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Administrator
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Utahwestie,
Interesting that you included a couple of pictures of #60 in your post. This reminds me of an interesting thing that happened in about 1985.
At that time, Todd Hackett and I were working on collecting information for various projects for Overland Models. The first locomotives on the docket were the B-4-E class, #'s 71-73. The goal was to provide both stock pilots and plows for those engines.
I sent Overland's draftsman, Arndt Gerritson, everything we had in the way of photos, folio sheets, etc that we could get our hands on, including a nice drawing of #60, which had been included in their 1981 model. That drawing had included a pair of roughed in side drawings of the plow, but didn't have any detail. There was also, as I recall, a partial side elevation, and an overhead plan view. I'll dig that up and post a photo asap. It won't help much, but it will help.
The following week, after Arndt had received the package and had time to start working on the drawings, he called, asking if we could arrange time to go up and get a package of photos and drawings of #60's plow, because he was having some trouble and wanted to confirm measurements on that plow.
We wasted no time going up to Idaho Springs, and soon had all the photographs and measurements we could get. Off they went, once again, mailed via the USPS, believe it or not, the only way there was at that time.
The following week, Arndt once again called, and asked if we could discuss the plows in some detail. It turned out that the problem he was having was that the measurements he had from us and from the PSC drawing were not consistent with what he was finding on the plows for the B-4-E class, the B-4-F class, and a couple of pictures of #68 and maybe another. As he laid out his case, sure enough, the plows on the 2-8-0's, all of them, with the exception of #60, appeared to be about 6" lower than the plows on the Moguls, and as soon as he drew one of the shorter ones, it proved he was absolutely right. So there are two versions of the Overland plows. Just as there were two versions of C&S plows.
Last summer, I measured the height of the plow blades in the flat part where it crosses the rail on #60, and found that the height was close to 42", which is almost exactly what the Overland Mogul plow is. If you can find one of the OMI Mogul plows, or if someone who has one is willing to send you one to look at, it will make reproducing one for your #9 much easier. It even has the reinforcing strips, and the hinged brackets on the beam, just like you would find on #60, which is the last C&S wedge plow in existence. The OMI plow was modified with the distinctive patches around the pilot beam holes just as #9's had, and what you see in the photos you posted.
If I had one available, I would send it to you. It will photograph better unpainted, if anyone has one that could be photographed for you, if not sent, it would be very helpful.
The PSC plow was not particularly good. But I do have the one that came with the #60 I am finishing now. For this model, I reused the PSC pilot beam, but used the last OMI plow I have had for all these years to put on my #60. This is a different #60 from my original, but the OMI plow sure looks good on it.
I'll be glad to send you the PSC plow for you to use as a guide, but an OMI plow would be better. If you send me your address via email, I'll get that PSC plow off to you as early as Monday. I can send you a couple of pictures tomorrow. As it was patterned after #60's plow, it really isn't that far off.
As to the reason the 2-8-0 plows were shorter, I have always contended that it made boring the lower flues, which was done every day in service, possible and much easier. The Moguls also sat a bit higher. #60 has a small smokebox door, so the taller plow wasn't a problem, and it was, at least in my mind, certain to have been recycled from a spare parts inventory in 1935 or 36 when it was assigned to #60 for use as an "emergency" passenger engine as well as a helper. By the way, the tender tank on #60, which I believe was on the engine even when it was in Leadville switching service, is virtually identical to that which was on #6. It sits on a larger frame, but that tank was also from a retired or wrecked Mogul.
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