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DSP&P MODELING                                                             Railway Pages Index

Large Scale modeing of the DSP&P is not easy. Most equipment that is close is labeled for D&RGW or C&S. Many of these are not the correct prototype for the label. I model in 1:22 to 1:24 scale and virtually none of the available DSP&P equipment has the correct body, roof, under-carriage, colours, or lettering. So I use this stuff to “represent” the real thing, without worrying too much about accuracy. I have renumbered and repainted some cars, kit-bashed others to represent what the railway could have used, and live with the time-sliding problem of the DSP&P’s very short but very eventful life.
 

DSP&P Mason Bogies
The DSP&P 2-6-6T Mason Bogie was produced in 1:24 scale by Delton in 1983-84 as DSP&P #15 "Breckenridge" with the 1879 builders fancy paint scheme, although the colours (burgandy, red, dark grey) may not be correct. A single copy was painted as DSP&P #55 (originally #22 "Crested Butte") in the plain black, which was common after re-numbering in 1885. I am not aware of amy models of the 2-8-6T Masons.

Only 189 of these models were made, 10 in naked brass and 140 as "Breckenridge" in the burgandy colour. The balance were in various colours to suit special orders. The fuel bunker is empty, so a reasonable wood or coal load could be added to finish off the model. Numerous intricate decals were applied to represent the artistic pin-striping of the original locomotive. In all, it is an attractive and rare model and runs moderately well on clean track.

Engraving DSP&P 2-6-6T Mason Bogie #15 "Breckenridge"-  Click to view large image (0.75 Mb)

Builder's Photo DSP&P 2-6-6T Mason Bogie #15 "Breckenridge". The lettering was probably gold with red drop-shadow.


Delton's DSP&P #15 2-6-6T "Breckenridge" in the burgandy and red paint scheme, showing the many individual decals representing the pin-striped original. The red drop-shadow on the lettering is there, but doesn't photograph well.

William Gould's drawing of DSP&P #6 "Tenmile" shows a better approximation of the proper colours for a DSP&P Mason Bogie, although the drop-shadow lettering seen on the builder's photo is missing on the coal bunker and cab. CAD drawings of this locomotive are available from Bill's website.

DSP&P 2-6-6T Mason Bogie #55 (originally #22 "Crested Butte"). Delton produced one brass model painted to match this photo.

DSP&P 2-6-6T Mason Bogie #57 (originally #24 "Buena Vista"). This photo shows DL&G on the cab side, but otherwise the appearance is unchanged from the DSP&P prior to 1889. This is the only Mason Bogie to make it into the C&S roster as C&S #1.

 
Builder's Photo DSP&P #4 "San Juan", a 2-6-6T Mason Bogie, later renumbered DSP&P #41,

Accucraft's 1:20.3 scale Mason Bogies #4 San Juan and #6 Tenmile are due in late 2009.

 If you don't look too closely, and forget to count the drivers, the LGB 2-4-4T Forney might pass for a DSP&P Mason Bogie. The real #2 was a Dawson & Bailey 4-4-0 and there never was a DSP&P locomotive called "South Park".
 

DSP&P Moguls
The 1:22.5 scale DSP&P 2-6-0 Cooke Moguls were presented by LGB in 1986 (and again in 2006), although these versions were painted in garish colours. This version was numbered DSP&P #18, which represented a Dawson and Bailey Mogul built in 1875. The second LGB version appeared in 1988 with a more realistic paint job, representing a Cooke Mogul DSP&P #71 built in 1884.

The 2006 LGB version sports number 20 to honour the 20th anniversary of LGB's Moguls, but this number was never a Mogul on the DSP&P. All LGB Moguls run well and can survive rough weather as they were molded of tough plastic with sealed gearboxes.

Delton also built brass 1:24 Moguls, but none were dressed for DSP&P.

Builder's Photo DSP&P Cooke Mogul #71

 
LGB's 2-6-0 Mogul dressed as DSP&P #71, with reasonably correct colours. DSP&P 69 - 74 were Cooke-built in 1884. DSP&P Cooke Moguls always used coal so the wood load in #71 is incorrect. Numerous details could be added based on the builder's photo and recorded DSP&P practice.

 

        
LGB's 2-6-0 Mogul dressed as DSP&P #18 with non-prototypical colours. DSP&P 17 - 19 were Dawson & Bailey-built in 1875. These early D&B Moguls may have used wood or coal, so the wood load in the tender is plausible. The 2006 version, DSP&P #20, looks identical but has
built-in sound and DCC.

  
LGB also turned out a Congdon-stacked C&S Mogul #5 (DSP&P #40/110) with a nice paint job and logo on the cab sides, representing a possible "turn of the century" version. It had a nice built-in sound system. Several other more modern C&S Moguls were produced with the classic black and silver paint schemes, one with a snow plow pilot, others with bear-trap spark arrester, and some plain-jane straight-stack versions.

DSP&P Consolidations
Although Delton produced an 1883 era 2-8-0 as early as 1989, none were labeled for DSP&P. They were poor runners anyway and it took several years and 3 more owners of the tooling before it became reliable.

The DSP&P 2-8-0 Comsolidations are represented by Aristocraft's plastic "Delton Classic" 2-8-0 in 1:24 scale, first introduced in 1996-98. These were produced as DSP&P #63 as a wood burner and #64 as a coal burner. DSP&P 2-8-0's always used coal, so the wood load in the tender is not correct on #63. The paint scheme is quite accurate.

Another drive train improvement is being released in 2008 bur no DSP&P version has been announced. A 1:20.3 scale 2-8-0 DSP&P #191 in brass was introduced by Accucraft in 2007.

Builder's Photo Cooke Consolidation DSP&P #63

aaAristocraft 2-8-0 DSP&P #64

Aristocraft 2-8-0 DSP&P #63aaa

Painting of DSP&P #191

Accucraft's 1:20.3 scale model of DSP&P Consolidation #191 (originally #51)

Accucraft's 1:20.3 scale 2-8-0 painted for DSP&P #51 in 1885 colours, later renumbered as 191.

 

DSP&P Passenger Cars
No correct DSP&P passenger cars are produced, but the LGB cars make an adequate representation if the silver roof is painted black and the car numbers are changed. The cars are a little short and shy of a few windows because of it.

  

 

LGB's DSP&P passenger cars need a little help - black roofs and new car numbers will assist. There was no combine-caboose or Mack Railbus (a Delton product) on DSP&P, but "it
could have been"! The correct colour should be more brown, but in more natural light, the colour is about right (see below).

Here's what the LGB cars look like on my outdoor railway, after painting the roofs black. The Delton Mason Bogie on the lower level track looks more natural in daylight, too. It's the glare from the sun on the black car roofs that makes them look silver, on models as well as the originals in the old black and white photos.

Delton dressed a set of passenger cars for advertising purposes but the set was never offered for sale - good thing too - the colour was awful, although it may have been an honest attempt to represent the "chocolate brown" of the era.

The Delton cars are now made by Hartland Locomotive Works. The long RPO, combine and coach in maroon can be relettered for DSP&P, now that good decals are on the market (check eBay for details). The Bachmann Jackson and Sharp cars are also decent models, and their maroon colour matches the Hartland colour very well.

 

DSP&P Freight Cars
Correct DSP&P freight cars are produced by Hartford Products in 1:20.3 scale. These are craftsman kits. LGB, Delton (now Aristocraft "Delton Classics"), and USA Trains have produced ready-to-run freight cars with DSP&P lettering. Some have reasonable paint schemes with correct car numbers, some have extra logos and incorrect car numbers, others never existed on DSP&P rosters. I run them all, but usually I fix the car number, lengthen the brake wheel staff, and eventually I'll even put a correct roof on the Tiffany cars.

Above 5 photos: Hartford Products 1:20.3 scale DSP&P freight cars. These are beautifully
designed and accurate craftsman kits.

 

 
Delton Classics from Aristocraft 1:24 scale. The Tiffany reefer has incorrect roof and no ventilation holes, the box, flat, and gondola have the wrong road numbers, the hopper is a Quincy and Torch Lake model and never ran on the DSP&P, and the DSP&P never had a long caboose. Oh well, they are pretty.

The USA Trains reefer 903 has a logo and black doors that shouldn't be there. 
They also produced a fictitious DSP&P long caboose.

Depot G commissioned a custom stock car from LGB, properly labeled and numbered. This car is very rare. The only other LGB car with DSP&P lettering is the more common Tiffany reefer, with wrong roof and car number.

 


DSP&P Tiffany Reefers: Delton "Plain" (available in 2 road numbers 1055 and 1056), and Delton "Fancy Script" version. None have correct roof or ventilation holes in the end walls. The Bachmann UP reefer has the correct road number for the post-1885 era, but wrong roof. USA Trains also produced a generic Tiffany car that had an ornate but poorly executed paint job
 (no DSP&P markings).

MDC turned out a nice waycar but no other DSP&P cars. It has a correct road number but the window arrangement is wrong. Watts Trains also commissioned a custom DSP&P bobber caboose in red, but such a car never ran on the South Park until C&S days.

Some people have managed to improve the stock available. Bob Baxter did a beautiful job of adding arch windows and reasonable lettering to a Bachmann passenger car. The DSP&P Rotary 02 sports a cupola and roof details, including the cupola, not present on the original model.

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