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Messages - Rick Rowlands

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46
US Two Footers / Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« on: June 25, 2019, 09:08:53 PM »
Interestingly enough it does not squeal going around the curve as long as the outer rail is greased. 
https://youtu.be/0iRsHTvwNoQ?t=193

A guardrail may be something that is added down the road. 


47
US Two Footers / Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« on: June 24, 2019, 07:23:43 PM »
This is the stub track that runs out onto a fill at the front of the property.  115RE rail on full size ties cut in half.  This is our standard construction, except we drop down to 100RB for the rest of the main, 85AS for the house track and the eastern extension will be 90RA. 

48
US Two Footers / Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« on: June 24, 2019, 07:13:30 AM »
Not a little, but a LOT of flange wear.  I keep the curve greased and that does help.  There will be an almost as sharp of a curve going in the other direction on the eastern extension, so at least wear will be evened out.

I already have a price quote for new driver tires and since I have a spare set of drivers, they will be disassembled and refurbished so that when we do wear through the flanges, I can just swap them out.   I can only imagine the number of driver tires these engines used up in 25 years of service at J&L. 

The idea of putting in a permanent rail greaser has crossed my mind and there is one that I could acquire if I wanted to put it in.  Until then its me and the bucket of grease every morning on operating days!

49
US Two Footers / Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« on: June 23, 2019, 07:49:13 PM »
Yes.  That is a 40' radius curve and 58 rolls right around it as if its not there.  The rear platform swings out so far it reminds you of being on a trolley car.

50
US Two Footers / Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« on: June 23, 2019, 07:36:46 AM »
The GE 70 ton locomotive makes for a great platform to view the action from.  The 58 is all business.  No frills, just brute strength and heavy weight.  At over 40 tons and with 16,000 lbs. of tractive effort, there isn't much she can't pull.

I made a few modifications to the locomotive, one of which is the provisions for a large whistle mounted to the tank.  Currently she has a PRR 3 chime, but can accommodate any full size locomotive whistle.  To compensate for the expansion of the boiler as it heats up, a flexible steam line is used between the dome valve and the whistle bracket.

51
US Two Footers / Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« on: June 23, 2019, 07:22:30 AM »
This is the LEF&C bobber bay window caboose as it appeared last weekend.  It stayed in good condition because it had a rubber roof appled and the previous owner placed storm windows and Celotex on the sides of the car.  The interior is absolutely beautiful as well.

52
US Two Footers / J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« on: June 23, 2019, 07:17:41 AM »
Now that the J&L 58 has returned to service and operating on a regular schedule, we are turning our attention to several other projects to enhance the operation. 

House Track.  Currently the only track that we have is the main, which is about 600 feet long.  One switch has been installed leading to the new site of the enginehouse and eventually into a proposed extension of the Tod Engine building.  This building extension will have a 20' x 45' area for a backshop complete with a 25 ton overhead crane. 

Standard Gauge Rail Cars.  We have three standard gauge cars coming in to serve the narrow gauge.  The first is a wooden bay window bobber caboose body that will be used as a crew room and bunkhouse for volunteers.  This car was built by the Lake Erie Franklin & Clarion Railroad and has been at a campsite since 1968.  It will be moved to Youngstown later this summer.  The second car is an EL bay window caboose donated by CSX.  It will be used for our main office.  The third is a 1920s era 10,000 gallon GATX tankcar tank.  Also being donated by CSX, it will be cleaned out and used for boiler water storage. 

Eastern Extension.  The mainline will be extended approx. 800 feet to the east, thanks to a deal struck with a neighbor to purchase a 30' wide strip of land extending about 700' eastward.  Once a new turnout is installed and grading done we can commence with the laying of track, and speaking of track I also made a deal to acquire enough 90 lb. rail to construct this extension.

Due to the weight of our locomotive, we are consigned to using rail 85 lb. or heavier for most of the railroad.  While it makes it a bit more difficult to build mainly because frogs and points are not designed for the short closure distances of 24" gauge, it is actually rather easy to find rail.  Older 90 and 100 lb. rail can still be found in abandoned sidings and industry tracks. 

While the type of narrow gauge railroading that we do here in Youngstown is a far cry from what is practiced up in Maine, I do look to the WW&F for inspiration and ideas.  You set the standard which we strive to emulate. 

The photo is of a recent operating day when we moved topsoil from the new site of the enginehouse to the fill at the western end of the main track with the side dump car. 


53
US Two Footers / Re: Jones & Laughlin Steel 58 Returns to Service!
« on: May 17, 2019, 07:27:54 AM »
The J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad team after driving the last spike

54
US Two Footers / Re: Jones & Laughlin Steel 58 Returns to Service!
« on: May 17, 2019, 07:26:30 AM »
Our converted Crown passenger car

55
US Two Footers / Jones & Laughlin Steel 58 Returns to Service!
« on: May 17, 2019, 07:25:14 AM »
J&L Steel 58 returned to operation on May 4, 2019 with her first revenue runs on the J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad at the Youngstown Steel Heritage Museum in Youngstown, OH.   She ran again on May 11 for our own "Last Spike" ceremony that officially ended the five year initial construction of the railroad and commenced regular operations. 

This group of Porters built for J&L Steel were the heaviest and most powerful two foot gauge steam locomotives built for American service, a third larger than SR&RL 23.  However, until we began this project not many people knew about these locomotives due to their use behind the walls of a steel mill where no photography was permitted. 

We plan to run the 58 on a regular basis over our initial 600 feet of track.  Property is being acquired to extend the mainline another 800 feet.  Our first passenger car is a Crown riding on two Carpenter Steel flatcars. 

56
Museum Discussion / Re: How Far is the WW&F going to restore the new track?
« on: February 15, 2019, 01:44:35 PM »
This is an organization that thrives on reaching goals, and I don't think we would be content to not pursue lofty goals.  Once 11 is built and 218 is reached, will the WW&F be content to just run what we have or will there always be a desire to set and achieve another lofty goal? 

I think the real uniqueness of the WW&F is the ability to achieve great things.  But what happens once all of those great things have been done?  Just something to think about.


57
Museum Discussion / Re: A WW&F Christmas card...video
« on: December 24, 2018, 05:40:04 PM »
From your two footed friends in Ohio, we wish you all a Merry Christmas!

58
Volunteers / Re: At the HRA Spring Conference
« on: April 17, 2018, 06:25:18 AM »
It was good to meet you Steve, and to see Wayne again. 

59
US Two Footers / Re: Jones & Laughlin 58 Restoration
« on: March 23, 2018, 11:02:11 PM »
next pic

60
US Two Footers / Re: Jones & Laughlin 58 Restoration
« on: March 23, 2018, 10:51:13 PM »
Since it would be rather impossible for a real face to face meeting, here is an HON30 comparison between a Maine Forney and the 58 and with a standard gauge boxcar.

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