Messages

241

Museum Discussion / Re: Track availability

« on: December 03, 2008, 08:25:26 PM »

Found this on Rail Swap, it's not too far from me,  if the museum was interested I could go and inspect it.
http://railswap.org/cb/cl/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=10262&query=retrieval
I know the shipping would be more from here. I haven't  contacted the seller so I don't know the price.
Mike Nix

242

Two Footers outside of the US / The movie Australia

« on: November 30, 2008, 03:08:08 PM »

I went to see the movie Australia last night. There is a cameo apperance by a 2 foot gauge locomotive. It's only for a couple of seconds in the background of the "Darwin" scenes, no good views but I did a little research and here's some links to info about the loco. It is an 0-6-0 Hudswell Clarke 1067 of 1914 "Homebush".
http://www.australiansteam.com/sugar/hc1067a.jpg
http://www.australiansteam.com/sugar/hc1067b.jpg
http://www.australiansteam.com/sugar.htm

The Darwin scenes were filmed in Bowen Australia, They laid track in the street just for the movie.
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2007/05/01/2345_news.html

Mike Nix

243

Two Footers outside of the US / Re: Whats your favorite 2 foot engine!

« on: November 30, 2008, 12:52:55 PM »

I didn't know the EL was ever 2 foot. Any info on the web about that?
My favorite engine has to be Decauville #896 (600 mm gauge if that counts)  at the Lake Region Pioneer Theshermens Association in Dalton Minnesota. I have ran it a number of times.
Mike Nix

244

Work and Events / Re: Car shop extension

« on: November 30, 2008, 12:38:32 PM »

Matt,
 With good roller bearings the turntable should turn real easy.  I'm sure the gang will do a great job on it.
Boy the shop extension looks a lot bigger once it's roof is on. And the rest of you SMILE in the photos so we can wonder what you're up to.
Mike Nix

245

Museum Discussion / Re: WW&F Track Expansion: Across from 218 and/or Cross Road

« on: November 26, 2008, 09:11:15 PM »

Any changes to the grade (at least changes involving earthmoving) would probably require DEP (Dept. of Environmental Protection) involvement.  No point in doing that until we are serious in our intent to extend south.

Just curious, how much "ballast" could you add each year without getting a DEP permit? A few inches every year could really add up over time, and with panel track and  steel ties , than a heavier soil could be used.
    By the way there was some panel track owned by a private party in Massachusetts. available a couple of years ago . If anyone is interested PM me for info.
Mike Nix

246

General Discussion / Inter library loan

« on: November 24, 2008, 10:46:37 PM »

We all would like to have access to every book on railroads that was ever printed, but none of us has the money to buy them all or the space to keep them. The answer to that is to use the inter library loan system. You can get just about any book to read for two weeks just for the cost of the postage to your local library. It is an inexpensive  way for all of us to increase our knowledge about the trains we like.
Of course we should buy our "keepers" from the museum.

I've used this system many times, especially for out of print books.

Mike Nix

247

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / Re: Franklin St?

« on: November 15, 2008, 04:29:50 PM »

Hi Matt,
 What they mean is that there is a passing siding at both ends of their track so they can run the locomotive around and run it at the head of the train both ways. They have a nice ride along the water front and the best part is that a public biking and walking path runs alongside the railroad most of the way. I hope you get a chance to go there some time, there is also a lot of other neat stuff to see in Maine besides the trains.

Mike Nix

248

Museum Discussion / Re: Track availability

« on: November 07, 2008, 11:24:09 PM »

Hi.
I don't know if any of you have heard but scrap prices have crashed in the last few weeks.  Scrap steel that here in the midwest last spring was bringing $265 per ton is now down to $20 a ton. YES Twenty dollars a ton. It may soon be a good time to buy a lot of rail, or maybe to get a donation of "unsuitable" rail to trade for good rail. Just throwing that out for what it's worth.

Mike Nix

249

Museum Discussion / Re: Engine Air Compressor Lubricators

« on: October 25, 2008, 08:02:12 PM »

  Get ready for Plan "B" - it looks like non-network rail will be coming under jurisdiction as early as next year.   

What is Non-network rail? Are they talking about Disney Land? They give steam train rides to the public! Steam and gas engine shows with a train? Private "museums" that have a once a year public train ride?
Tell us more. And just how is the WWF different than any of these?

Mike Nix

250

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / Re: Engine #1

« on: October 18, 2008, 10:32:22 PM »

Hi.
 You seem to have things well thought out and under control. but you might want to check out this link for parts.
http://www.agkits.com/Cummins-Engine-Rebuild-Kits-NT855.aspx

If you ever have to re-engine a locomotive remember that most truck and industrial engines use standard SAE bell-housing bolt patterns. 
http://www.garbee.net/~cabell/sae.htm

Good luck, hope everything goes ok.

Mike Nix

251

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

« on: October 13, 2008, 11:33:32 AM »

Nice work, I'm glad you had good weather.
Just curious, how many more feet of roadbed is ready for track and how much beyond that is cleared at this time.
Mike Nix
in Minneaota

252

Museum Discussion / Re: 1910 Days/Old Steamshovels

« on: August 31, 2008, 08:59:04 PM »

 

  The biggest is probably at Mount Pleasant Iowa

Or Rollag Minnesota

http://www.rollag.com/

Mike Nix