
The following shows what I have used to model the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range.
| Steam Locomotives: | Steam locomotives for the DM&IR are just not available
in N Scale. Good running Steam, in general, is hard to find.
The last several years have made great strides in the area of steam
locomotive detail and performance. But, they still do not match
the Missabe locomotive directly.
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Disclaimer:
The following show what N scale models I have used to model the Missabe. On some of the models, I have made very little modifications - other than paint and decals. I may eventually add more details to, or modify, the equipment to make it more closely match the prototype. But, for now, I am having fun. |
| 8 Spot
0-8-0 |
Manufacture is Atlas. Stock model runs
moderately well. This one is a good candidate for
remotoring. This particular model has been remotored and runs well.
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| Consolidation
2-8-0 |
The recent release of the Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation is
an excellent runner. Make sure you run one before you buy it - some
have been known to not run well (this is good advise for any locomotive).
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| Mikado
2-8-2 |
This Mikado is made by Con-Cor. I believe Atlas and
RivarRossi also offered this locomotive (they all used the same mold).
A later version should run moderately well. But, the early ones had
very poor motors (they did not last very long). Consequently , they
were good candidates for remotoring.
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| Mikado
2-8-2 |
This model started life as a Bachmann 2-8-2. It was remotored, the boiler was lengthen, and a cab from a MiniTrix was substituted. | ![]() |
| Mikado
2-8-2 |
Kato made two runs of the Mikado. Both run very
well. The second release did run better and had the Kato coupler -
which will mate with Micro-Trains couplers.
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| Pacific
4-6-2 |
This Pacific, by Model Power, is leaps and bounds ahead of steam models they have produced in years past. This is their new one, and it runs well. | ![]() |
| Mallet
2-8-8-2 |
The Life-Like Mallet is an excellent running locomotive. It should pull more cars than it does - which is around 20-25 ore cars. Even still, it is a very impressive locomotive and runs very well. | ![]() |
| Mallet
2-8-8-2 |
The RivarRossi 2-8-8-2 can be a temperamental
locomotive. I have found the mechanism is constantly in need of "tweaking". I suspect the frame is of the material that
degrades with time and is slowly fatiguing, or changing shape. But,
when it works, it works pretty good. And, who can pass up an
articulate pulling a string of ore cars.
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| 10 Spot
0-10-0 |
This 10 spot started out life as a MiniTrix Decapod. I
changed the boiler and added a different tender. It isn't a perfect
match to the what the DM&IR used. But, the effect is pretty
good.
See construction article |
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| Texas
2-10-4 |
I am still working on this locomotive, so I do not have a picture for it. But, I do have the tender. | ![]() |
| Yellowstone
2-8-8-4 |
It is not weathered yet, but, I finally finished the Yellowstone project. I figured I would loose interest in finishing it as soon as the Benchmark model hits the market. So, I decided to finish it before then. It started out as a Con-Cor Big-Boy mechanism - it has a wonderful tender. Other than shorten the boiler and make a new pilot - the model is pretty stock. It is a later model and runs very well. I loaded it up with 80 Atlas ore cars and it pulled without slipping. Impressive!. |
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| Yellowstone
2-8-8-4 |
I am eagerly waiting the model offered by BenchMark Models. (details to follow it's release) |
See BenchMark website |
| Caboose: | ||
| Steel Caboose | This a stock Atlas caboose, custom painted in the right colors. | ![]() |
| Wood Caboose | This caboose was inspired by a friend's caboose (see next photos). This model started out as a Micro-Trains wood caboose. It was shortened to more closely match the one the Missabe used. | ![]() ![]() |
| Wood Caboose
(rebuilt) |
(see above)
This caboose is also a shortened Micro-Trains caboose. It is modeling a version of the rebuilt wood cabooses. |
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| G Class | BenchMark models will be releasing a G-1 and G class caboose as a companion to their Yellowstone model. Should be a nice addition to the fleet. (details for follow thier release) | no photo yet (see BenchMark website) |
| Early Caboose | Bachmann Old Time caboose - painted and decaled to look like the DM&N caboose. | ![]() |
| Modules (layout): | ||
| Proctor Round House
N-Trak Module |
This Round-House model is built into a 4 foot N-Trak
module. It has seen many shows and draws quite a crowd.
Click here for a PDF scale drawing of the RH (300k) |
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| Ore Dock
N-Trak Module |
The ore dock is scratch built, the ore boat is a Sylvan kit,
and it all resides on a 4 foot N-Trak module. (liberties were taken
in the "selective compression" area)
Click here for a PDF scale drawing of the dock (12k) |
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| Proctor Diesel Shop | (a friend's modules) | Click here for pictures |
| Ore Dock | Part of my home layout. |
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