Topics

1

Other Narrow Gauge / Narrow Gauge Dining Cars?

« on: August 07, 2023, 07:36:12 PM »

Folks,
         I am compiling a list of surviving dining cars; so far I have not found one narrow gauge one? Does anyone know of a narrow gauge line that served food?  Did the Rangeley parlor car serve meals?
TM retired but still interested in trains

2

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / WW&F Hand car

« on: June 18, 2023, 02:25:35 PM »

Folks,
         There is a picture of a WW&F handcar on the Boothbay Railway Village web site.
 It does not have a number. Does anyone have additional information about it? Or a source of
 information about WW&F Hand cars?
 I do know that Fairmont built a lot of speeders and hand cars.  Many thanks.

Ted Miles, WW&F Life Member, Built 11 Contributor.

3

Museum Discussion / Edaville #130

« on: May 01, 2023, 02:04:51 PM »

Folks,
         I found this car on my Edaville roster. Is this the same car that is being discussed in the Board Minutes and being painted on the Spring Work Weekend?

Ted Miles, Life Member

4

Museum Discussion / Boiler work on the WW&F #10

« on: November 19, 2022, 02:38:44 PM »

It seems like I have not heard anything about work on the #10 in a very long time.

I know that work on #11 and the engine house is taking a lot of hours. But I hope
that the new boiler has not beeen side-lined.

I like that little sugar plantation locomotive.

Ted Miles, WW&F Life Member Built 11 Contributor

5

Museum Discussion / New Facebook Pages

« on: May 26, 2022, 12:52:48 PM »

Folks,
         Those new facebook pages and videos sure give a lot of information about the museum and its activities!! even though I am a regular viewer, there were some videos that I had not seen. Thank you to the web site designers!

Ted Miles, Life Member,  Build 11 contributor

6

Two Footers outside of the US / Two-footers traveling home

« on: April 11, 2022, 02:08:01 PM »

A pair of two-foot gauge locomotives from the Lord Penryhn Quarries have been in Terre Haute, Indiana for rhe past fourty years. The #12 was built by Avendale Engine Company at Bristol in 1933 of 7.5-tons and the #15 was built by Andrew Barclay & Sons at Kilmarnick, Scotland in 1931 of 7.5-tons.
I am glad to see them back home in England. There was a third similar locomotive on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation; but I do not know where she has gone to.

The two locomotves have been sold to the Beamish Open Air Museum at Durham, UK. They are the oldest and largest restoration village in the UK; and have both a standard gauge railroad and a 24-inch quarry railroad. Over the April 9-10, 2022 weekend they held their annual Steam Festival; with steam cars, steam traction engines a steam crane and of course steam locos running over their two railroads. The #12 Glyder looks very nice!   

Ted Miles, WW&F Member, narrow gauge

7

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Link and Pins

« on: January 31, 2022, 10:17:58 PM »

Folks,
        I have a shelf full of books about the W&Q and the WW&F Ry; but I have not been able to find when the passenger cars switched from links to Janney (safety) couplers.

Is there any evidence that the W&Q used Miller hook or similar couplers?

Thanks,

Ted Miles, WW&F Life Member Built 11 Contributor

8

Other Narrow Gauge / Victorian Train celebration on the C&T Scenic Railroad

« on: September 20, 2021, 12:28:36 AM »

The Friends of the C&T Scenic Railroad have celebrated their 50th Anniversary in grand style with the newly restored Glenbrook and the RGS #20 running on their line. They also had the Eureka & Palisade #4 Eureka which is back for another visit. And on top of that they had a whole train of 1880s passenger cars. All of the videos can be seen on the Narrow gauge Discussion Forum.

While the WW&F is building a new #9; the C&TS has gone almost as far with their restoration of the D&RG #470 Tourist Sleeper. This is the first Pullman built car restored in Colorado, complete with its complex Pullman trucks.
Ted Miles, CRRM Member

9

Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad / Car #33

« on: June 30, 2021, 12:18:00 PM »

Folks,
         The Sandy River web site mentions a car #33 being converted to a combine. Anyone know the history of that car? Was it something that came from the Edaville Railroad?

As we know that WW&F did a similar conversion for ADA reasons, which is a good thing!

Ted Miles, WW &F Member and #11 Contributor   

10

Other Narrow Gauge / Wood Craftsmanship

« on: June 26, 2021, 12:44:18 PM »

For those interested in car building; the C&TS volunteers have rebuilt a Pullman tourist sleeper in Colorado Springs. While one team built the body, another team built the Pullman trucks. This the first Pullman car rebuilt in Colorado; joining a large number of Jackson & Sharp products. D&RG #470 was built in 1889, later served the Colorado & Northwestern as a coach. Later still the Western Union wire train. Discussion and photographs can be found on the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum.  Ted Miles, CRRM Member

11

Massachusetts' Two Footers / Edaville Roster

« on: March 31, 2021, 03:39:08 PM »

Down below a couple of folks have asked about Edaville Rosters. The Railfan's Guide to Museum and Park Displays by Randolph Dean was published in 1973.

His Edaville Railroad roster is very complete including all the two-foot locos and cars as well as the standard gauge equipment. 

It is also very good for narrow gauge in other parts of the country.

Ted Miles ,narrow gauge fan

12

Massachusetts' Two Footers / Whithin Machine Works

« on: March 31, 2021, 03:24:29 PM »

I thought I would look and see what Wikipedia has to say about this old time New England firm. Founded in 1835, they manufactured textile machinery from 1835 to 1948 with final closure in 1976. They had a progressive company town called Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Of interest to us is their two-foot gauge railroad powered by two GE Diesel-electric locomotives. They were at Edaville, then Maine Narrow Gauge Museum. The #2 locomotive is currently getting a new Diesel engine in Portland.

Ted Miles, WW&F Member     

13

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / B&SR #34 flat car

« on: November 24, 2020, 09:25:22 PM »

I am interested in the recent history of this flat car before it was re-built in the WW&F Shop in February 2019 for the Spring Work Party.

One photo in the threat says it was a kit at Boothbay Village. So when did it move from Maine Narrow Gauge Museum to Boothbay? Did they own it?   

Most of the B&SR flat cars were re-built at Edaville into Open Side Excursion Cars; was the #34 one of these? 

Ted Miles, narrow gauge fan

14

US Two Footers / Descanso, Alpine & Pacific Railroad

« on: August 27, 2020, 02:31:23 PM »

This two-foot gauge, half-mile back yard railroad at Alpine, San Diego County, California was powered by a 2.5 ton gas locomotive by Brookville Locomotive works in 1935. The caboose is patterned after the Colorado & Southern #1009 caboose, which is also being restored in California. 

Starting about 1990, Mr Ray Athey built and operated this fun little railroad. By 2018, he was no longer able to operate it and it was donated to the Pacific Southwest Railroad Museum. I hope they re-build it; the kids will love it!
Ted Miles, WW&F Member

15

Other Narrow Gauge / Another bell story

« on: August 23, 2020, 12:03:17 PM »

As we know from my previous post, I like railroad bells. I was reading the blog of the Sumpter Valley Railroad (36" gauge) which brought a pair of Sumpter Valley locomotives down from the White Pass & Yukon Route.  Both of the locomotives were missing their bells.

Turn back to the 1980s, a family in Skagway needed a dinner bell, and got one off the dead line of the White Pass. Years later, they and the bell traveled down to Idaho and eventually heard about the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration and the missing bells. 

An offer of the bell was made; and it took about 30 seconds for the museum to say yes. So you ask, how do you tell which locomotive the bell came from? The bell in Idaho is complete with its bell frame, while the #20 still has its base of the frame bolted to the top of the boiler. Thus, it is the 19's bell and in addition, the bolt holes lined up nicely.

Mostly brass parts are taken off derelict locos to be melted down; but not always. Sometimes these artifacts do return to the proper homes. If anyone is out in eastern Oregon, the Sumpter Valley is a fine narrow gauge operation and they are doing some excellent restorations. 

Ted Miles WW&F Life Member