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« on: October 27, 2019, 11:49:45 AM »
Yes, the photo was taken by Bob Cavenaugh and the velo belongs to fellow museum member Bruce Wilson. It is an original Sheffield #1 and if memory serves was originally from the B&M. Bruce still owns the velo and is in storage. Bruce did bring it along to the museum on a few occasions to try in out. I did not run very well because it needed alot of work. Also the conversion from standard to narrow gauge was not very well done. The biggest issue with narrowing up a velo is counterbalance. The closer the outrigger wheel to the bike it is much harder to keep it from tipping over. This problem is also compounded if is is a velo #2. Usually a metal counter weight is necessary to offset the leverage/balance loss due to the shorter outrigger arm. I have seen some modifiers use larger diameter, full steel wheels instead of wooden spoked wheels along with a counter weight to help with this balance loss. Yes there is a built velo body upstairs in the shop building and I believe it was built by Ben Campbell. However there are still many missing metal pieces to it. The only two footer to use a velo was the SR&RL. I believe there is a photo of it in one of Bob Jones' Two Feet Between The Rails books.