The B&M for the purpose of this project are very much of secondary importance to the MEC, they only have running rights over the line. There is no attempt to model a complete roster of B&M equipment, but I have put together a small collection of equipment which enhances the New England theme of the layout.
In real life of course the B&M was a bigger and more powerful railroad than the MEC, certainly during transition era, even if it became troubled later whilst the MEC thrived. Ultimately they would be merged under the Guilford Transport Inc. banner in the early 1980s.
Steam era (pre '54)
The B&M are represented in steam era by a K8c 2-8-0 #2725. The B&M had several sub-classes of K class Consolidations. The K8c, an Alco product, is at the heaviest and most modern end of the spectrum.
I started with a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0, this is the model that changed Bachmann's reputation from being a joke to playing in the big boys league. It is actually a model of an Illinois Central prototype. I made some detail changes to give it a more B&M flavor and a weathering job right after I got it (see first photo right).
Bachman letter this loco as a B&M class K7 #2360, it is somewhat oversize for these light-weight locos, which the B&M used in light freight and local passenger service right until the end of steam on their network in 1954. I found the overall bulk of the loco was closer to the larger K8 class and I had two further sessions at modifying the Bachmann model to represent this more closely.
The most noticeable difference in a K8c is a Worthington BL feedwater heater, unusually, placed on the engineer's side of the loco with associated plumbing and as a result a backward facing power reverse. Other K8 sub-classes had Elesco f/w heaters. The second modification session dealt with this but also the windows (making them arched - a real B&M trademark) and replacement of the steam dome.
The final session dealt with the tender, I raised the coal bunker sides with styrene sheet and installed a back-up light, handrails and ladder.
There are still a couple of details which annoy me slightly about the model, one is the cab which is both too short and the wrong profile, and the other the sand dome which is too large. I'm afraid I will have to live with the cab, but if I find an appropriate sand dome casting it will get replaced.
The model has always run well on 12v DC control (so I knew there were no mechanical issues), but I had some problems getting it to run well on DCC with a budget decoder (Digitrax DH123), it would surge, stutter and stall all too readily. After doing some research I removed the factory installed circuit board from the tender, but this really didn't improve matters too much; I tested it with another similar decoder but with no improvement. Eventually, I swapped the budget decoder out for a Lenz Gold series with a Power 1 UPS attached - and the transformation was utterly amazing, this is now a star performer!
I've now added two B15 class Moguls (2-6-0) to the ranks of my B&M stock; it will make operating solely as a B&M branchline possible. The B&M used these light-weights right to the end of steam on lightly laid branchlines in passenger and mixed train service. As a model its been imported a couple of times in brass, and as brass models go is generally reasonably priced on the second hand market. My examples are from the 1975 Pacific Fast Mail run, generally in good condition, they need a little mechanical attention before making their first outings. With their short 6 coupled wheel-base I have no doubt they will be able to handle the layouts curves.
I have also added a 1980 Westside B&M Berkshire (2-8-4) to the inventory. Its a fantastic model - but it won't run through the layouts tight curves, and as a result will stay unpainted in the display cabinet for the time being. As purchased the rubber connection tube had perrished, and I replaced it with a North West Shortline universal joint; it is now a strong runner with a Canon can motor and enclosed gearbox. The B&M used these mainly on its Worcester, MA to Troy, NY run through the Berkshire Hills, in fast freight operation. They were too big for many other lines although they had clearence for use on the Portland mainline and interestingly the North Conway branch. My reason for having this (other than I like it!) is therefore a bit tenuous.
I'd like a decent model of a wooden B&M caboose, rather than the MDC stand in used at present (this was the first US outline kit I made back in 2000 - and I have to say its not too bad despite of that). A plastic kit of a B&M steel caboose is currently an UFO (un-finished object) on my workbench.