locomotive & Machine Works for Brick Railway Systems (BRS) in 1876, and features a bright red-yellow-&-black paint scheme. Number 210 pulled passenger trains for 10 years before being reassigned to Freight duties in 1888. By 1900, the engine was worn out, and sent to a scrapper, who sold the engine to a museum for $100. Eventually, the museum was reorganized as the Imperial Rail Museum, where the engine rests today in non-operable condition. There were plans to get #210 in working order for the US Bicentennial in 1976, but nothing ever came of it, and the engine has remained cold and silent to this day.

My inspiration for this loco was two-fold, this MOCPage: http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/348958 and my own 4-4-0 that wouldn't work. See here for that failed model: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55973205@N08/7901971022/in/set-72157631537285709

Edited February 12, 2014 by Murdoch17

[Murdoch17]

I have updated the passenger cars. I'm also adding the LDD files for the coaches, the 2-6-0, and 4-4-0 steam locos. I even added the Victorian station!

I hope everyone likes them!

Passenger cars Version 2 (or is it 3?)

LDD file for this model: http://www.mocpages....1399391161m.lxf

BRS 2-6-0 "Mogul" #272

LDD file for this model: http://www.mocpages....1399390594m.lxf

BRS 4-4-0 "Mogul" #210

LDD file for this model: http://www.mocpages....1399389940m.lxf

BRS Legoredo Station

LDD file for this model: http://www.mocpages....1396901621m.lxf

What do you think?

Edited May 7, 2014 by Murdoch17