Author Topic: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad  (Read 19547 times)

Jeff Schumaker

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #15 on: June 26, 2019, 07:53:30 PM »
Steve, 58 has indirect Walschaert valve gear, with the eccentric crank facing the opposite direction from most other US steam locomotives. I don't really know why, but it is interesting.

Jeff, the GE is a 70 tonner built in 1942 for the New York Central, later sold to Standard Slag, then finally Valley Lould & Iron in my hometown of Hubbard.  It has a 250 volts DC electrical system, making it very useful as a genset for powering the overhead travelling crane in the Tod Engine Building.  It also serves as our plant air compressor.

I thought it might be the former Standard Slag unit.

Jeff S.
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Mike the Choochoo Nix

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #16 on: July 03, 2019, 06:53:46 AM »
Rick, using non standard points and frogs on your switchs is not a problem, you simply need to calculate the radius and length of the closure rail needed for the frog number and point length you are using. Yes you will have a nonstandard switch that will be longer than normal but it will work fine. I have books with the info in them if you need it.
Mike Nix
Mike Nix

Graham Buxton

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #17 on: October 07, 2019, 02:14:41 PM »
The Heritage Rail Alliance has announced its 2019 award winners, and in the "Significant Achievement–Steam" category, the J&L #58 was one of the two winners.

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Significant Achievement–Steam
The locomotives must be revived from the dead, not previously restored and now receiving a federally required inspection and repair.

To Youngstown Steel Heritage Museum for the restoration of Jones & Laughlin Steel 2-foot gauge 0-4-0T #58.

https://heritagerail.org/2019/09/2019-heritagerail-awards/

Also note that the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust was recognized in the "Friend of Railway Preservation" category.   The WW&F has earlier been a recipient of at least two grants from the  John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust.

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Friend of Railway Preservation
This award goes to individuals and institutions who assist railway preservation although not directly involved in it.

https://heritagerail.org/2019/09/2019-heritagerail-awards/

To the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust, which has given grants totaling more than $1 million since its founding in 2015. Trust advisor Naurine Lennox attended and had the opportunity to meet about a dozen of the grant recipients.
Graham

Dave Buczkowski

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #18 on: October 07, 2019, 08:31:51 PM »
Congratulations to the Jones & Laughlin Narrow Gauge Railway! It’s well deserved.

Rick Rowlands

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #19 on: October 07, 2019, 10:33:59 PM »
Thanks!  I was quite surprised when I was contacted about winning the award.  I didn't think that our little project here in Ohio would end up on anyone's radar screen but I am glad that it did. 

Our last steam up of 2019 will be this upcoming Saturday.  We are hosting a whistle blow for another rail organization in Youngstown, so 58 will be in essence a stationary steam source for that event.  I'm looking forward to seeing how she does with all the whistles that will be demanding steam.  After that she will be winterized and some minor repair work done over the winter.   Hopefully we will begin construction of our eastern branch as well.
Rick Rowlands
Chief Engineer
J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
Youngstown, OH

Philip Marshall

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #20 on: October 07, 2019, 11:35:45 PM »
Congratulations, Rick!

John Kokas

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #21 on: October 08, 2019, 11:30:47 AM »
Congrats Rick!  Another major milestone, maybe a Cheerwine toast is in order.   8)     BTW - where do you plan on running the E-L SDP45 on the property? 
Moxie Bootlegger

Rick Rowlands

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #22 on: October 08, 2019, 08:05:59 PM »
Those two projects seem to be at the opposite ends of the rail preservation spectrum.  Narrow gauge steam railway and a giant mainline diesel locomotive.  Both have their connection to NE Ohio railroading, but to be honest its been easier to restore 58 than it has been to do anything with that SDP45. 
Rick Rowlands
Chief Engineer
J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
Youngstown, OH

Rick Rowlands

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #23 on: January 19, 2020, 12:30:00 PM »
We are getting ready for our second season of operations on the J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad. J&L 58 does not need much work in the off season, just a few tweaks and improvements to take care of some issues uncovered in our first summer of operation.  There is a plan in the works to acquire more property to dramatically extend the J&LNG and to that end I have started construction of a switch that will head to that new property.  Hopefully by June this switch will be complete as well as about 300 feet of new trackage to run over. 

The house track is also scheduled to be constructed as well as relocate the enginehouse from the main track to this new location.

This photo shows the start of construction of the second switch.  We are using 100RB rail, although the new track will transition up to 115RE to go up the hill, then back down to 90RA for trackage on the upper level.  The house track will be 70AS since I have several sticks of it available.  The track leading off to the right is the house track and the enginehouse will sit basically where the pickup truck is parked.

Our operating schedule for 2020 can be found here:  http://www.steelheritage.org
« Last Edit: January 19, 2020, 03:41:23 PM by Rick Rowlands »
Rick Rowlands
Chief Engineer
J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
Youngstown, OH

Bill Baskerville

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Re: J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
« Reply #24 on: January 19, 2020, 11:26:56 PM »
Rick,

In reading your latest post about acquiring more property to extend the line, I thought of how our founder, Harry Percival started with just a dream and a few sticks of track. 

Now look at where the WW&F is, and how far it has come.

This is my way of saying "keep the dream alive and keep moving forward."

Bill
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