Live Steam Big Boy locomotive

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Live Steam Big Boy locomotive

This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 6 July 2013 at 12:44 by Another JohnS.

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1 July 2013 at 16:05 #1196
Another JohnS
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@anotherjohns
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1 July 2013 at 16:05 #123553
Another JohnS
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@anotherjohns
There is a 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" locomotive originally built by Lindy Knight from the state of Maine.

Keith Wood in Montreal has been doing some repairs to it, and it will be going back to the USA shortly.

In my "photo albums" there are some pictures of it.

It is a large locomotive, but still manageable by two people in 3-1/2" gauge. It'd be about a ton in weight in 7-1/4.

Beautiful locomotive; a real treat to see in operation.

BTW – the injector was plumbed up so that water always dribbles from the overflow – keeps the injector cool, I'd expect.

Another JohnS.
1 July 2013 at 16:13 #123554
Jeff Dayman
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@jeffdayman43397
Is that a stoker engine I see behind the injector? JD
1 July 2013 at 17:13 #123565
macmarch
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@macmarch
Does anyone know where the "Big Boy" that was at Dobwalls "The Forest Railway" ended up?

I was fortunate enough to be there the first week that it ran. 7 1/4" pulling 50 plus, magnificent sight.

Edited By macmarch on 01/07/2013 17:15:15
1 July 2013 at 18:38 #123573
Another JohnS
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@anotherjohns
Posted by Jeff Dayman on 01/07/2013 16:13:00:

Is that a stoker engine I see behind the injector? JD

No, "just" a duplex water pump. There is no handpump on this locomotive.

Another JohnS.
1 July 2013 at 23:17 #123607
John Besley
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@johnbesley21290
The Dodwells Big Boy went to a Garden centre in Bournmouth? unfortunatly the council turned down the planning so the whole lot was sold finaly shipped out to Australia, I think John Southern kept one of the D&RW K37's as at one time he had 2 of them, the sight and sound of these running on 7.1/4" was out of this world, way back in the early 70's before the trees grew up to high you lost all sense of direrction on the line… brillant, later on it got more commercilised and lost the magic, happy days, the whole site is now a holiday site i belive havent looked in for years
2 July 2013 at 20:45 #123681
Sub Mandrel
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@submandrel
That's a lovely atmosheric photo. *****

Neil
4 July 2013 at 20:52 #123833
SteveI
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@stevei
About 5 years ago I was working out in Texas for a few months. On a day off I paid a visit to Houston Area Live Steamers. There was a 7.1/2" gauge Big boy and a challenger amongst other locomotives. They were incredible. The sheer scale was amazing. What made me smile was that I overheard a discussion about what was the minimum gauge for safe passenger hauling for the general public. The general consensus was that 7.1/2" was too small and 15" was appropriate.

This firm http://www.livesteamlocomotives.com/ supply castings, drawings and some other parts such as the frames for the challenger. They also supply drawings for the big boy and indicate that the challenger castings can be modified for the big boy. I have no connection to them.

Regards,

Steve
6 July 2013 at 12:44 #123975
Another JohnS
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@anotherjohns
Steve – Everything's bigger in Texas.

(go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas-sized and look at the 2nd definition)

Yes, some of the large steam locomotives are truly impressive.

Another JohnS

Not yet supersized the workshop….
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