They've been working on the railroad - Revision history

Dnevil at 04:16, 13 May 2016

2016-05-13T04:16:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:16, 12 May 2016
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	In this land of lilliputian locomotives you'll find a wide variety of vintages, shapes and sizes. The smallest practical live steamers are built to 1/4-inch scale and operate on ordinary O-gauge track. Jumping several popular sizes in-between, the biggest models are the 3-inch scale jobs that run on 15-inch track; a live-steam model locomotive in this scale is about 26 feet long, and can cost as much as $35,000.		In this land of lilliputian locomotives you'll find a wide variety of vintages, shapes and sizes. The smallest practical live steamers are built to 1/4-inch scale and operate on ordinary O-gauge track. Jumping several popular sizes in-between, the biggest models are the 3-inch scale jobs that run on 15-inch track; a live-steam model locomotive in this scale is about 26 feet long, and can cost as much as $35,000.

	[[File:MikePipe LALS.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|Mark Piper, retired city employee, pretties up his 1-1/2 inch scale American engine, car and caboose. He built the whole thing himself, with more than 5,000 hours of patient work.]]		[[File:MikePipe LALS.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|[[Mark Piper]], retired city employee, pretties up his 1-1/2 inch scale American engine, car and caboose. He built the whole thing himself, with more than 5,000 hours of patient work.]]

	A price tag like that might make even a millionaire pause, but railroad buffs are railroad buffs; and the tiny tools appeal to a broad cross-section of men who remember the days when there was smoke up front, clickety-clack below, and romance on the rails.		A price tag like that might make even a millionaire pause, but railroad buffs are railroad buffs; and the tiny tools appeal to a broad cross-section of men who remember the days when there was smoke up front, clickety-clack below, and romance on the rails.

Dnevil: /* Background */

2015-06-02T04:52:18Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:52, 1 June 2015
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	== Background ==		== Background ==

	<i>Editor's note: This copy of "Industrial Progress" was mailed to [[Lester Friend\|Friend Box Company]].</i>		<i>Editor's note: This copy of "Industrial Progress" was mailed to [[Lester Friend\|Friend Box Company]], attention Henry A. Vachon, husband of Cecile.</i>

	[[File:HA Vacho Friend Box Corp.jpg\|thumb\|center\|300px]]		[[File:HA Vacho Friend Box Corp.jpg\|thumb\|center\|300px]]

Dnevil: /* Background */

2014-07-17T02:37:31Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 16 July 2014
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	Richard Symmes wrote:		Richard Symmes wrote:

	: A "Miss Vachon" worked at the [[Lester Friend\|Friend's]] [[Yankee Shop]], and also ran the locomotive at Friend's [[Joy Town Railroad]] at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. There are pictures of her doing so.		: A [[Cecile Vachon\|"Miss Vachon"]] worked at the [[Lester Friend\|Friend's]] [[Yankee Shop]], and also ran the locomotive at Friend's [[Joy Town Railroad]] at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. There are pictures of her doing so.


	[[File:JoyTownRailroad by AWLeggett 01.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|Engineer Vachon with Joy Town Railroad Hudson. Miss Vachon worked at the Friend's Yankee Shop, and also ran the locomotive at Friend's Joy Town Railroad at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. Photo by A.W. Leggett.]]		[[File:JoyTownRailroad by AWLeggett 01.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|Engineer Vachon with Joy Town Railroad Hudson. Miss Vachon worked at the Friend's Yankee Shop, and also ran the locomotive at Friend's Joy Town Railroad at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. Photo by A.W. Leggett.]]

Dnevil: /* Background */

2014-02-01T02:35:14Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 31 January 2014
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	[[File:JoyTownRailroad by AWLeggett 01.jpg\|thumb\|center\|~~300px~~\|Engineer Vachon with Joy Town Railroad Hudson. Miss Vachon worked at the Friend's Yankee Shop, and also ran the locomotive at Friend's Joy Town Railroad at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. Photo by A.W. Leggett.]]		[[File:JoyTownRailroad by AWLeggett 01.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|Engineer Vachon with Joy Town Railroad Hudson. Miss Vachon worked at the Friend's Yankee Shop, and also ran the locomotive at Friend's Joy Town Railroad at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. Photo by A.W. Leggett.]]

Dnevil: /* Background */

2014-02-01T02:34:58Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:34, 31 January 2014
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	: A "Miss Vachon" worked at the [[Lester Friend\|Friend's]] [[Yankee Shop]], and also ran the locomotive at Friend's [[Joy Town Railroad]] at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. There are pictures of her doing so.		: A "Miss Vachon" worked at the [[Lester Friend\|Friend's]] [[Yankee Shop]], and also ran the locomotive at Friend's [[Joy Town Railroad]] at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. There are pictures of her doing so.


			[[File:JoyTownRailroad by AWLeggett 01.jpg\|thumb\|center\|300px\|Engineer Vachon with Joy Town Railroad Hudson. Miss Vachon worked at the Friend's Yankee Shop, and also ran the locomotive at Friend's Joy Town Railroad at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. Photo by A.W. Leggett.]]

Dnevil at 14:32, 31 January 2014

2014-01-31T14:32:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:32, 31 January 2014
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	[[File:LALS ride with children.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|A 1-1/2 inch-scale engine pulls a load of youngsters. The Los Angeles Live Steamers Club maintains its own layout, with tow main tracks and rails designed to accommodate several different gauges.]]		[[File:LALS ride with children.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|A 1-1/2 inch-scale engine pulls a load of youngsters. The Los Angeles Live Steamers Club maintains its own layout, with tow main tracks and rails designed to accommodate several different gauges.]]


			== Background ==

	<i>Editor's note: This copy of "Industrial Progress" was mailed to [[Lester Friend\|Friend Box Company]].</i>		<i>Editor's note: This copy of "Industrial Progress" was mailed to [[Lester Friend\|Friend Box Company]].</i>
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	Richard Symmes wrote:		Richard Symmes wrote:

	: A "Miss Vachon" worked at the [[Friend's Yankee Shop]], and also ran the locomotive at Friend's [[Joy Town Railroad]] at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. There are pictures of her doing so.		: A "Miss Vachon" worked at the [[Lester Friend\|Friend's]] [[Yankee Shop]], and also ran the locomotive at Friend's [[Joy Town Railroad]] at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. There are pictures of her doing so.

Dnevil at 14:12, 31 January 2014

2014-01-31T14:12:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:12, 31 January 2014
Line 39:		Line 39:


	<i>Editor's note: This copy of "Industrial Progress" was mailed to Friend Box Company.</i>		<i>Editor's note: This copy of "Industrial Progress" was mailed to [[Lester Friend\|Friend Box Company]].</i>

	[[File:HA Vacho Friend Box Corp.jpg\|thumb\|center\|300px]]		[[File:HA Vacho Friend Box Corp.jpg\|thumb\|center\|300px]]


			Richard Symmes wrote:

			: A "Miss Vachon" worked at the [[Friend's Yankee Shop]], and also ran the locomotive at Friend's [[Joy Town Railroad]] at the Topsfield, Mass. fairgrounds in the 1950s. There are pictures of her doing so.

Dnevil at 04:50, 31 January 2014

2014-01-31T04:50:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:50, 30 January 2014
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	[[File:LALS ride with children.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|A 1-1/2 inch-scale engine pulls a load of youngsters. The Los Angeles Live Steamers Club maintains its own layout, with tow main tracks and rails designed to accommodate several different gauges.]]		[[File:LALS ride with children.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|A 1-1/2 inch-scale engine pulls a load of youngsters. The Los Angeles Live Steamers Club maintains its own layout, with tow main tracks and rails designed to accommodate several different gauges.]]


			<i>Editor's note: This copy of "Industrial Progress" was mailed to Friend Box Company.</i>

			[[File:HA Vacho Friend Box Corp.jpg\|thumb\|center\|300px]]

Dnevil at 04:44, 31 January 2014

2014-01-31T04:44:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:44, 30 January 2014
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	<i>Industrial Progress</i>, Goodyear, Volume 9, Number 1		<i>Industrial Progress</i>, Goodyear, Volume 9, Number 1

			[[File:15 inch layout.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|This 15-inch track at a private layout handles the big three-inch-scale models. (Looks real, doesn't it? But note the relative size of the "switchman's" hand.)]]

	Ever ride an "iron pony"?		Ever ride an "iron pony"?
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	In this land of lilliputian locomotives you'll find a wide variety of vintages, shapes and sizes. The smallest practical live steamers are built to 1/4-inch scale and operate on ordinary O-gauge track. Jumping several popular sizes in-between, the biggest models are the 3-inch scale jobs that run on 15-inch track; a live-steam model locomotive in this scale is about 26 feet long, and can cost as much as $35,000.		In this land of lilliputian locomotives you'll find a wide variety of vintages, shapes and sizes. The smallest practical live steamers are built to 1/4-inch scale and operate on ordinary O-gauge track. Jumping several popular sizes in-between, the biggest models are the 3-inch scale jobs that run on 15-inch track; a live-steam model locomotive in this scale is about 26 feet long, and can cost as much as $35,000.

			[[File:MikePipe LALS.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|Mark Piper, retired city employee, pretties up his 1-1/2 inch scale American engine, car and caboose. He built the whole thing himself, with more than 5,000 hours of patient work.]]

	A price tag like that might make even a millionaire pause, but railroad buffs are railroad buffs; and the tiny tools appeal to a broad cross-section of men who remember the days when there was smoke up front, clickety-clack below, and romance on the rails.		A price tag like that might make even a millionaire pause, but railroad buffs are railroad buffs; and the tiny tools appeal to a broad cross-section of men who remember the days when there was smoke up front, clickety-clack below, and romance on the rails.
Line 23:		Line 26:

	Live-steam buffs range from blue-collar workers to the starchiest business and professional people. The late [[Walt Disney]] was a member of the [[Los Angeles Live Steamers]], and musician-conductor [[David Rose]] is an ardent fan who regularly runs his own engines.		Live-steam buffs range from blue-collar workers to the starchiest business and professional people. The late [[Walt Disney]] was a member of the [[Los Angeles Live Steamers]], and musician-conductor [[David Rose]] is an ardent fan who regularly runs his own engines.

			[[File:Northern Cab at LALS.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|Controls in the cab of a 1-1/2 inch Northern. They're just like those in the parent engine, and all play some part in operating the model. The man's hand is on the throttle.]]

	You don't even have to be mechanically-minded to join in the fun, though it helps to be. Several companies make standard models that can be bought in kit form, and even at various stages of completion. Take, for example, the Hawaiian Plantation Engine, which runs on 7-1/2 inch track. For $300, you can buy rough castings of its parts; for $900 a kit of finished parts ready to assemble -- or for $1300 the locomotive all put together and ready to roll.		You don't even have to be mechanically-minded to join in the fun, though it helps to be. Several companies make standard models that can be bought in kit form, and even at various stages of completion. Take, for example, the Hawaiian Plantation Engine, which runs on 7-1/2 inch track. For $300, you can buy rough castings of its parts; for $900 a kit of finished parts ready to assemble -- or for $1300 the locomotive all put together and ready to roll.

	Whether it's nostalgia, the satisfaction of building an intricate piece of machinery, the thrill of hearing the roar of steam when the safety valves pop, or a combination of these and other reasons, the live-steam hobby is gaining new fans every year. Some 30 clubs are already active in this country, and there's even an ~~assocation~~, the International Brotherhood of Live Steamers, with which most of these clubs are affiliated.		Whether it's nostalgia, the satisfaction of building an intricate piece of machinery, the thrill of hearing the roar of steam when the safety valves pop, or a combination of these and other reasons, the live-steam hobby is gaining new fans every year. Some 30 clubs are already active in this country, and there's even an association, the International Brotherhood of Live Steamers, with which most of these clubs are affiliated.

	With all these people working on the railroad and all the talk about steam automobiles, who knows -- it could be that steam is on its way back!		With all these people working on the railroad and all the talk about steam automobiles, who knows -- it could be that steam is on its way back!


			[[File:LALS ride with children.jpg\|thumb\|center\|500px\|A 1-1/2 inch-scale engine pulls a load of youngsters. The Los Angeles Live Steamers Club maintains its own layout, with tow main tracks and rails designed to accommodate several different gauges.]]

Dnevil at 04:22, 31 January 2014

2014-01-31T04:22:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:22, 30 January 2014
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	Models are precise scale-downs from actual blueprints of the original life-size engines; and everything works, from a real coal fire in the firebox -- to tiny steam gauges on the boiler -- to throttle and brake levers in the cab.		Models are precise scale-downs from actual blueprints of the original life-size engines; and everything works, from a real coal fire in the firebox -- to tiny steam gauges on the boiler -- to throttle and brake levers in the cab.

	Live-steam buffs range from blue-collar workers to the starchiest business and professional people. The late [[~~Wald~~ Disney]] was a member of the [[Los Angeles Live Steamers]], and musician-conductor [[David Rose]] is an ardent fan who regularly runs his own engines.		Live-steam buffs range from blue-collar workers to the starchiest business and professional people. The late [[Walt Disney]] was a member of the [[Los Angeles Live Steamers]], and musician-conductor [[David Rose]] is an ardent fan who regularly runs his own engines.

	You don't even have to be mechanically-minded to join in the fun, though it helps to be. Several companies make standard models that can be bought in kit form, and even at various stages of completion. Take, for example, the Hawaiian Plantation Engine, which runs on 7-1/2 inch track. For $300, you can buy rough castings of its parts; for $900 a kit of finished parts ready to assemble -- or for $1300 the locomotive all put together and ready to roll.		You don't even have to be mechanically-minded to join in the fun, though it helps to be. Several companies make standard models that can be bought in kit form, and even at various stages of completion. Take, for example, the Hawaiian Plantation Engine, which runs on 7-1/2 inch track. For $300, you can buy rough castings of its parts; for $900 a kit of finished parts ready to assemble -- or for $1300 the locomotive all put together and ready to roll.