I have, what I believe is, a mid 1950's Mantua 4-6-2 Pacific that my Dad likely assembled. The damn thing runs pretty well... missing some pieces, leading wheels, cow catcher, drawbar. The fact it runs really deters me from taking it apart and doing any maintenance. I'm looking for someone with experience who can get the missing parts and tune it up, while I get some experience on an other steam loco that's currently dead. Value of this machine is purely sentimental. I've built a small layout to bring back the trains that Dad left behind. Rolling stock is coming along and the one Diesel he had is running fine. Not sure how Dad kept this machine going as he had no layout down in FL (there was some old track, but no power source that I ever found)
So with that background, can anyone recommend a (U.S. based) pro who still works on these older machines?
I have a Mantua Pacific and if you had the missing parts it would not require disassembly to replace them. You can get a new pilot and leading truck off eBay and a drawbar from precision scale casting. They are all screwed in from the bottom.
Thanks... I am also looking for someone to do a service, overhaul, since I have no idea when it was last cleaned and lubed. I'm getting more comfortable with servicing diesels, but I haven't yet taken on a steam loco.
Oh, man, you're in for a treat - depending on the type and model of the locomotive. Take lots of pictures, especially of the drive linkage geometry. The way it all fits back together under the boiler is not always intuitive. I spent weeks trying to stuff a J3 back together. I finally figured out I was trying to put back together completely backwards from how it was suppose to go. I was lucky I didn't bend a rod brake anything.
There is a guy on eBay that works on them but I have no experience with them so I can’t say how good or not they really do. I was gonna send a couple of brass models to them but decided against it because there isn’t a hand to shake or a voice to hear at that point
Sorry, can’t help with a service person. A parts diagram may be helpful if you don’t have one. HOseeker is a good source.
I found a listing for 1952 Mantua Pacific.
I’ll post a link and hopefully it will get you close. https://hoseeker.net/mantuainstructions.html
Thanks, I have seen that site, it's been helpful to try to pin this specific model down to a year. I actually bought a new version of this 4-6-2 a year ago at a train show figuring maybe I could do a transplant... but that ran so well, didn't want to muck with it. I have found the leading wheels Dad removed and using the newer version as a model, have been able to do get a better handle on what is missing or needs repair. The wheels and rods, etc make this a real challenge. I don't know my eyesight and dexterity is up to tackling that. I may just try to clean it up "as is" (without removing anything major) and run it alternatively with the newer one. Dad's has no markings, so may badge it as part of my freelanced excursion line. For now making my own drawbar and will add a long shaft Kadee coupler to the tender (missing coupler altogether) and see how it goes until I find someone more skilled than me in Steam Loco maintenance. It's all fun!
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