Re: Crown Metal Products 36" 4-4-0s

The Pacific Coast railroad's #3 is a real hemorphidite. It has a 1964 Crown boiler fitted to an 1898 Porter frame and running gear.

In all honesty I have a passionate dislike for this This locomotive. It has many issues mostly from the rebuild that That Crown metals did to it. I sometimes think it is better off as a boat anchor and it is good that it only runs a few times a year.

Earl is right. The Crown boiler does not have the heating surface that it really needs and at best is a hard steamer. It also has a Crown lead and trailing trucks that has poor geometry and does not track well.

Over the last few years I have done alot of work on this little engine.
When I first started,it would not steam at all and could not pull its own shadow. Now it will pull a short train of two box cars a flat and a caboose. up a 3% grade.

Phil Reader