Model Railroading > A Tale of Two 700's

I spent a good deal of time last night trying to figure out the various paint variations and detail changes of the SP&S #700 over time, and to see which time frame the models fit best. The Broadway model actually fits two time frames with it's graphite smokebox and firebox, and original logo. It fits a timeframe from about 1948-1950 when the number font was updated from the original straight leg "7" to the curve leg "7" about 1947-1948 until the number boards were added about 1950-1951. It also fits the current era of roughly 2008-present when the locomotive was backdated by the removal of the number boards. 1951 looks to be when the tender got the updated logo with the thin border. But the original logo was restored about 2008 as well.When the locomotive was delivered in 1938, only the wheel rims and sides of the running boards were painted in white trim. The front of the steps, footboards, pilot and the smokebox platform got the white trim paint treatment shortly after delivery.
To model the locomotive from 1951 to 1956 you would need to add the number boards and later logo with the thin border. In 1956 the smokebox and lower firebox were painted silver, and additional white trim was added for fan trips that were run 1956-1958, but the cylinder heads were still black. After the engine was moved to Oak Parks, things got real gaudy, more stuff was painted silver including the rods (with black webs) and the cylinder heads.. Now the Sunset Brass model is the 1990's look, after the restoration and fan trips to Wishram and Yakima.
For the Spokane "Homecoming Excursion" in 2001 and the Montana Fall Colors special in 2002, the graphite smokebox and firebox return and all the silver was removed, but the number boards and later logo remained matching the 1951-1956 look. Around 2008 the look was backdated.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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One major difference between the Broadway and Sunset models is the tender. The Sunset tender is several feet longer with a wood rear deck and a larger rear headlight than the Broadway tender. The Broadway rear deck is plain lacking detail. I'm not sure why it is that way. Anyone know if the tender was swapped out at some point?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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On a related note, anyone have luck removing lettering from Broadway Limited model with Solvaset?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Nice looking 4-8-4's but really like the darker graphite scheme.

Stanley Jackowski
Valrico, FL

A red headlight bulb?

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> A red headlight bulb?

It came with a orange LED, that will get changed at some point.
 

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

funnelfan Wrote:
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> One major difference between the Broadway and
> Sunset models is the tender. The Sunset tender is
> several feet longer with a wood rear deck and a
> larger rear headlight than the Broadway tender.
> The Broadway rear deck is plain lacking detail.
> I'm not sure why it is that way. Anyone know if
> the tender was swapped out at some point?

Isn't a "rear headlight" actually a back-up light?
Bill Pyper
Lacey, WA