Is anyone aware if a WE and/or ML type Plymouth can be regauged from standard gauge down to 3ft gauge? The locomotive in question I believe to be a WE type gas-mechanical built on some variety of wide ML frame with the wheels inside the frame. To my knowledge it was built this way from factory.

You might try contacting Rick Rowlands at Youngstown Steel Heritage. He re-gauged a 5T Brookville not too long ago though if I recall, the gauge change wasn't very large.

One thing you might want to consider is that if you even can re-gauge it considering the axle design and location of the chain sprockets, will moving the wheels inboard 20.5" total put undue stress on the bearings. The loco's weight carried through the sideframes would be cantilevered farther away from the wheels which may add to the axle's deflection. You might need someone to do some cypherin' and gozintas for you. I could be over thinking things, though.

I think you mean WL & ML, not WE and ML as in the Plymouth designation system, E stood for Electric transmission) The WL and ML were marketed together, with the ML being 4 wheel while the WL was 6 wheel… otherwise they shared transmission and engines.

Plymouth ML and WL were available in 3’ gauge so it could be possible. In general, Plymouth made frames for specific gauges, but few cases is known to have used a frame from one gauge for consisted of side and end castings, so by changing the end castings they could change the gauge of the frame. Another issue is that it was common for the wheels to be inside the frame on a narrow gauge locomotive, but outside the frame on the standard gauge example (and the ML catalog I am looking at states that is the case).

In general, Plymouth used two chains, each from the transmission cross shaft to a different axle instead of running one chain from the transmission to an axle, then a second chain to connect the two (or three) axles.

If you are indeed talking a WE, then it’s a rare gas electric using Westnghouse electrics. Six were built back in the 1930 time frame. Of the two I have seen firsthand, they had outside frames. Based on the needed length of axles beyond the wheel at 3’ gauge, I would see this as a poor choice to regauge.

If its an ML, then its mechanical and potentially has the wheels on the outside of the frame. This might be a candidate to regauge to 3’ gauge. An outside frame standard gauge ML looks like a rare combo.

To confuse things further, the Lakehurst Plymouth, c/n 3668, is a WE-2 built on an ML frame. It uses Westinghouse electrics with a LeRoi six cylinder gas engine.

J.R. May

We have regauged several locomotives at McHugh Locomotive and Eqipment. It is something that can be done with sound engineering and a decent shop.