Live Steam of Years Gone By

Somehow, this book made it to me on Dec 25 this year:

http://www.edinborough.com/Books/live_steam.html

It's not meant to be a history book, but just notes and pictures from NE USA and the Montreal (Canada) area.

LBSC is mentioned, and has a couple of pictures in it. Interesting to see the way the hobby was back about 60 or so years ago.

I'm really enjoying going through it, reading about some of the people who started this hobby in North America, how they communicated in pre-Internet days, and especially what they wore when steaming!

Another JohnS.

I just received my copy as well. Interesting photos and anecdotal text. Unfortunately those smaller gauge hi-lines are not as common here in the States anymore.

Hi Spivey;

Not knowing where you are, but where I steam:

- Kingston, ON - new highline track;

- Montreal, QC - new (expanded) highline track;

- Southwick, MA - rebuild highline track;

- Holliston, MA - huge highline track;

- Hamilton, ON - nice highline track.

In some ways, it seems that the highline is making a bit of a comeback, at least where I travel.

While there's lots to like in any scale (used to do lots 1:1 steam stuff) IMHO the small stuff is easier to cart around, and I'm lazy. (eg, my little Tich flies as cabin baggage, goes through the airport x-rays, etc)

Just my observations, yours may be very different, depending on local area.

Another JohnS

I would like to see it make a comeback. I live in the South East part of the US. North Carolina to be specific. It's all 7 1/2 gauge in the immediate area. The closest 3-1/2 gauge track that I know of is PLS in Pennsylvania. There is a definite advantage to the smaller gauges, and I have started building a 3-1/2 gauge. I'll be happy with that even if it doesn't ever leave it's test stand.

You are right about travelling. I'm getting a little lazy myself and carrying around a large locomotive in a trailer is not something I care to do. Thanks for the reply.

Guy

I'm not surprised that 3 1/2" is seen as a more convenient gauge than the trolley demanding bigger gauges. I do admit to using a wheelbarrow to carry the Q1 from the shed to the car as it's about 50 metres. Very apt some might say. Last Sunday only three locos turned out at at BDSME, a 5"Peckett being'sorted,' the club battery Hymek and my Q1, getting a steam test having had the 4 yearly hydraulic before Christmas. Went on the track and did an afternoon of passenger hauling. All the big engines stayed at home. Moving a 25kg loco and 7 kg tender around involves a lot less planning and fuss, but the real appeal is the challenge of running the engine pretty close to its limits with a load on, not something you will often do with a 5" gauger on a typical running day.

Nick

The smaller scales do allow those with limited workshop facilities and more importantly limited finance to take part in this hobby. I for one find the 3/4" scale probably the easiest to work in, although there has been a resurgence in both gauge 3 and 21/2" gauge; the slightly larger 31/2" gauge easily allows passenger hauling and they generally have ability to keep up with the bigger boys on the raised tracks. As Nick has pointed out handling the smaller scale locomotives is that much easier in both the workshop and for transporting to and from the track. For those friends over in North America there is always the LBSC 4-4-0 Virginia, Martin Evans 0-8-0 USRA style switcher and from www.friendsmodels.com in the US, a small range of live steamers from the past; there is always the Raritan 2-4-0 designed by Bill Morewood, also the designs of Kozo Hiraoka including a little PRR 0-4-0 switcher design for the beginner.

Happy steaming,

Bob. . . . .

I remember hearing how one of our early members carried his loco on his bike. He lived on a hill and the club is at sea level. It was an 0-6-0T of a Glasgow dock engine ... still quite a weight for a bike and going home ... the hill is quite steep and high.

Edited By JC Uknz 1 on 03/01/2013 07:05:58