4-10-0 John Allen Tribute Locomotive

For a number of years, I have been collecting information and parts in order to build a freelance model patterned after Gorre & Daphetid's #34. Here is the result of that project.

[@srenchin]

Interesting model, but a backstory for why the G&D would develop a 4-10-0 is needed. Here is my hypothesis... Around about 1910 the G&D needed a slow speed drag engine with high tractive effort to get heavy freight trains up and over their steep curving mountain main line. During this era locomotive builders were experimenting with compound steam engines as a means of boosting fuel and water efficiency, a technology that the G&D would have been very interested in since the railroad operates in an arid mountainous region where water would be difficult to come by. The machine they developed would essentially be a "super decapod" with a Tandem compound arrangement. In a Tandem compound, the large low pressure cylinders are mounted in front of the small high pressure cylinders with both cylinders sharing the same piston shaft. The extra weight of the large low pressure cylinders and associated valve gear required the unusual 4 wheel pilot truck. The Wooten style firebox, a feature usually found in East cost anthracite country was adopted to provide the locomotive's fire box the largest grate area possible without resorting to the need of a trailing truck. This enabled as much of the locomotive's weight as possible to be placed on the driving wheels. Additional tractive effort was provided by the tender booster truck. Then, around about 1925 the locomotive was rebuilt as a "simple" (non-compound) locomotive when a Schmidt Super Heater was installed. This rebuilding removed the large low pressure cylinders resulting in the modeled locomotive. A simple 4-10-0 with a Wooten firebox operating in a mountainous western region.

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

They should make a 4-10-0 based off your model and paint it in g&d colors!

[@mpeterll]

If "they" did, I'd certainly want a fleet of them for my railroad.

[@larryvaughn2567]

John Allen was certainly one of the Grandfathers of HO scale model railroading and naming your locomotive after him is definitely a worthy tribute. Nice model !

[@larryvaughn2567]

A very appropriate name for your locomotive and an excellent job of construction. You should write a book or do a DVD showing the entire project.

[@johnbanicki7232]

A beautiful model! Thanks for sharing.

[@joetraincool]

Playing with Trains by Sam Posey is a must read for all model railroad enthusiasts.

[@cmmartin7538]

Fantastic Tom, love to see more of your collection

[@uptownphotography]

John Allen was my favorite modeler. Nice video....

[@daylightbigboy]

Only John could turn a northeastern anthracite hauler into a mountainous western loco. Great recreation!

[@Matscolinger7305]

While can motors are nice, Theres something about the sound of an old open frame motor that just sounds amazing.

[@ryeguyisme]

This is fantastic, I still have to work on mine, I have a varney boiler but was considering going brass as yourself. It would look closer to his engine is you used a clear vision tender much like the tenders from Rivarossi 0-8-0. Based on what I know studying photos, the clear vision tender that originally went with the engine looked to be a kitbashed varney casey jones tender with the upper sides cropped flat and then a built up center coal column with the top flared off. The only other noticeable issue is the headlight sits too high, you should center it and watch how much closer it starts looking after that. All these people replicating 34 and I've done dozens of kitbashes since starting the project myself and so far it's sat tucked away until the next time I catch the bug to build one. My 2-10-2's take inspiration from that engine. It starts with a boiler, cab and tender from a Custom Brass D&RGW M-78 and a Bachmann 2-10-2 chassis along with a franklin booster truck for the tender. It's the first time I've felt satisfied with a kitbash that I'm making duplicates as my road engines. I can't wait to see more, keep it up!

[@steamgent4592]

Very nice brass bash! John Allen certainly built the nicest model railway ever created. I've always felt the G&D as the standard that all other railroads be measured against. If you aren't at least trying to build like JA then you aren't even trying. Shame it wasnt preserved it was so spectacular.

[@progressiverockvocal]

Best recreation I have ever seen. Hats off Tom! I am going to build the G&D layout with the same attention to detail and, I hope that when it is done I will achieve the magic of John's place. The floor to ceiling scenery the lighting and as many of the exact buildings and iconic scenes as so many if know so well from photographs. When done I hope to have a few of the gentlemen I have spoken with, who operated in John's cellar back in the day, come and see this layout and operate some trains. I hope they are impressed with the work, as these guy's are the only ones who can say for sure if I captured the D&G correctly or not. I do not think I will ever have the time to build one of these engines. But it would be fantastic to see your engine come and move some cars someday as well, when this is done.

[@tompanvids]

Send me your contact information to: [e-mail] . Maybe we can work something out.

[@progressiverockvocal]

facebook.com/Great-Divide-Lines-423511918192732/?modal=admin_todo_tour

[@theimaginationstation1899]

Nice video. I do enjoy new takes on the Whyte common names. John Allen hence forth.

[@ThePainTrain765]

Impressive model!

[@justindampier5108]

Beautiful! I own a exact copy of 4-10-0 #34!

[@mpeterll]

Where did you get your exact copy?

[@jamesmchenry4708]

I'd like to build one of these myself, but...I have some way to work my skill before I can do something like this. Very impressive work, and a very good video for research.

[@ninaporras9723]

What a great idea to name the loco after John Allen. He would have liked it!

[@ICUNA22]

Nicely done!!

[@troystaten5633]

Very nice project, thanks for showing us.

[@mitchcornacchia968]

GREAT WORK, GREAT DRUMS

[@canyonpast]

Just incredibly cool. Thank You for sharing.

[@timu438]

A very fitting and well executed tribute!

[@rhinehardt1]

A really great job! Congratulations.

[@TakeMeToChurchill]

Looks fantastic!

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

I am just starting a G&D 42, in O scale 2 rail. Hines Lines heavy Mikado, and Max Grey KTM medium Vanderbilt are the starting points.

[@mitchellhorn1102]

I'm incredibly conflicted about these videos. I LOVE the creativity and craftsmanship, but as someone with a RR the is hard to find plastic steam for it hurts to see people bash already hard to find brass into other things. I mean they are his models so what does my opinion matter lol, but my soul still flinches every time. Wonderful work though!

[@ВалерийФилиппов-д8о]

Super lokomotiv 👍 🤝

[@joang9171]

Beautiful job, well done but the drums were a bit much. Maybe a mellow sax, Brubeck's Take 5 for example, would have been more apropos? Hahaha!

[@mpeterll]

Nice video. Really enjoyed watching. When I first read about this locomotive in Linn Wescott's book, I also thought it was the best locomotive ever, but couldn't find any reference to a prototype 4-10-0 anywhere (that was before the internet). The 4-8-0 wheel arrangement is also called a mastodon. I've seen the 4-10-0 type listed as a "super mastodon" to distinguish it. Have you tested this locomotive in operation? Will it pull 14 cars up a 4% grade like the original?

[@covrace]

What's with the friggin drums??

[@tompanvids]

I'm a Dave Brubeck fan

[@246spyder]

?? What's with the drive? train on the front tender truck? Thanks.

[@tompanvids]

That's a Franklin booster engine ... just like #34 had. They were available from Tenshodo (PFM) back in the day.

[@matthewlastrapes8104]

I love it

[@MrOLearyoftheTug]

Hello Tom I am curious if there is a way i can get a hold of some images of 34 myself, i've come to like this engine very much and would love to draw up some plans of this engine.

[@tompanvids]

Contact me using the email address given at the end of the video.

[@dylanhale7300]

Why were the tender wheels coupled on the first truck?

[@tompanvids]

It's a booster engine to help start the train. Cuts out typically at 10-15 MPH.

[@dracoarton94]

Is the booster truck on the tender powered or not?

[@tompanvids]

No. These Franklin booster trucks are free wheeling and were produced by Tenshodo / PFM.

[@nathanbarger3449]

Just curious what kind of radius do you use for that monster to get around without derailing?

[@tompanvids]

No different than the Frisco 2-10-0 donor engine which I think is advertised as 24"

[@nathanbarger3449]

@@tompanvids I thought it might be difficult to put one together since you would need a longer drive rod since the cylinders are moved forward to make room for the last of the guide wheels.

[@Scrat-hp2wl]

This is the mastodon

[@joegold754]

Wish you would have sound of the locos when you run them.

[@tompanvids]

Not sure if you mean the sound of the open frame DC motor or some synthesized sound system.

[@trainman264]

I want to 3D model this engine….

[@051TEFFY]

The drummer is a pain in the a$$!

[@DeathValleyLumberCompany]

not bad! you gonna paint it?

[@tompanvids]

Nope !! I like keeping my brass locos "au naturel"

[@DeathValleyLumberCompany]

cool I got a couple of brass locos but they have nice old paint that I don't want to disturb I also have a locomotive that is belived to be built by john allen himself lettered for tha alturas and lone pine railroad

[@necjerseyrailfan7500]

What scale is this 2 rail O scale

[@tompanvids]

HO

[@potatohead5910]

Weren't the Mastodons the 4-8-0s?

[@tompanvids]

Some lists do call 4-8-0 "Mastodons" but "Twelve-wheeler" seems just as popular.

[@justtim9767]

Nice work. The drums were a real distraction though.

[@orangemanonsteroids8569]

That’s it I’m getting out of ( N ) and going (HO)

[@cammacgregor9354]

Awesome video, Tom...Thanks---but that drummer needs a lot of work

[@tompanvids]

"That drummer" is the great Joe Morello from the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Sorry ... I've been a fan since the 1950's as long as I have been a model RRer.

[@rogerhuber3133]

Fantastic recreation of a classic locomotive. The music sucks!

[@tompanvids]

Sorry, I've been a Dave Brubeck fan about as long as a model RRer. Would have been nicer if you had kept that second comment to yourself.

[@rogerhuber3133]

@@tompanvids Don't care who Dave Brubeck is and I still think it sucked and maybe others feel the same way. Just thought it might be something to consider for future videos. Nevertheless, the engine is magnificent and John would have approved.

[@jeremymather392]

Could have done without the drums.

[@tompanvids]

There for dramatic effect, video critics would say. Use the mute button ?

[@David-yo5re]

It's a beautiful locomotive. But, I couldn't finish the video. The drumming was too annoying. It would have been better with just the narration.

[@tompanvids]

I was masking the grind of the open frame DC motor. Mute button ?

[@andrewboyd8073]

I only that engine were a real locomotive.

[@Miss-Stephanie-Night]

daaaamn that is huge ! love it ! well done Tom !

[@smellyhusband]

Pretty . So it stays brass or do you paint ?