For all of you who remember the great "do-it-yourself" and "how-things-work" articles in Popular Mechanics magazine in the 40's, 50's and 60's, here is a link to all of the Popular Mechanics magazines on-line. Now, you can browse all those old articles and advertisements to your hearts content. Enjoy!
Bill:
Do you have by any chance a list of train related articles in Popular Mechanics?
I was on the cover of the May '71 issue for an aviation project.
Merle.
I don't have a list of train related articles, however you can keyword search all issues. I tried searching for "live steam" and came up a a bunch of articles on the live steam railroad hobby along with many other live steam articles on everything from live steam pressure washers to large marine engines.
Hi I was wondering does anyone know of any Aluminum Rail Suppliers in New England or at least in the Northeast for 7.25 gauge track? Thanks for the help...
Henry Coleman
Mike, I cant find Railway Supply when I search for it. I did find Miniature Railway Supply Co. This company is located overseas in England, too far for me over here in Massachusetts, USA. Can you send me the link if this isnt the place?
Thanks...
Henry
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:09:29 -0700
From: Jerry Kimberlin
Henry:
That should have been Railroad Supply sorry for the mistake.
Mike Looney
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:56:15 -0700
From: Jerry Kimberlin
Subject: Re: Aluminum Rail Suppliers?
I've only heard of two types of steel rail. One is 1" tall and the other is 1 1/16". We have both at GGLS. The 1"
rail comes from RMI. The other is unavailable. As far as I know, both come from Belgium via Cromar-White in the UK.
JerryK
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:51:36 -0700
From: Chuck
Subject: Re: Aluminum Rail Suppliers?
Steel:
Here is the way I went for my 15" gauge track:
Dale
LBFoster only sells as small as 12# rail....tHATS IF THEY CAN GET IT....
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:10:05 -0400
From: Mark Smith
Subject: Re: tie plates
Hello Ray
1" it is.
Thanks for your attention.
Mark
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:06:46 +0000
From: Roy Stevens
Subject: RE: tie plates
Train Mountain makes stamped metal tie plates that will fit your rail. Roll models makes injection molded plates with built in camber that I'm 90% certain will fit too.
A tie plate is created for the width of the base of rail it is to be used under especially if it's a double shoulder tie plate. There are a number of different base widths of rail that are and have been supplied to the hobby over the years
Roll Models does supply a plastic type double shoulder plate that has cant built into it but it will accept rail of less than one inch as it's only about 15/16" wide through the double shoulders.
I make and supply exact 1" wide double shoulder tie plates, these plates have a 1:40 cant which is prototypical and when used with rail of proper head profile does wonders for reducing horizontal rail wear and improving tracking of the equipment.
When asking about rail for 1.6" scale it's a question that really has no concrete answer. Any rail that is supplied for any scale whether it be 3/4" or 3 3/4" will scale out to a specific rail weight for each scale Rail roads used rail from 30 lbs/yd early on to today's 141 lb/yd. rail. That means rail could be anywhere from 2" tall to 8" tall and all used on the prototypical railroads albeit for different reasons and at different times.
Doug De Berg
Rock Creek Railway Company
10809 N.E. 158th Street
Kearney, MO. 64060
Tel: 816-628-4353
Fax 816-628-2968
Cell 816-804-1512
A question for the Group.
I am considering the purchase of a nearly new steam locomotive from a private party in Canada. I live in California, and am thinking on driving up to Canada to pick it up. When I return, does anyone know what I can expect at the Boarder Crossing? Will I have to pay an "import duty"? Would any documentation be required. I was told that I should describe the locomotive in the most basic terms, such as "model train". I do have a US Passport. Any helpful information would be appreciated.
Why don't you contact your local US Customs office. They'll tell you all about what you need to know right from the horses mouth. The passport makes very little difference brining something into the country, just you. You want even be touched by Canadian Customs.
About ten years ago I bought a steamer from a fellow in Victoria BC. Got to the boarder and was asked did I purchase anything while I was there, told them yes the steam engine in the bed of the PU. They asked if it was built there I said yes. To which they replied thanks and move on. Nothing was charged for it or other questions asked. Was going to tell them nothing was bought but decided to do the right thing. The other side of it is them proving that you did not have it when you went north as they don't take inventory of all that you have. They seemed more concerned with my travel trailer searching it. The lady who did was quite a looker and her clothing
fit her very well. Oh well at least something went well going north. Parked at the Burnaby club and used there power was very nice of them and a tour of there layout also.
Bruce, I import from canada, and also export to canada. Just be honest with them, and be willing to a boarder tax, usually small amount. Most of my bringing euipment back, has been just tell them the truth, and they will pass it through. Best to just bring clothes, and money. Just to keep the long search of campers and R/V's.
I have posted the last in the series of "Link" Light Rail HD videos on YouTube. The testing of the trains is over and the launch begins July, 18th 2009-tomorrow. All rides are free for the 18th and 19th launch. Revenue rides will start on Monday the 20th. If you like pacing, I have posted some nice steady frame videos. Be sure to click on the HD button, then the Full Screen button for really neat flicks.
Check these out at: http://www.youtube.com/user/css903
Well just got back from Kitsap Live Steamers friends and family meet. It was great saw some great equipment a very nice railroad thru the woods. Got to run a beautiful steeple cab electric with some hand built cars. Was great, also visited with old friends and new ones too. They have some plans for the future that are great and will include a new car barn along with more track. They will even let Dennis Weaver run his steam engine with the plastic wood cab too.
LOL.
Boyd getting ready for another work day.
Well just got done at Brooks Oregon and the steam up they have there every year. What a great bunch of people there. Old steam tractors and new ones, young and old people there having great fun. Road on the Willow Creek Railroad, very nice run on the evening before the event started. The track work is great and smooth over 5000 ft they said of continuous running. They have a new large car barn to store there equipment in but still have that Roundhouse as it was such a centerpiece to the railroad. On Saturday they had three passenger trains running with a line of people all day waiting for rides. They still have three more days of it so there will be some very worn out people there. I hope to get my engine down one weekend to run there after I retire as it has quite a bit of personality with the crossovers and signaling. Thanks for the tour it was great seeing old friends and meeting new ones being greeted as a live steamer is always great. Boyd now at Train Mountain getting ready for the ops meet.
I dropped by Brooks on my way back from TM to pay a friend a visit.
However, they weren't there but the rest of the crowd gave me a great reception. The track is excellent. A lot of thought and work has gone into making a quality riding track and making the most of a limited space.
I look forward to going again. Well worth a visit.
this afternoon I learned, that the battery-powered 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Porter, which a member of the Los Angeles Live Steamers build a long time ago and which I saw the first time during the IBLS rumble south in 2000, was destroyed last weekend.
No more information about what happened, because the owner is actual mourning about what happened.
I had a chance to chat with him again at Bitter Creek & Western during the Independence run earlier this month, and still remember, how happy he was about the train and the performance at the Triennial and again at Bitter Creek & Western.
To honor his work, I uploaded a photo, I took at Train Mountain last month:
And also, a video from Bitter Creek & Western of july 03, 2009:
Greetings from Germany
Hubert The Goose
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:58:38 +0000
From: Roy Stevens
Subject: RE: Sad message
Very unfortunate, it was a nice model. I tried to catch up to him in the yard to take a closer look but he ran the wheels off that thing during the Triennial, the only time I saw him was out on the mainline. If you find out what happened let us know.
the latest information I got wasn't exact, but if I read it right, it was a runaway train during driving into the storage-barn. Luckily, no one was hurt, but two other trains damaged.
This came from another member of the LALS, and their is also the promise to post what happened when the owner is in better shape than today.
I talked at length with him also and it was such a nice looking engine, do hope that it can be rebuilt somehow. Boyd at TM
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:13:04 +0000
From: Roy Stevens
Subject: RE: Sad message
If it was simply a collision with other trains in the shed I don't see how it could be 'destroyed' but I'm sure there's damage. Hopefully noone was injured, it's a lot easier to replace valve gear than to replace fingers.
