Re: SN #34

Jim,
The best choice for a SN #34 would be one of the former Cuban Central class 1-26E Baldwins, if they still exist. In each class of Baldwin locomotives, several different drawings were used. SN #34 was the first drawing 30 locomotive and the only other drawing 30 locomotives went to the Cuban Central. IRCA #41 and 44 are drawing 55 locomotives. The DeGolyer Library has the erecting drawings for Cuban Central class 10-26E358, but she was the last drawing 30 locomotive built. It was fairly common for there to be more than one erecting drawing of a particular class drawing number, if there were "minor" changes made. The Baldwin specs, available online from DeGolyer, only give a hint of what a locomotive might be like. In addition to the erecting drawings, you need the card numbers of the parts drawings. DeGolyer has the card lists for 1870-1873 and 1875-1878. The Pennsylvania State Archives has the card lists for 1910-1912 and 1914-1940. That is all that are known to exist. Thus we can find the card lists for that Cuban Central 2-8-0, but not for the SN #34, and there we probably quite a few part card changes between 1904 and 1910. In addition to the locomotive card lists, to get a complete understanding of a locomotives construction, you need the brass works card lists and the tender works card lists. There are few tender works lists around, but the PA Archives covers 1926-1930. DeGolyer has 1871-1873, 1875-1878, and 1880-1883 covered in the brass works and the PA Archives has 1912 to 1940 covered in the brass works. Locomotives after 1941 are completely different and you need to find the sales order book for a locomotive order, to know what part drawings were used.

That is where you need to start when attempting to replicate a locomotive. Locomotives of different drawing numbers and especially inside frame vs outside frame, shared few common parts. Actually D&RGW #315 is much more like SN #3 and #4 than SN #34 is to anything else.
Dave Johnson