Author Topic: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))  (Read 22132 times)

Bill Piche

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Hello to all of you folks curious to see what we have been up to this summer at the Maine Narrow Gauge!

Over the next few days, keep a close eye on the Maine Narrow gauge thread on NERAIL (http://photos.nerail.org/show/?order=byrail&page=1&key=Maine%20Narrow%20Gauge) as I will be uploading pictures from our November 29th work day. It was a very busy day, with work going on for both #1 and #7.

The first of these pictures will be of the recently returned (and beautifully restored) Sandy River and Rangely Lakes combine #15 (formerly Phillips and Rangely #13) and of #1 (a few adjustments away from being cleared to return to service).

The eagerly awaited photos of #7 will be coming shortly.

Bill Piche
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Ed Lecuyer

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2008, 08:11:51 AM »
Those new pics of #15 look great! Congratulations on a most excellent restoration.
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Glenn Christensen

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2008, 08:40:15 PM »
Thanks Bill!

I love that Billmeyer and Small logo on the inside of the door.  Is that original to the car?


Best Regards,
Glenn
« Last Edit: December 02, 2008, 08:58:39 PM by Glenn Christensen »

Matthew Gustafson

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2008, 08:44:19 PM »
YAY! I can wait to see hows good old #7 is doing down there in your steam shops!  ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Bill Piche

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2008, 01:06:25 AM »
Thanks Bill!

I love that Billmeyer and Small logo on the inside of the door.  Is that original to the car?


Best Regards,
Glenn

Glen,

I couldn't tell you myself if the Billmeyer and Small logo is original or a well done reproduction. What I can tell you is that there is probably a reference to Billmeyer and Small in "Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad and Predecessors V1 (Equipment Manufacturers and the Equipment, 1)" I do know that they built railroad cars up until the late 19th century, and did work for NG lines during the "Narrow Gauge Fever" days of the 1880s, so there could be a link between them and #15.

Someone with a copy of that book or maybe a little more historical knowledge than myself could probably shed some light on the subject.
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John McNamara

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2008, 10:27:28 AM »
I just Googled "Billmeyer and Small" and got a quite amazing number of hits.

Wayne Laepple

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2008, 05:45:23 PM »
When I worked for the Maryland & Pennsylvania RR in York, Pa., I often looked at the former Billmeyer & Small plant, which was directly catty-cornered from the M&P's station and office on east market Street. The building was later damaged by a runaway gondola that derailed and crashed into the corner of the structure. A couple of the East Broad Top's coaches were by B&S, and somewhere in my stuff around here, I have a cast iron plate with "B&S" cast into it that secured the rods that held the bolster in place on a Billmeyer & Small boxcar from the Tuscarora Valley RR.

Bill Piche

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2008, 12:00:03 AM »
There are now pictures of #7 on NERAIL from a few of our worksessions in the Spring of 2008. I will try to add photos of the boiler removal tomorrow. http://photos.nerail.org/show/?order=byrail&page=1&key=Maine%20Narrow%20Gauge

On a side note according to the equipment roster in "The Maine Scenic Route" by H. Temple Crittenden, SR&RL #15 was built by B&S in the mid-1880s.
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Matthew Gustafson

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2008, 11:27:06 AM »
Hows #7 doing in the steam shops? :)
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Ed Lecuyer

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2008, 11:37:18 AM »
Matt,

Please realize that most of the people who work on these things have day jobs. Not much will change within a week. I suggest that you check this forum on Sunday nights to see the progress made over the course of a weekend.

-Ed
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Matthew Gustafson

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2008, 11:42:10 AM »
Okay then! :) I will. ;)
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Eric Bolton

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2008, 11:57:26 AM »
Or read the above posts and click on the link for the pictures that show the 7's current condition.
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Ted Miles

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2008, 11:08:59 PM »
Folks,

Brillmeyer & Smalls' was a noted builder of narrow gauge rail equipment; both passenger and freight cars.

Their stuff is on the Maine Lines, the East Broad Top and several all the way out in Colorado narrow gauge.

If you want to learn more about wooden car builders go to the Mid Continent Railroad Museum web site and scroll down to the car builders pages. They are great!

The Carter Brothers of Newark, California is another interesting company. The Society for Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources has a good site also. They operated a horse powered replica of the Centerville Branch of the South Pacific Coast Railroad. It was the most successful of the California narrow gauges. 

Ted Miles

Matthew Gustafson

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2008, 11:18:05 PM »
Folks,

Brillmeyer & Smalls' was a noted builder of narrow gauge rail equipment; both passenger and freight cars.

Their stuff is on the Maine Lines, the East Broad Top and several all the way out in Colorado narrow gauge.

If you want to learn more about wooden car builders go to the Mid Continent Railroad Museum web site and scroll down to the car builders pages. They are great!

The Carter Brothers of Newark, California is another interesting company. The Society for Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources has a good site also. They operated a horse powered replica of the Centerville Branch of the South Pacific Coast Railroad. It was the most successful of the California narrow gauges. 

Ted Miles

Nice website hope one day you will own a steam engine to use on your musuem.  :D ;D
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Bill Piche

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Re: 2008 Restoration Work at Maine Narrow Gauge (MNG #1, B&SR #7, SR&RL #15))
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2008, 11:50:35 PM »
Ok folks, I just uploaded the last 13 pictures from the 11-29 work session.

(http://photos.nerail.org/show/?order=byrail&page=1&key=Maine%20Narrow%20Gauge)

Sorry for the delay.

Engineer/Fireman, MNGRR/WW&F/Essex
"Any day with steam is a good day." - me