WEDNESDAY 10th April

[jamesbrodie67281]

:'(Must have stood on a worm 'cos it's raining outside!
Your tame Limey is after being 'launt' (Geordie language) some more about American railways..
Saw a Varney or the like Atlantic and Ten Wheeler on E bay and wondered what the time scale was when these lovely locos were finally destroyed?+ My model period is trying to stop around 1952/3/4 sort of thing (plus a bit of modellers licence).
I have the N&W Class J which came out 1941/2 time and do fancy some of the smaller steamers for lighter duties although in my steam footplate days we would haul upto seventy mixed freight wagons with an 0-6-0T loco and no automatic brakes on the wagons. Some of our colliery turns we would have a fast run with a forty year old 0-8-0 tender loco with just the steam brake on the engine. Thirty times thirty ton GLW Coal Hopper wagons and whistle furiously to the signalman that we wanted a fast run (infront of the passenger trains) if we ran without checking a train on the Monday then we would get a run all the week. EG Ferryhill on the East Coast main line to just short of Newcastle upon Tyne via Durham. We did the equally as fast return journey infront of higher class trains and running tender first-wonderful memories-
I digress-sorry-just to mention that the American railways were in some cases years ahead of the English railways If that dosen't put the cat among the pigeons then nowt will!
Could any reference books be suggested which would cover when certain types of steam engines were withdrawn from service.
Jim Brodie...retired cleaner/fireman/driver and so on down the ladder. 08-38 hours wet wintry and cold-and it's British Summertime!

[riogrande]

Ho James,

I only know enough to be dangerous, which isn't much when it comes to steam. In general, steam was quickly leaving American standard gauge rails in the early 50's but was still in use so you can justify it if you want to be realistic and not cheat too much AND not feel too guilty!
Basically nearly all standard gauge mainline steam was finished by around 1956. A few isolated standard gauge steam went beyond that a few years. I have a DVD shot on Colorado & Southern rails just off of Denver & Rio Grande Western's Royal Gorge route showing a lone standard gauge small steam engine doing short haul duties in the early 1960's - interesting stuff. I'll allow more knowledgable folks to chime in on the specifics.

Re: check your pm's too, I cleaned out the CZ topic of personal chit chat to restore it to train discussion! Will continue in pm's.

[Spikre]

James,
Varney introduced the B&O 4-6-0 kit after 1946.
it came in a Complete kit with Tool Box for $100.00
or as Sectional kits,Boiler,frame and drive,tender.
dont think one got the Tool Box if the Sections were purchased.
about 1948 Varney sold the Kit to General Hobbies,they went
bust about 1950,All-Nation then aquired the line which had
other non-Varney items added to it,possibly the Atlantic using
the B&O Boiler and tender.
in the 80s the Steam Loco kits were aquired by Babbit Railway
Supply,not sure if they are still in busuness ?
Kieth Wills did a good Collecters Corner on this topic in RMC
a few years back,try to find that article,its a bit helpfull.
recap---- Varney did make a B&O 4-6-0 in O,but no other kits.
any 4-4-2s,2-6-2s,2-6-0s or 2-8-0s would have been by GHC,
the All Nation Line,or Babbitt Railway Supply.
Spikre

[jamesbrodie]

Hello Folk, I am back again after several heart attacks and a stroke. No damage done as whatever was wrong couldn't find my brain (CLOT ! when I remember what was causing the problem). I am confined to a wheelchair for now but hope all setbacks are only temporary. Mike McCabe and Jim Fitch have been a fantastic encouragement to me over this bad patch. Forgive me if I have for the moment forgotten at times where I am or doing what but an understanding architect and builders stating to do a "Granny Flat" due to start end of April. The architect asked why I was after a double garage and I said I had a model railway. She said her father had a garage for his model railway but he was O gauge !?!?! How strange so am I.
On the plans and passed is a double garage for my proposed North American layout. News of choice of locality a bit later. Anyway folks I am back,
shaken but not stirred.
James Brodie.67281.

[riogrande]

Hello James!

I'm glad to see you are still kicking. How are things way up there on the island? Please keep us in the loop and wishing you a quick recovery!

[jamesbrodie]

Hello Gents and Gentesses. Is this still the same forum or has there been a take over? I'm still doing North American and in O gauge. I have added to my stock two cab forwards and a SFMW 0-6-0 tank loco which in a previous life was an 0-6-0 tender engine. From Fallen Flags I have found it's old number. It was modified for loco depot working but I have added to it's duties carriage siding duties and also station pilot. I have in store a full train of AT&SF double deck coaches by GGD. I have two F7a units to work them plus two SP GP9s acting as B units in between them.
Mike McCabe is holding them for me plus some other models which we are doing a swap for Hornby O gauge electric trainsets and a variety of coaches and freight wagons. From Christmas time the "Granny Flat should be completed then the railway will start taking shape. Starting of in life as a single line circuit and point-work strategically placed so they can be added to without disturbing the laid circuit. When things start taking shape I shall send photos to show progress.
Jim Brodie.

[riogrande]

Same forum Mr. Brodie.

Please do post some photo's when you get the chance!