This is a my unique railroad item and a bit of a mystery. It sat in my Dad's den for about 40 years. It is a tie- aparently from a mining tram. He had told me a long time ago he got it at Eureka (CO). I had always assumed it to be 3' gauge from the slide that he said he got it off of. (The Silverton Northern san through the area and a slide with what appears to be their grade was where he said he got it) Turns out it is 18" gauge (best I can measure- one spike is missing and it's partually rotted) Problem is there were no 18" mining trams around Eureka as anyone has been able to determine. Dad passed away from complications of Alzhemers nearly 5 years ago and I will probably never know where it is from but I sure treasure it. Jim
drgwcs This is a my unique railroad item and a bit of a mystery. It sat in my Dad's den for about 40 years. It is a tie- aparently from a mining tram. He had told me a long time ago he got it at Eureka (CO). I had always assumed it to be 3' gauge from the slide that he said he got it off of. (The Silverton Northern san through the area and a slide with what appears to be their grade was where he said he got it) Turns out it is 18" gauge (best I can measure- one spike is missing and it's partually rotted) Problem is there were no 18" mining trams around Eureka as anyone has been able to determine. Dad passed away from complications of Alzhemers nearly 5 years ago and I will probably never know where it is from but I sure treasure it. Jim
Heck yeah Jim, I would treasure it too. So who knows where your dad picked that up off the ground from but it definitely meant a lot to him.
The weathering color in it, the gray and the red. That's an old piece of deadwood from some place of great significance to your dad.
I would keep the jagged side up and attach a shelf to the bottom of it and hang it on the wall with one of your dad's favorite locomotives on it
If there are none of his locomotives still around, he definitely talked about a few. I would get one and put it on that shelf. Then I would smile every time I walk by and look
In 1993, I took my last vacation. ( A "pilgramige" to Caboos hobby's in Denver. )
I took Amtrack from Portland OR to Denver Colorado. Along the way, I made freind's with the Conductor, who decided that I should have his Southern Pacific Rulebook ! ( They had just printed the new book, so he gave me the old one.) It has come in VERY handy over the year's . Among other thing's, it has a complete list of locomotive roster number's , Oversize car number's , the current "Slow order's, Car's with speed limit's on them, ECT.
I keep it with my Decal's .....protected from moisture, heat , sunlight..... and paint covered finger's !
Rust...... It's a good thing !
I have a hard time choosing one favourite item, but my McKeen Motor Car is pretty close to the top of the list. It started out as a Funaro and Camerlengo unpowered (somewhat crude) resin kit and it is now a detailed model with a lot of scratchbuilt parts, including the front truck, that runs very well.
The engine pivots with the front truck just like the original:
The scratch built front truck with two different sized wheels:
Cab details started. The pilot is scratch built.
There are 36 (wrong!) 16 LEDs to match the prototype's original electric lamps:
The casting had very nice rivet detail on the sides but none on the roof:
The wee beastie ran flawlesly for several hours at the Barrie library this past weekend.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Dave I like it..... looks good to me.
And I also wanted to give you one of my pat on the backs and a big man hug and say...... you're a good man.
Just thinking about you kid
Track fiddlerAnd I also wanted to give you one of my pat on the backs and a big man hug and say...... you're a good man. Just thinking about you kid
Thanks TF.
...my genuine New Zealand Railways Drivers cap complete with badge given to me by the son of a late driver as he knew I was interested in such things… NZR Drivers Cap by Bear, on Flickr
Bear,
Just getting around to this thread. That is an amazing hat! I hope it fits, because it certainly fits you
drgwcs,
Interesting story. I know there were certain standards among the mines around Silverton and IIRC 24" gauge was quite common. I wouldn't rule out an 18" gauge run somewhere that could've come from. The Sunnyside was the biggest outfit, by far, but there were a number of other mines nearby that could have been it's source.
Dave,
Every time I see your McKeen, I am just stupified. It's a work of art!
My contribution is in the "unique" category. Since I don't chew, it's not really a favorite, but it was a great Xmas present that came with a lot of thought from my mother-in-law.
It's a genuine Pullman spittoon
I work on thinking about a favorite.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Track fiddler drgwcs This is a my unique railroad item and a bit of a mystery. It sat in my Dad's den for about 40 years. It is a tie- aparently from a mining tram. He had told me a long time ago he got it at Eureka (CO). I had always assumed it to be 3' gauge from the slide that he said he got it off of. (The Silverton Northern san through the area and a slide with what appears to be their grade was where he said he got it) Turns out it is 18" gauge (best I can measure- one spike is missing and it's partually rotted) Problem is there were no 18" mining trams around Eureka as anyone has been able to determine. Dad passed away from complications of Alzhemers nearly 5 years ago and I will probably never know where it is from but I sure treasure it. Jim Heck yeah Jim, I would treasure it too. So who knows where your dad picked that up off the ground from but it definitely meant a lot to him. The weathering color in it, the gray and the red. That's an old piece of deadwood from some place of great significance to your dad. I would keep the jagged side up and attach a shelf to the bottom of it and hang it on the wall with one of your dad's favorite locomotives on it If there are none of his locomotives still around, he definitely talked about a few. I would get one and put it on that shelf. Then I would smile every time I walk by and look
Dad wasn't really into trains but loved exploring areas in the west. He was a tremendous photgrapher I have over 22,000 slides that he took (and another 5000 left to digitize.) Ghost towns and national parks were a favorite. That is why it may be very hard to nail down where this came from- were were at many ghost towns. There is a possibility it may be from a tram above Eureka- On a couple of Facebook groups we have tried to pin down one using a couple of photos. This one included. I suspect this may be it- but sounded like the gauge was wrong when we were comparing the trams. As was mentioned above- this looks like it may be about the position of the Sunnyside- their trams were 24" but the waste rock trams were another thing that was discussed- they could have been a different gauge.
Those family vacations are one of the primary reasons why I model the Rio Grande and the Colorado and Southern. We traveled through those areas when I was a kid we would be gone a month exploring Colorado, Utah, New Mexico or Arizona (with forays into Canada or California) A visit to the Colorado Rail Museum and to Durango when I was a kid didn't hurt either.
mlehman My contribution is in the "unique" category. Since I don't chew, it's not really a favorite, but it was a great Xmas present that came with a lot of thought from my mother-in-law. It's a genuine Pullman spittoon I work on thinking about a favorite.
I've got to admit except for us crazy train guys and railroadiana collectors getting a spitoon from your mother in law for Christmas would make the beginning of a really funny story.... Jim
mlehmanDave, Every time I see your McKeen, I am just stupified. It's a work of art!
Thanks Mike!
Your spittoon is both interesting and disgusting at the same time. Imagine being the poor bloke who had to clean them out!
Pullman spittoon Eh..... that is cool and it is a Pullman Railroad item, I would hate to clean it too.
A few tries a go, I tried to quit smoking and substituted chewing tobacco. I was working in people's houses and I swallowed
I developed a serious intestinal infection. I had to take antibiotics. I started smoking again
One of my all-time favorite railroad items up in the Duluth Depot Train Museum, maybe someone can elaborated on Her a little bit more than I can, I just love the way She looks.