Recent content by Tim A.

Adding piping to the boiler, air compressor & generator. Started on the whistle atop the steam dome.

I feel like it's just the way of the world now. Back in the 1990's I had an antique furniture restoration shop. Business was so great couldn't keep up with the demand from my customers. Nowdays, sh#t...you couldn't give away a Empire sideboard.

Cobbled together a steam powered generator from scrap. It looks the part. Primed and in place. Steam spun a turbine to make electricity for the lights. If you're ever around a running steam locomotive that's where the high pitch whine you hear is coming from. That, along with the constant flow...

Yeah. Wheel slipping has always been an issue. Especially on wet rails. I'm a nerd fan of the Union Pacific's restored #4014 "Big Boy". The largest operating steam locomotive in the world. It's home is in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Anyway on one of It's excursions a few yrs back a freight train broke...

Got the grab rails on. Working on adding the various piping to the boiler. Starting with the sanding pipes. It's bend check, bend check. They must be able to clear everything to lift off with the boiler.

Thanks Rhino!

Yep. Upgrades and such were common. Since the confederate states didn't have access to manufactured goods they had to be creative!

Yeah. Shorted frame, shortened cab, shortened tender. Changed overall look and size to represent 3ft narrow gauge. It's gotten out of hand really...haha. I have passenger and mail/baggage cars for this engine to pull to do as well.

Got the brake cylinders made and "hooked" up.

Thanks Ian!

Thanks Bob. There were so many different designs used. I based mine on photos (from what you can see in them) of a smaller, earlier type. Again, they were all different. Mine was pretty much made up, governed by what would work on this model. All I'm after is...does it look like it would...

Got the valve rod assembly basically done. Now for some detailing. The whole thing needs to be removable to get to the motor if need be. It looks the part enough to me.

I know we do. The Great locomotive Chase ended around Ringgold, Ga. The spot is just a few miles from us.

Making the valve gear. It's a generic design, like those that could be seen on the turn of the 20th century steam locomotives. Mine is roughed in right now. Making sure everything is straight and has clearance from moving parts. The valve rod was controlled by the engineer from the cab for...

Thanks Gary !