Messages

421

Work and Events / Re: Fall Work Weekend '08 - photos

« on: October 12, 2008, 10:09:50 AM »

Nice photos, Steven!

It's the next best thing to being there.  Please keep 'em coming.


Best Regards,
Glenn

422

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / New "Return of the Rails" insignia now on a T-shirt

« on: September 30, 2008, 07:49:03 PM »

Hi Folks,

Bill Shelley tells me the Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce will be receiving "Return of the Rails" T-shirts this coming Friday, October 3rd.  Each one is colorfully adorned with the previously shown version of the B&SR insignia.

The requested donation is $25 plus S&H.  (Priority mail is $4.85 and the handling charge is $1.00.)

You can get one (or more) by contacting the Chamber at (207)647–3472.


Best Regards,
Glenn

423

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / Re: New Insignia for Return of the Rails

« on: September 18, 2008, 07:10:28 PM »

Hi Folks,

I've been talking with Bill Shelley and he has asked me to tell you that he is in the process of having about 60, high-quality tee shirts in various sizes made up with the new Return of the Rails insignia.

These should be available from the Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce in 2-3 weeks.  Donation will be $25 plus S&H. 

If you would like one, please contact the Chamber at (207)647–3472.

More is on the way ... stay tuned.


Best Regards,
Glenn

424

General Discussion / Re: How's this for turntables?!

« on: September 14, 2008, 11:33:27 AM »

Hi Guys,

Here's a nice video of the Huntsville & Lake of Bays  operation showing the turntables in use.  Its impresive how smooth and free-turning they are, especially when you consider the loco shown weighs 21.5 tons. 

You'll see it yourselves - the fireman pushes the loco around for part of the distance and then lets the table continue turning under its own momentum while he positions himself to stop it and lock it down. 

Here's the URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0JC4rGOvwg


Best Regards,
Glenn

425

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / New Insignia for Return of the Rails

« on: September 12, 2008, 07:22:49 PM »

Hi Folks,
 
Bill Shelley has asked me to share this with you.
 
It is the new insignia for the group "Return of the Rails", which as you may recall spearheaded the drive to return the B&SR flanger for display in Bridgton.

True Bridgton fans will immediately recognize the design's source.  A local restuaranteur kindly donated funding so the insignia could be professionally done.
 
The group continues to work behind the scenes in Bridgton to expand its local support.  This insignia and additional signage will be installed at the exhibit site in the weeks to come.  Additional development is expected, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, if you'd like to assist "Return of the Rails" in their mission, you may either sign up at the Chamber of Commerce office, next to the flanger on Route 302 or you can call Bill Shelley directly at:  (207)221-0205  
 

Best Regards,
Glenn Christensen

426

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: Welsh Highland latest

« on: August 31, 2008, 05:48:29 PM »

The WHR(C) gang laying the final lengths of track from Pont Croesor finally met up with the end of the track already laid out from Porthmadog [the bit already being used by WHR(P)] at around 4.30pm this afternoon.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

I've been avidly following the progress of the project since the early nineties. Everyone involved has shown tremendous determination and dedication over the ensuing 16 years (and some since 1964!)  This has truly been an incredible and hard-won undertaking and its continuing progress does you all tremendous credit.  Your experiences and continuing success are an immense inspiration over here!

I hope to experience the complete work for myself in the next year or so!


Sincerely,
Glenn

427

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / Re: Flanger Pictures

« on: August 19, 2008, 08:07:13 PM »

Bill Shelley has been out of state. Once he is back, I expect this will get taken care of.

Not sure what else is going on with laying track on the ROW behind the C of C. Maybe the "Bridgton Boyz" can chine in on this one.

Hi Guys,

I spoke with Bill Shelley this evening.  The banner is on the way. 

"Return of the Rails" is busily pulling together a broad coalition of local groups (including the folks at Maine Narrow Gauge) to foster local support for the project.  That's the best way to ensure that when the rails do get spiked down, everybody wins, and they go down to stay.  Stay tuned Mike.  These things never go as quickly as we'd sometimes like, but behind the scenes the pieces are coming together.


Best Regards,
Glenn

428

General Discussion / Re: Baldwin Class 10-12-D 4-6-0T.......

« on: August 12, 2008, 06:26:50 PM »

I stumbled across this Baldwin/Alco WWI War Department 2' locomotive on a UK site ...
How difficult would it be to find plans for this class? Since it was a War Department Loco would the plans be in the Library of Congress? I like the layout of the design and would like to find the plans for it.

Hi Rob,

Modeller's plans have been published in a few, hard to obtain publications.  Plans for the Baldwin 4-6-0Ts were published in the book, "The Ashover Light Railway" by Gratton & Band.  This is the best published history of the line and has been out of print for several years.  You might find a second hand copy with a web search, but it won't be cheap..

Drawings of the 2-6-2Ts were printed in the book, "Narrow Gauge to No Man's Land", by Dunn.  This book is also out of print and likely to be expensive on the second hand market.

A number of authors report that they have been unable to find actual builders drawings for these locos, but I would never say never.

It's interesting to speculate how these locos would have done in Maine, but with roughly 5,200 lbs. of tractive effort, they would have been the rough operational equivalents of an 18-ton Forney.  Driver-size would be a bit of a challenge as the WWI locos in large part had 23.5" drivers.  But I've seen films of these locos in service and they were quite peppy.  Its interesting to note, some of the WWI railroad battalions actually rostered enginemen with RR experience gained on the Maine Two Footers.

An ALCO 2-6-2T, named "Mountaineer", has operated on the Festiniog for many years.  While it has been massively rebuilt, it has given good service. 


Best Regards,
Glenn

 

The locos would

429

UK (Welsh, British) Two Footers / Re: Sandy River Replica Locos

« on: August 03, 2008, 08:21:51 AM »

Hi Bill,

The only news I have is from some videos I saw on Myspace.  It looks like the fols at Brecon Mountain are focusing on the Brazilian, Baldwin 2-6-0 they bought from Mike Hart??? at the Ffestiniog a couple years ago.  It also looks like they have been slowly manufacturing and stockpiling parts for the replicas on #23 and #10.

Since the Brecon and the Rheidol lines are both owned by the same folks, it is an interesting exercise to consider how the Sandy River locos would perform on the Rheidol.

I'll keep my eyes peeled.


Best Regards,
Glenn

430

General Discussion / Re: Cripple creek Bagnal 0-4-4-0T

« on: August 02, 2008, 07:19:53 PM »

Is this locomotive operational? This would be a great loco to restore as Bagnal's are rare anymore.
Rob (new handle, my old name was lost)

Hi Rob,

Before I moved from Colorado Springs to Georgia, I spent a fair amount of time up at the CC&V and got to know Jim Birminghan pretty well.  As of when I moved back east about 6 years ago, Jim had just started taking the Bagnall apart for what promises to be a LONG restoration effort.  Since the project began I think Jim's priorities were probably: 1) Keeping the operation viable, 2) Keeping the current fleet operational, and somewhere further down the list - Restoring the Bagnall.

I'm sure he's made some progress since then, but I honestly don't know how much.  The Bagnall Meyer design is a pretty complex bag of tricks and added onto that is the fact that the locomotives as a class were known to have some steaming issues.  This is in part due to the marine-style boiler they have.  Its important to note that the 30" gauge example of the class, now at the Welshpool & Llanfair, has moved around quite a bit over the past few decades and has yet to turn a wheel under her own power.

Still, I have to agree with you and I know Jim does too.  That's why he hasn't sold her.

In the meantime, the CC&V has a DANDY little O&K 0-4-4-0 that sees quite a bit of use up in Pikes Peak country.  She's a HONEY!  You'll have to check her out.


Best Regards,
Glenn