Large Scale Central

FIRING THE FALK

Prototypes
#1

Hello all, Spent a great Saturday at Ft. Humboldt participating in the Timber Heritage Associations (see here http://www.timberheritage.org/ ) Spring steam training. This year we were using the Elk River Mill and Land Company’s FALK locomotive. I have been lucky enough to have worked on this loco as well as the Bear Harbor Lumber CO. #1 also at Ft. Humboldt several times. On the 25th of April we have the annual “Donkey Days” celebration and if everything goes right this year I will finally be able to fire/engineer on the Lidgerwood Donkey, should be a ball. Anyway here are a couple of pictures of the Falk. Here the little beauty is sitting in front of the engine house warming up and ready for the pre work check out. It takes at least 2 hours to get warmed up and a head of 120 lbs of steam to work with. That is low steam pressure but remember this boiler was fabricated in 1884, she is a little aged.

Out on the line making a little steam

Some of the boy’s discussing the fact that the switch throw needs some cleaning and other work.

A shot of yours truly making a little steam as we back up the hill.

Had a great day, wish all you steam fans could have been there. Thanks for your time. Rick Marty

#2

Thanks for the pictures, Rick.
The Falk looks interesting.
Cool you get to play engineer.
Ralph

#3

Very cool! :smiley:

-Brian

#4

That must have been a lot of fun…
dave

#5

Very cool Rick. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Where exactly is thgis? I gathered from the website that it’s redwood country in California, but it doesn’t say where exactly. Perhaps that’s on purpose.

I love the 2nd to last pic - what a nice spot to run a RR.

#6

Hi Jon, This is at Fort Humboldt in Eureka, CA. on Humboldt Bay, the heart of the Redwood country. Ft. Humboldt is a military reservation dating to the 1850’s, now a California state park. It’s claim to fame is that it once garrisioned Lt. U.S. Grant. They have a temporary display ( going on 40 years now) of local logging and railroading equipment. The stars of the exhibit are the ELK RIVER MILL & LUMBER COMPANY #1, the FALK. The Falk is an 0-4-0 Gypsy weighing 18,000 lbs and 130 lbs boiler pressure. Built by Marshutz & Cantrell of San Francisco in 1884. The Falk spent it’s entire working life in the Humboldt County Redwoods. It was retired in 1927 and and donated to the state for public display in 1937. In 1986 it was restored to working condition by what is now the TIMBER HERITAGE ASSOCIATION, and is used for public enjoyment on a monthly basis during the summer. The other star is the BEAR HARBOR & EEL RIVER RAILROAD #1. It is also a 0-4-0 Gypsy weighing 24,000 lbs built by Marshutz & Cantrell in 1892. It also spent it’s entire working life in Humboldt County. It was donated to the state for public use and restored to operating condition in 1979 by THA. About 4 years ago I was able to take my 80 year old Dad for a day’s training on the Bear Harbor, talk about somebody loving something, boy, he sure did. I think I have a picture of the BH#1, I’ll try to find it. Found It, That’s Pop in the red plaid shirt, having a ball with the other ol’ boy’s.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/rick_marty/_forumfiles/Bear20001.jpg)

Sorry, Im sure this is way more than you ever wanted to know, but it’s kind of cool, there is not many of these type things left in this old world. Later Rick Marty

#7

Rick -

Definitely not more than I wanted to know. Another place to put on my Must See list. Thanks! These engines looks so cool running through the grass and pines :smiley:

EDIT: For others reading this thread who are aslo new to teh term “Gypsy Locomotive” this site does a good job of explaining them: http://www.gearedsteam.com/other/bear_harbor_1/bear_harbor_1.htm

#8

Rick, thanks for the great pics and info!! I’ve always loved that little loco ever since I first saw a pic of it almost 30 years ago. It’s got that tiny, homebuilt look, and the winch mechanisms clutter it up in the coolest way.

#9

Ft. Humboldt’s Bear Harbor No. 1 engine, did not work in Humboldt county. It worked out of Bear Harbor and later Moody, when it was acquired by the Anderson Family and became part of their operation in Moody and Andersona, which both are in Mendocino County. Both the Falk and Bear No. 1 are great engines and the TIMBER HERITAGE ASSOCIATION did a great job restoring them to working order and their operation at F. Humboldt is also great. ah