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The Dutch Railways were the first to plan for complete abandonment of steam traction at the soonest possible date. By the end of the 1920's development of alternative traction forms lagged behind expectations. Growing train weights necessitated a new generation of locomotives. The 3900 was one of the very last developments in steam on Dutch soil.
It was in one word: huge. It was the largest design possible without having
to add an extra trailing axle (which would have resulted in the first Dutch
Pacific design). Delivering 1600 hp, this four cylinder single expansion locomotive
was able to pull the heaviest trains at the time. Until WW II it played a major
role in express travel. 32 were built in two batches. The last 3900 was withdrawn
in 1957. None of them escaped the torch cutter.
The kit I will build originates from DJH Modelloco. I bought it via Marktplaats.nl (eBay look-a-like). Price app 125 euro, half the current new price. It is a kit of older date though. I want to build a Garratt first so this one goes into store until I finished my 7000 and after building a Garratt.
As an appetizer I show you some photo's of the kit as it is. Just enjoy all the goodies to come as I did when I unpacked the kit!!
The complete kit fresh out of the box
Etched part, main frame on top. The second layer is mainly drive and valve gear.
The third etch plate contains the drivers cab and the smoke deflectors
Numerous nitty gritty, which make you search for hours if they snap out of your
tweezers. Oops!!
Some of them: the stanchions, holding the handrails along the boiler. Just 0,7
mm thick!!
Boiler and footplate. The footplate is severely warped.
The boiler from the rear, revealing the characteristic form of the Belpaire
firebox.
Some amateur work has been done on the boiler, but nothing seems to be beyond
repair
The warped footplate.
For comparison: the boiler of the NS7000 series in front of the 3900 boiler.
Wheels, wheel sets and motor.
Roof of the drivers cab (ri) en side of the tender (le), and various parts (top)
And more: tender front (ri top), boiler rear (ri bottom)
Tender frame etc.
More parts of the tender
and the wiring