The Emma Sweeney was acquired by the Durango Railroad Society for display in Durango. The Society is in the process of restoring Emma back to its “Ticket to Tomahawk” movie glory. As part of that restoration, numerous missing parts have to be re-created and made from the original blueprints. I have taken on the remaking of several parts. I will be building the “Snifting Valves”, Technically they are the “Anti Vacuum Valves” located on the steam chests, and the “Straight Air Valve” in the cab. I’m starting on the “Snifting Valves” first. All that remains from the originals is one mounting block. We have copies of the original blueprints to work from. We have found numerous dieverations from the blue prints, and to be true to the project of recreating what 20th centurys prop shop created, and not what the real RGS #20 looked like, we are trying to be as accurate to what was built and not to the original. Emma was built of wood, fiberglass, plastic, metal, and some cardboard to last as long as the movie was being shot, not necessary for long term usage. Flaws in the fitting of parts were hid by “bondo” and covered in paint and etc. We are deviating from some original materials for the reconstruction of some parts for the sake of long term life of the model. example: using Ash for the mounting collar instead of non waterproof plywood on the original. The ply has delaminated and the parts fallen off. Using a hard wood instead of Soft Pine. The bill of materials only called out “Wood” not what kind of wood, and we have found several kinds, and it all will be painted to look like real metal. The brass parts will be a challenge. The blue prints:
And what I’ll be making.
Here is all thats left of the original, Note that it dosent match the blueprint.
So starts another project, I can run on my layout on the main line, but the Mtn. Div. will be a little slower coming on line. But the Emma project is for the greater good. Dave
