OvermodStrange that I remember reading it before 1998, and the memorable parts of it all in the first person. Has to be, though, because there is nothing else like that.
I sent an email to a former co-worker who worked on the Cummins Museum project for the 100th anniversary.
He said the original working title of The Diesel Odyssey of Clessie Cummins was My Diesel Odyssey by Clessie Cummins. There were a few books printed with the original title. That is why the book is mostly in the first person.
If you have one of the pre-release printings with the old title, that might be a rare thing indeed.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
gmpullmanI wonder what color she was painted? The underpinnings seem to be black, of course. A lighter shade above.
Thsnks for providing the picture the 'right way around'. It was possible to read the iconic Cummins Diesel lettering in the original version provided, once you knew what to look for, but of course it was mirror-image reversed...
Why not just scratch build the shell and mount it on a suitable frame?
Rich
Alton Junction
gmpullmanPerhaps a slightly improved photo
No "slightly" about it, that is a much better image.
Thank you very much. I have never seen an image of the locomotive that clear.
Perhaps a slightly improved photo —
Cummins by Edmund, on Flickr
and the all-important insignia:
Cummins_Marque-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Both Photos: G.E.Co.
I wonder what color she was painted? The underpinnings seem to be black, of course. A lighter shade above.
I'd hate to be a switchman and have to negotiate those side-sill steps! At night? Fuggedaboutit!
Regards, Ed
From the Cummins "100 Years 100 Milestones" slideshow:
SeeYou190The diesel engines Cummins supplied to the US military in WW2 were not in a widely used class of vehicles. I thought I had a picture of the truck they were in, but I cannot find it.
SeeYou19012 cylinders, 7 inch bore, 10 inch stroke. 24 Liters.
But an article on the Cummins historical facility says the VL-12 was 4,618 cubic inches (!) and the engine that replaced it (NVH series, 1486 cid) was not introduced until 1949.
Overmod 7x10-cylindered V12 power
12 cylinders, 7 inch bore, 10 inch stroke.
24 Liters.
SeeYou190As far as I now know, there has never been a model of this locomotive.
DoughlessKevin, I'm still confused. Do you know if there was ever a model made of this locomotive, in either brass or plastic?
As far as I now know, there has never been a model of this locomotive.
I will be watching Shapeways.
The diesel engines Cummins supplied to the US military in WW2 were not in a widely used class of vehicles. I thought I had a picture of the truck they were in, but I cannot find it.
I knew a lot of people that personally knew Clessie Cummins. I have heard lots of stories. It is all third-hand now, so it is innapopriate to share them from me.
This man is a living legend (not me, the other guy) in the diesel world, and he knew Clessie back in the day. He shared lots of stories with me over a series of several dinners in Dallas back in 2013.
Supposedly this is the lathe that Clessie Cummins used to make the first prototypes of the P/T fuel system. It is on display in the Cummins corporate headquarters in Columbus, Indiana.
SeeYou190 -Kevin
Kevin, I'm still confused. Do you know if there was ever a model made of this locomotive, in either brass or plastic?
And the story of Clessie Cummins is interesting. He was financed by the William Irwin family, who was a banker in Columbus IN and whom Clessie chauferred for. Yes, Clessie was the chaufer/mechanic for the Irwin family. (the story of William Irwin is also interesting).
Cummins Engine kind of bounced around as a viable company until they landed a huge contract to supply engines for WWII trucks and equipment. And the Irwin family (actually Miller) was always very politically connected back in those days, go figure. Somewhere along the line, one of the Irwin's failed to have a son so the family's name took the name of the son-In-law, Miller, who ran many of the "Irwin" companies including Cummins for many years.
OT, but kind of interesting (at least to me): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Irwin_Miller
- Douglas
gmpullmanI can not fix it. The photo is linked to from a fellow named Craig Garver. He may have simply transposed the designation in his photo ID.
OvermodEd, that's an RT-624. (When you've fixed it I'll remove this note...)
I can not fix it. The photo is linked to from a fellow named Craig Garver. He may have simply transposed the designation in his photo ID.
It was meant to be a representative photo, not an in-depth disquisition.
Thank you for pointing out the inaccuracies, though.
SeeYou1901,000 HP in the 30s from a diesel locomotive was very powerful. 500 HP from a 60 liter diesel engine seems insanely low by todays standards.
I would like to get my hands on one of those ~1928 marine engines, the kind used in the automobile testing, and see just how that engine behaved. In a proper Packard 745 chassis, of course...
Ah, the old days. NOx and Particulate matter in infinite amounts, but no power, reliabilility, durability, or economy.
I assume you meant The Diesel Odyssey Of Clessie Cummins, which is not an autobiography or a very accurate book.
While on the subject of C.Lyle, I was familiar with a book about combustion engines published while I was in the engineering program in college. I now see there was a 'revised edition' in 2000 -- anybody know what was 'revised' and how much better that version is?
A better book for facts is The Engine That Could published by the Harvard Business School.
(Incidentally it was ridiculously hard to get Google to get the bone out of its algorithm's teeth to keep showing The Little Engine That Could to a known railfan. But hey! did any of you know there was a sequel, where the Thanksgiving Day Parade gets saved? I sure didn't!)
OvermodI'm still trying to figure out if it is indeed the 90-ton Cummins that he was waiting so long for a model of. I'm also trying to figure out if the 90-ton Cummins was made in brass at some point, and that model is what he's been specifically waiting for.
Yes, it is the Cummins model I want.
I was told a long time ago the Overland MLW model was correct, but it is not. I had bad information.
The Cummins model has never been made in brass as far as I now know.
1,000 HP in the 30s from a diesel locomotive was very powerful. 500 HP from a 60 liter diesel engine seems insanely low by todays standards. We were getting 500 HP from 11 liter engines in the 2000s. 60 liter engines were exceeding 3,000 HP in stand-by and E.P. applications.
I assume you meant The Diesel Oddysey Of Clessie Cummins, which is not an autobiography or a very accurate book. I am not aware of an autobiography by Clessie Cummins. A better book for facts is The Engine That Could published by the Harvard Business School.
I'm still trying to figure out if it is indeed the 90-ton Cummins that he was waiting so long for a model of. I'm also trying to figure out if the 90-ton Cummins was made in brass at some point, and that model is what he's been specifically waiting for.
Clessie Cummins indicated in his autobiography that he had a longstanding interest in railroad power (cf. his story about a PRR executive highly interested in motor trains who died in 1927 -- had that not occurred we might have seen radically accelerated development of internal-combustion power. There is a picture of a Zephyr power room, without technical comment, that led me to believe Cummins had multiple-engine motor-train power along the general modular lines of Baldwin's Essl locomotive (it turns out they were gensets for the considerable hotel and operating electrical load of the longer trainsets). Two V12s would be big Cummins power for the mid-Thirties, and it might be interesting to see how this unit was reported and perhaps marketed in the trade press.
On the other hand, I suspect that what 'may have happened' is that GE, which had much more experience and field support for locomotives, took over providing the "locomotives" with Cummins then being one of the available engine-package suppliers.
tstage Southgate 2 let me restate my original reply about being an I'll proportioned toy. Do you mean ill-proportioned? Or do you "proportion" it yourself?
Southgate 2 let me restate my original reply about being an I'll proportioned toy.
Do you mean ill-proportioned? Or do you "proportion" it yourself?
I don't think it applies here, but there's something to keep in mind about many of these early diesels. They were works in progress. Many returned to the builder for modifications. In some case, the rebuilding was significant enough that the end product was altered a great deal. So a model of one greatly depends on it being a certain year's version.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
hon30critterTime for a kitbash!!
This guy did a pretty good job in S scale. Not exactly the same one (radiator for one thing) but a good start.
I'd love to get my paws on one of these big, six-axle Baldwin (or even the Lima) jobs.
Pennsylvania Railroad Baldwin RT-264 8956 by Craig Garver, on Flickr
I agree with Douglas. Time for a kitbash!! If you don't want to work with brass, how about 3D printing?
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
gmpullmanSounds like Cummins subcontracted the construction to GE and supplied the engines.
Your links nail it Ed!
Mike.
My You Tube
That would make sense, Ed. The NYC GE 70-ton switcher (Class DES-1) pictured below had dual Cummins 6-cyl diesel engines:
And one of these ex-NYC switchers still lives on at the Youngstown Steel Hertiage Museum as auxillary VDC power for the museum:
Sounds good, too.
Wish one were available in HO in brass. Would snap that up in a heartbeat...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
SeeYou190The model I am looking for was powered by two Cummins model VL-12 500 hp naturally aspirated engines. I have not found a lot of information about the prototype.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gmpullman/50990310113/in/album-72157689157947401/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gmpullman/50991118187/in/album-72157689157947401/
Sounds like Cummins subcontracted the construction to GE and supplied the engines.
I meant ill. When replying on my phone spell check sneaks these things by me.
Southgate 2let me restate my original reply about being an I'll proportioned toy.
Well then, let me restate my original reply about being an I'll proportioned toy. It would be that if it was trying to imitate the Cummins loco. I mean, look at the William's attempt at the GE 44 tonner!
I've built and bashed a few locomotives, nothing in brass, and I think the model Whitcomb 12t is way too far off for a model of the Cummins 90t
There would be so many things to change and add.
The cab would need to be completely rebuilt.
I've done a couple of searches today, and I still haven't found any more pictures or information on the Cummins 90t. that Kevin posted.
Kevin - You like to tinker, to this end, would it not be a good project to buy this model and 'fix'er up' until she resembles more the model your wanting? Your just gonna spend the money on a model anyways, right? And it would make for a nice thread to post as a 'this is how i did it'.
I say you should grab the torch, goggles, and the big hammer, put on your overhauls and go for it.
Douglas