Norm is the proud owner of this beautiful Western Pacific 2-8-8-2 articulate.   The prototype locomotive was built to haul freight up the Feather River Canyon in California.   Norm started with an imported model of a different prototype and had major work done to convert the prototype to the WP design.   A new cab and tender were fabricated along with numerous detail changes.   The model is still undergoing final finishing and tuning on the sound system.  

Norm started with a PFM Rio Grande C-48 to make this WP loco.   The Rio Grande and WP were both Gould Roads and shared design features during he early years of the WP.  The WP engines were very similar to the Grande locos so this was as difficult conversion as the 2-8-8-2.   Norm had Roy Pietschmann take a PFM D&RGW C-48 and strip it down and remove much of the piping and running boards.  The gear box was moved to a rear drive shaft to open the view below the boiler.  The tender was modified to replace the coal hopper with an oil tank. Drivers were turned down to .112" width and new Proto: 48 tires made and fitted.  A Protocraft 30" spoked leading truck wheel and 33" tender truck wheels replaced the original model's wheels.  Errol Spangler created the lettering and painted and weathered the model.