Large Scale Central

🚟 STRANGE LOCOMOTIVES (Post your favourite in 2024 & 2025 here)

Guys;

Here are two locomotives from railroading’s early days that certainly deserve to be included in this thread.


Enjoy, David Meashey


Dave it could be me but the rear linkage appears to do nothing but attach to the rear axles. I figure drawing error

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The Atlantic (or a close relative) is in the B&O RR Museum. I think it started life as a slightly newer loco that was back-dated for the 1927 “Fair of the Iron Horse.”

The mud-digger was a jack shaft drive loco. Note the piston rod points directly to the jack shaft center. I believe there’s a pair of gears inside the frames to carry the movement to the wheels.

When I first worked at the B&O RR Museum as a docent, there was a collection of wooden replica locos arranged around the perimeter. Apparently J. Pangborn, who was organizing the collection, had replicas built of significant historical locos that had not been saved. The mud-digger was one; I distinctly remember it in the collection, and those coupling rods almost hit the ground - hence the ‘mud-digger’ name. (Another model was the Stephenson’s Rocket! And they were not exactly to scale - some were larger than others.)

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Since you brought it up Pete, I’ll post a video. What an amazing event.

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I built a live steam model of the Atlantic (Grasshopper) many years ago including the coaches.

That I can follow Pete and it’s a design I didn’t know of , but what is confusing to me is that the two front axles work with a connecting rod attached to cranks on both drivers to turn the axles. That I follow. I see what appears to be a driving piston above the front drivers that has a drive rod connected to a crank at the rear of the loco that goes inside the loco above the very rear drive wheel axle, this you seem to recall turns gears inside the loco which could turn the rear axles. So I think I’m following your recall on this loco. But my issue come with the two rear axles which from your description are the geared drivers. These then have a connecting rod attached to the axle ends not to a crank. then they have another connecting rod going to the front driver pair. With this set up the long connecting rod between the front and rear pairs of drivers would have to expand and contract as the drivers rotate or would need to be attached to a crank on the rear driver to maintain the needed spacing…

Nice find Cliff.

I think Vic actually built one of those a long time ago - chip in if you read this Vic (with pics :crossed_fingers: …)

The best (or worst) thing is Charming Creek actually bought a Price 16 wheeler - I’ve got a pic of the chassis on a wharf in process of shipping, probably the one that lasted till 1953. Apparently it was too stuffed for even them to resurrect.

So, if I ever need an excuse to attempt one… :laughing:

Cheers
N

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Folks;

I seem to recall that at the 1997 Garden Railway Convention in the Washington, DC area, Astor was featuring a smallish Grasshopper type live steamer with the Concord stagecoach type rail coaches. For a smallish steamer it could really scoot!

Regards, David Meashey

Lousy drawing. Here’s a better one:

Thank you Pete. I figured that was the issue . But i liked your knowledge on the loco’s drive set up

Another interesting (to me) “Train of Thought” video, highlighting the Heisler.

Ironically, the last loco was produced in NZ.

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Excellent video, one of my favorite locomotives. Being a geared locomotive nut, it was one of my first locomotives purchased as a kid of 12 years old. Wish I still had the model. :slight_smile:

Folks;

Interesting thing about our models is that a Hartland Big John (Dunkirk) will pull a Bachmann Heisler backwards (kicking & screaming the whole way). I know because I have owned both locomotives, and I have done that. That little Dunkirk is one hard puller!

Regards, David Meashey

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Nice find Cliff. Ogilvies loco is still around - currently under restoration. I took these pics a year or two back during an open day.

Cheers
N

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I’ve always loved this little guy. An armored Simplex trench locomotive built for hauling ammo and supplies to the front lines in ww1. After the war dozens of these were shipped back to Britain and were put to work on small field and industrial railways across Great Britain. I’m currently working on a model of one using a handcar drive.
MR_1377_Knostrop

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There’s a UK company selling a model kit. http://www.swiftsixteen.com/. . except they are sold out.

Thanks, I just finished painting it, still needs weathering and I’m waiting some new figures to add. Will post pics this weekend.

You black out the windows add bronze tint to the windshield along with ditch lites, HEP cabling and a plow you got yourself a 1915 F40AmoSup