Waldorf and Statlers Photo Of The Day!

["JaBear"]

crhostler61

This is one cool little critter.

And speaking of cool, those black and white photos of yours taken in the Enola Loco Workshops fit the bill quite nicely.

Of course I had to look up where Enola actually was and though later than the era I model and earlier than Marks photos, here’s a short video.....

 

Cheers, the Bear.

[rrinker]

 Soon as I saw the caboos sitting there I knew he was goign to show how they did that - lettign the caboose roll down the grade to attach to the train, instead of the more typical method of having the switcher tack the caboose on the end of a departing train.

                               --Randy

["JaBear"]

rrinker

....letting the caboose roll down the grade to attach to the train,

In previous films in this thread, I was surprised to see the caboose cut off on the fly, and this too is completely new to me. Was this a common practise, or just peculiar to the Enola Yard?

Cheers, the Bear.

[rrinker]

 Seems like it was fairly common practice. The alternative would be to drop the caboose and then have the switch engine come in and move it to the caboose track for resupply, which means the switch engine wouldn't be working on breaking down and classifying the train.

 Exact process - maybe one of the real railroaders can answer, but I'd guess they'd close the angle cocks so the train and caboose would not dump into emergency, and then apply the caboose brakes as they reached the stopping point, either releasing air with the conductor's valve or applying the hand brake.

                        --Randy

["JaBear"]

Something different, the running gear of a PRR DD1. From the public domain via Wikipedia.

Cheers, the Bear.

[BATMAN]

Good pic Bear. Always interesting seeing the innards. How about some outtards.

Plug your ears.

Found this at the same time as the above. Kind of interesting.

[BATMAN]

Frank sent me a very nice photo of his lastest piece of rolling stock.

Never seen one of these before. "A rapid rail destructor".

Don't let the wife see it. You may get one for Christmas.

[BATMAN]

There seem to be a lot of threads where people are letting off some steam over the last couple of days. In the words of Radar O'reilly "engines are people too" (or something like that)

The wife has told me we are going to be in Calgary at the beginning of August for the Canadian National Golden Retriever fleabag show. Yippeeeeee! What she is really telling me is, we will be doing lots of train watchin in my favourite part of the world getting to and from Calgary.

In a past year I was sitting on a bluff watching lots of power grinding its way up to the continental divide when to my complete surprise I heard this off in the distance heading my way. Talk about timing and luck. Though this was not shot in summer and is not mine, it reminds me of that day.

I wonder what the bear and moose think when they see this puffing monster coming at them from way off in the distance?

 

[NP2626]

Thanks for keeping this thread going!  There are some wonderful photos presented here!  I keep coming back for more!

[Guy Papillon]

Batman,

Those two videos illustrate very well why I don't want smoke unit on my  steam locos.

 

["JaBear"]

BATMAN

I wonder what the bear and moose think when they see this puffing monster coming at them from way off in the distance?

As a young cub this Bear has clear memories of cold clear crisp winters mornings with the morning Ja powered train climbing the Edendale Bank then starting the downhill run, that eventually ended up in Invercargill, except it had a black plume of smoke.

While continuing the theme of smoke, this photo also, to my mind encompasses, to my mind, extreme optimism. I refer to the clean white sheets hanging on the clothes line in the centre right.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/12250?size=_original#caption

Cheers, the Bear. 

["JaBear"]

And a little something for NP2626........

[ACY Tom]

Wow, Bear!  I never saw that DL&W picture before!  I'm not very familiar with Scranton, but it looks like the present site of Steamtown.  I'm guessing the clothes on the line belong to Phoebe Snow.  In the photos, the rough-hewn ties are an interesting detail, rarely modeled.

Tom

[BATMAN]

NP2626

Thanks for keeping this thread going!  There are some wonderful photos presented here!  I keep coming back for more!

 

Thanks Mark.

If all these wonderful photo's and video's were to be had in book form or in our own video libraries we would never see them, there would not be room enough to house it all at home. Wonderful thing this internet. I am surprised how many of the things I have posted I've stumbled across while searching for totally unrelated items.

I wish there was a little more participation from others, there is a lot of history that can be shared through discovered photo's and old film. My grandfather took lots of old steam era home movies of trains around Winnipeg that I need to get on the tube some day. First I have to edit out me jumping up and down in my diapers first.

Guy Papillon

Batman,

Those two videos illustrate very well why I don't want smoke unit on my  steam locos.

 

 

You and me both Guy. Although my son has taken to showering in the trainroom bathroom now. When he opens the door to come out it creates shall we say a lot of steam era atmosphere.

This video is a little different as you will see. I can totally relate to this guy, as snooping out historical sights is a favourite pastime of mine. I am hoping that Bear the great internet detective can scrounge up even more pic's of where this guy takes us today.

If anyone has any more knowledge or photo's or even models this spot on our planet, please tell us more.

["JaBear"]

Through my internet research on the Detroit River Car Ferries I was aware of the “Solano” but as she was out of my sphere of interest I didn’t look any further, I can side track myself easily enough as it is!! 

I see in this link that the HO model was 15 years in the making; I bet it’s a real doozey.

http://www.portcosta.com/solano_ferry.htm

 

Tom, for some reason I thought Phoebe Snow was a 40s advertising invention but I see I was mistaken. A classy Edwardian lady. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons....

 

I suspect I could spend a month of Sundays looking at railroad material in Shorpy and probably only scratch the surface, and even though I don’t model that period I just like going back to that photo, it’s amazing! Anyhow I presume this was taken by the same photographer on the same day.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/9335?size=_original#caption

Cheers, the Bear.

 

 

[BATMAN]

Well Bear I don't know if I should thank you or curse you. Once I hit the link on the link you posted on the Solano ferry, I hit the link  of the link of the link of the link and before I knew it lunch time had rolled around. That is some model. Thanks.

In the past the subject of racing model locomotives at train shows has come up on the forums.  The thinking was it might spur some additional interest at the show, thus drawing a better attendance. Another event for some....... Maybe? While  I don't think it is something I would be interested in participating in, I think I could get a chuckle at yet another competition to take in while at the show.

So in the spirit of friendly competition here they are. If the big boys can do it, why not the serious modeler.

Nothin slow and leisurely about these excursions.

And this one! I just don't know...... I thought I'd throw it in. I thought of Cuda Ken and how he swapped out his garage filling slot car layout for trains. Maybe this would satisfy both interest. I can see the big racing oval at the train shows now.

[BATMAN]

I wish all these model railroad companies would make some modern day stuff. Some of us are just not into all this antiquated stuff. There is just too much diesel stuff (not to mention steam) running on those old style tracks. The manufacturers are going to lose the younger generation model railroaders if they don't get with the program and start producing some modern stuff.

I can hear the arguments now... Those Chinese magnets are just no good. Walmart sells liquid nitrogen way cheaper than the hobby stores. BLI engines hover the best but Rapido has the most nitrogen efficient coaches. The liquid nitrogen keeps freezing the feet off my cows in my stock cars, I do I fix this.

[crhostler61]

I've been wanting to get a photo of this old depot for some time, finally did this past weekend on my way home from Carson City. Ignore the car mirror.

 

This is one of the few remnants of the narrow gauge Carson and Colorado Railroad that connected with the Virginia and Truckee a few miles from this place in Mound House Nevada. This old depot is on the main intersection of Hwy 50 in Dayton Nevada. Originally this depot was located a few hundred feet from this spot just off the Carson River. The C&C eventually connected with the SP narrow guage in the Owens Valley of California. The C&C ceased operation in 1938 at the same time the V&T shut down it's line to Virginia City.

 

Mark H

[BATMAN]

Thanks for posting Mark. Now you have me looking for stuff on the C&C and the V&T. I went on the excursion from Virginia City about 20 years ago. Actually I think a short train ride describes it better. I see they have really expanded it now.

Stumbled on this a while back. A little something in it for any steam buff. The second time I watched it I looked at everything but the trains. So many details to add to my layout.

They show two different kinds of wash racks. I wonder if they could use the more modern of the two on a steamer, or was it designed for more modern equipment.

 

["JaBear"]

BATMAN

Well Bear I don't know if I should thank you or curse you

It doesn’t matter; it’s like water off a Bears back.

Having looked again at those Shorpy photos of Scranton Yard and the DL&W RR camelbacks, I had a little dig and came up with this....

.... and while that “Steam Speed” video was definitely Not prototypical it certainly appealed to my sense of humour, as does this......

 

Cheers, the Bear (who may be getting older but is definitely not growing up.)

[NP2626]

I love Camelbacks!

["JaBear"]

[crhostler61]

On the subject of Doodlebugs. Here's one of sorts...for all. It was resored to operation a few years ago at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtoWv_1B5JY

Mark H

[BATMAN]

HOLY COWCATCHERS! ......er.....ah........me.......

The John Bull. Another creation from Mr. Stephenson. A man we all should buy a Beer for. If not for him where would this hobby be? Not only couldn't we have wonderful conversations on how the hobby is dying nearly 200 years later. But would we be here at all? You can bet that old Robert made up a model of his Stephensons Rocket and all his other creations before starting on the full size versions, so he is indeed the first Model Railroader. When admiring guy's that scratch build you should have his picture on your wall.

I only wish that Canada had been further along in its coming into being in the early 1800s, then maybe we would have ordered it up from England instead of, or as well as, our brothers South of the Fortyninth. The reason being that Doctor Wayne would then be required to build one.

I hope I haven't strayed too off topic.

Note the funny crown shape on the top of the John bulls smokestack. Just like the Rocket. Is this just a trademark of Roberts or is it there for a reason.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bull_%28locomotive%29

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Stephenson_and_Company

["JaBear"]

NP2626

I love Camelbacks!

While I wouldn’t go as far, they do hold a certain fascination.

 From this side of the world I view them as “American as apple pie” though having made that statement, I suppose someone will find a photo of a non North American Camelback.

What did surprise me in my quick fossick through the interweb was that around 3000 were built between 1877 and 1927, though I could not find how that compares, percentage wise, to conventional locomotives built during the same period.

Having wondered what their actual advantage was, I see, in 1877, that by burning the anthracite waste, there was a saving on fuel of $2000 per year, not an inconsiderable saving even now.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/camelback/

 

I also shouldn’t been surprised how many different wheel arrangements they came in, from 0-4-0 to 0-8-8-0.

On seeing this photo, courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, apart from “Wow”, I thought that’s the sort of project that RDG Casey could undertake and successfully kitbash without even raising a “sweat” though I see that they are available in brass and have been previously kit bashed.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/241195.aspx?page=2#2721827

 

More on the Erie L-1 class 0-8-8-0 here.....

http://www.trainweb.org/milepost51/eriel1.html

Cheers, the Bear.

["JaBear"]

“Well Bear I don't know if I should thank you or curse you ”

 I will paraphrase this quote to read, "Well Batman I don’t know if I should thank you or curse you ”.

BATMAN

I only wish that Canada had been further along in its coming into being in the early 1800s, then maybe we would have ordered it up from England

Here we go, presenting Samson, the first locomotive to run in Canada and British built as well!!! Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons....

 

 

Some links.......

http://www.parl.ns.ca/samson/

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/cape_breton/mining_history.htm

BATMAN

Note the funny crown shape on the top of the John bulls smokestack.

Decoration?

Cheers, the Bear.

[gmpullman]

Take a look-see at the model dioramas here and the equally amazing photography. Some of the dioramas include railroad subjects.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr/12211202125/in/set-72157639868074114

_{For some reason a direct video window will not work for Flickr.}

Pretty impressive results, indeed!

Here is a link to M. P. Smith's photos including some of the prep-work and background to his photo shoots: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/

 

Regards, Ed

[BATMAN]

Ed, that guys modeling is pretty impressive to say the least, not to mention his photography.

Bear, Thanks for posting the pic and links of the Samson, I am not sure about what appears to be wooden stave clading around the boiler though.

Tried to find a photo of NZs first loco and all I came across was an artist rendition. Maybe you can have better luck. Needless to say that in the beginning the new world(s) relied on the "old country" to provide our steam locomotives.

Well the thread on the Schienenzeppelin made me go and look, and this is what I found. I think I have found a use for all those old little Cox .049s and baby B model airplane engines I have somewhere, left over from my model airplane days.

There is a speed chart in the video, that baby could move better than I thought it would.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schienenzeppelin

 

 

["JaBear"]

BATMAN

I am not sure about what appears to be wooden stave clading around the boiler though

Gidday Brent, I don’t think that wood clad boilers were that uncommon in the very early days, have a close look at that photo of the “John Bull” you previously posted, and here’s some more links...

https://locoyard.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/puffing-billy-the-science-museum-nrm-national-collection-1.jpg

https://imechearchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/prd-nc-1-daniel-goochs-north-star-locomotive-for-the-gwr.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/KFNB_Austria.jpg

http://www.edgehillstation.co.uk/uploads/sizer-cache/3d01a3076d4c3edb5290bb543fc3a4b0e3032bc0.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Saxonia_1989_Meiningen_01092007.JPG

BATMAN

Tried to find a photo of NZs first loco and all I came across was an artist rendition.

That painting is of the Canterbury Provincial Railways “Pilgrim” pulling New Zealands first passenger train 1 December 1863, by the late W.W. Stewart.

Here’s New Zealands first locomotive by virtue of being in steam 8 August 1863, the” Lady Barkly” (though not that ladylike looking to me)........

 

...and an interesting blog if you wish to read more.

http://the-lothians.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/the-saga-of-southlands-wooden-railway.html

Cheers, the Bear. 

[BATMAN]

Thanks for the good read Bear and setting me strate strait straight on the "Lady Barkly"

My March 1871 issue of Scientific American finally arrived in the mail, just when I was about to send Kalmbach a telegram to see where it was. I wonder if a prototype of this ever hit the rails?

Improved Compound Spiral Car Spring for Railway Carriages.

Our engravings illustrate an improved compound car-spring, which appears to possess all the requisites of a first-class spring, combining in its construction extreme simplicity with great strength, and a feature whereby the power of the spring increases with increase of the load, and vice versâ, so that its flexibility remains nearly constant for all loads.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this spring, with a portion of the side of the case broken out to show the interior arrangement of the spiral springs. Fig. 2 is a section of the compressing plate. Fig. 3 is a plan view, showing the arrangement of the tubes which enclose the springs.

spiral spring
POTT'S' SPIRAL CAR SPRING FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

The case is cast in two pieces. Its vertical wall is cast in a single piece, and has at the top a flange or bead extending inwardly, against which the compressing plate abuts when the spring is not compressed, as shown in Fig. 2. A bottom plate completes the case.

The spiral components of the spring are inclosed in tubes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It is not deemed essential that these tubes should be seamless, or that their edges, brought together in bending, should be soldered, brazed, or welded. They act merely as guides to compel the component springs to expand or contract in vertical lines, and need only be strong enough for that purpose.

The compressing plate is formed with concentric steps or ledges, as shown in Fig. 2, so that with light loads, only a portion of the component spirals act. With a heavier load a new series of spirals is brought into action, and so on, till the spring is loaded to its full capacity. This feature is novel, and as important as novel, as it gives the spring a far more easy and flexible carriage, with light loads, than would be the case if all the spirals were permitted to act.

In putting the spring together, the vertical part of the case is inverted. The compressing plate is then placed within the case, resting upon the inner flange of the case above described. The tubes with their inclosed springs are then arranged in position, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 3. The bottom plate of the case is then placed in position, and held to its place by lugs and rivets, as shown in Fig. 1; the spring is then ready for use.

The employment of tubes in the manner described, enables springs of the greatest practical length to be used, without the sectional or division plates met with in other spiral car springs. A greater and easier movement is therefore obtained. These springs can, it is claimed, compete in price with any spring in market, and are guaranteed by the manufacturers. Patented through the Scientific American Patent Agency, December 27, 1870, by Albert Potts, whom address for further information, No. 490 North Third street, Philadelphia, Pa.

For those of you that need a video for your morning coffee, or your evening or .

The Maine 2 Footer    1 Foot 11and1/2 inches narrowgage.