A gent from another board sent me an Aristo-Craft Eggliner/Lil Critter power brick with the instructions, "Build something interesting with it!"
Interesting? How interesting? I looked through my 'someday' files and found this picture of a traction engine/rail conversion used by a company called Pacific Face Brick Co. in Oregon prior to 1907.
Interesting, but that big toolbox and the angle obscured a lot of important details. Then while trolling feebay I found another picture of a different conversion, this one in Ohio. AND it was of the off side as well!
Both appear to have been constructed from an 1890's vintage Russell traction engine of about 10HP. These were built in Massilon Ohio.
Later, larger, Russells had a bolted-on cast iron smokebox.
I happened to have most of a later style Russell toy, made by Kester's Old-Time Collectibles in Illinois.... and part of a junked freight car in my scrap box. Since it won't be an exact model of either, I decided to use the features that I liked best from both prototypes....
An LGB headlight and coal bin, a simple spring belt drive to the crankshaft, which has a half twist so that the crankshaft turns the proper direction while the loco is in motion....
Remember that honking big toolbox? A block of wood covered with coffee stirrers looks about right...
Front view, the boiler is offset to clear the drive. No odder looking than a Shay, or is it?
Much more to do before it's finished... Buffer beams, governor, short open canopy cab, water tank and injector, water column, controls, etc. This one is a lot of fun to build, I might even be sad when it's done
Interesting? How interesting? I looked through my 'someday' files and found this picture of a traction engine/rail conversion used by a company called Pacific Face Brick Co. in Oregon prior to 1907.
Interesting, but that big toolbox and the angle obscured a lot of important details. Then while trolling feebay I found another picture of a different conversion, this one in Ohio. AND it was of the off side as well!
Both appear to have been constructed from an 1890's vintage Russell traction engine of about 10HP. These were built in Massilon Ohio.
Later, larger, Russells had a bolted-on cast iron smokebox.
I happened to have most of a later style Russell toy, made by Kester's Old-Time Collectibles in Illinois.... and part of a junked freight car in my scrap box. Since it won't be an exact model of either, I decided to use the features that I liked best from both prototypes....
An LGB headlight and coal bin, a simple spring belt drive to the crankshaft, which has a half twist so that the crankshaft turns the proper direction while the loco is in motion....
Remember that honking big toolbox? A block of wood covered with coffee stirrers looks about right...
Front view, the boiler is offset to clear the drive. No odder looking than a Shay, or is it?
Much more to do before it's finished... Buffer beams, governor, short open canopy cab, water tank and injector, water column, controls, etc. This one is a lot of fun to build, I might even be sad when it's done
