Live Steam Big Boy locomotive

There is a 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" locomotive originally built by Lindy Knight from the state of Maine.

Keith Wood in Montreal has been doing some repairs to it, and it will be going back to the USA shortly.

In my "photo albums" there are some pictures of it.

It is a large locomotive, but still manageable by two people in 3-1/2" gauge. It'd be about a ton in weight in 7-1/4.

Beautiful locomotive; a real treat to see in operation.

BTW - the injector was plumbed up so that water always dribbles from the overflow - keeps the injector cool, I'd expect.

Another JohnS.

Is that a stoker engine I see behind the injector? JD

Does anyone know where the "Big Boy" that was at Dobwalls "The Forest Railway" ended up?

I was fortunate enough to be there the first week that it ran.  7 1/4" pulling 50 plus, magnificent sight.

Edited By macmarch on 01/07/2013 17:15:15

No, "just" a duplex water pump. There is no handpump on this locomotive.

Another JohnS.

The Dodwells Big Boy went to a Garden centre in Bournmouth? unfortunatly the council turned down the planning so the whole lot was sold finaly shipped out to Australia, I think John Southern kept one of the D&RW K37's as at one time he had 2 of them, the sight and sound of these running on 7.1/4" was out of this world, way back in the early 70's before the trees grew up to high you lost all sense of direrction on the line... brillant, later on it got more commercilised and lost the magic, happy days, the whole site is now a holiday site i belive havent looked in for years

That's a lovely atmosheric photo. *****

Neil

About 5 years ago I was working out in Texas for a few months. On a day off I paid a visit to Houston Area Live Steamers. There was a 7.1/2" gauge Big boy and a challenger amongst other locomotives. They were incredible. The sheer scale was amazing. What made me smile was that I overheard a discussion about what was the minimum gauge for safe passenger hauling for the general public. The general consensus was that 7.1/2" was too small and 15" was appropriate.

This firm http://www.livesteamlocomotives.com/ supply castings, drawings and some other parts such as the frames for the challenger. They also supply drawings for the big boy and indicate that the challenger castings can be modified for the big boy. I have no connection to them.

Regards,

Steve

Steve - Everything's bigger in Texas.

(go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas-sized and look at the 2nd definition)

Yes, some of the large steam locomotives are truly impressive.

Another JohnS

Not yet supersized the workshop....