Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0

[NW Modeling List]

I was a custom painter for over 20+ years and painted several of the Alco Models N&W G-1s. They were not the best quality engines Alco Models imported! Every one I dealt with had running problems. First off, the gearbox was sloppy and needed to be replaced with one from NWSL or Precision. The second problem I encountered was the large amount of clearance between the axle bearings and the frame slots. This allowed the drivers to move fore and aft which isn't a good thing for running smoothly. The other item I saw was the holes in the rods for the crank screws were too large amplifying the sloppy mechanism problems. A couple required new motors due to burning out. I considered this a result of the poor construction noted and trying to force it to run. The details and workmanship on the boiler and tender seemed to not be anything more than a few parts loose.
 
With a new gearbox and some shimming it could be made to run very smoothly and reliably. The N&W didn't have many and they were only kept until the end as Jim Nichols said for the Honaker Branch. They were quite handsome, to me, and I wish they had been better models.
 
They show up fairly often on ebay and in some brass shops. I think they are going for prices that do not reflect the quality of the engines as much as the novelty and less-than-common availability of the models. The last one I saw on ebay was over $350 which considering the amount of work to make one work well is way over priced.
 
My 2¢,
Roger Huber 

--- On Fri, 11/6/09, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:


From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: RE: Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0
To: "'NW Modeling List'" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Date: Friday, November 6, 2009, 5:25 AM








There were very few G1’s although they were almost identical to the much larger G class.  After the late 1940’s, there were only two of them (6 & 7), which were based in Bluefield for use on the Honaker branch, which had bridges that would not support a larger locomotive. They were retired in 1955 and donated, the 6 to Roanoke and the 7 to Bluefield, where both still exist. 
 
The model is relatively old, though I don’t know the year it was produced. As far as I know, it was done only once, so they don’t turn up very often. Value is hard to estimate, but should be pretty good, due to fact that it is rare.     Jim Nichols
 


From: nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org [mailto:nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Modeling List
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 4:51 PM
To: NW Modeling List
Subject: Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0 
 
I recently acquired an Alco N&W G-1 2-8-0, HO brass model locomotive. It had  a gearbox with zinc disease, which I managed to replace, and a few other, minor, problems. It now runs fine, and looks good to me.

I tried Googling the model, without results, and no hits on eBay either. The Brown Book says "quality problems", but not much else.

 

Can someone tell me more about this nice model engine ?

 

Was the G-1 very 'popular on the N&W ?

What is the N&W modelers opinion of this model ?

Why there is so little info around on the model ?

Any idea what the model is worth ?

 

 


Dave

http;//daveayers.com

http;//brassbackshop.com

 




 
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