Steamers Christmas Tree

[UnkaJesse]

I set up my Christmas tree yesterday. See ATTACHMENT Designed and built it 40 some odd years ago and we use it every year, but a few years ago I found this "N" scale 1860s American train set that was supposed to be set up in the branches of a standard living fir tree. Bought a few sections of "N" scale track and voila' I can play with my choo-choo even though it is too cold to go to Mid-South!

Unka(Well, you knew I wouldn't settle for a regular tree didn't you? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif"%20alt="[/img])Jesse

[willy]

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Grin, ok its a bit early. Yes, we use a train around ours too.

-willy-

[Allen]

I'm not sure I'll ever be able to forget the calls I've gotten (one almost every year), usually from the wife of some newby small scale live steamer -- asking how they were supposed to get steam oil out of the carpet.


(none of you fellows run 'em under the tree or on the SWMBO's rug... do ya?)

[UnkaJesse]

Verily, Allen, it sounds like you have been caught running (sometime in the past and only one time) on your SWMBO's rug. Right?

Unka(I wonder if I could convert that little American on my tree to Live Steam? I know there have been some tiny ones built by people more talented and adventurious than me [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif"%20alt="[/img])Jesse

[David_W]

Unk, that is wunnerful. On what seems to be alternating years I still put my 1951 American Flyer Hudson and freight cars the set came with around the bottom of the tree. It still smokes, too, although I had to find the most recent supplier of the "smoke juice," and although he claims it's the same, it ain't! (The nose knows. It's close, but it ain't!)
David (well I wish A.C.Gilbert hadn't kept the formula a secret) W

[UnkaJesse]

David, I still have my American Flyer Hudson too, but never run it anymore. About that smoke, I still would know the odor if I happened to sniff some of it anywhere. For those of you wondering if it smelled bad, it did not. Had a plesant oily smell to it, it did. Ah--nostalgia! I also have a real rare bird, a Miller ALCO S-1 for "S" gauge two rail track. Motor armatures right on axles and NO brushes! The wheels were segmented and 180° out of phase with each other so the rails acted as brushes. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif"%20alt="[/img]

Unka(I tell you, I been going at this train stuff backwards. I should have been into live steam while I was young and had a good back then graduated to "S" or "N" scale when I got old and decrepit [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif"%20alt="[/img])Jesse

[Allen]

run em indoors? on the rug? nah......

I DID get hell from the fire marshall for runnin a Ruby and a Mamod at a mall show once. IMO the smoke fluid that them Lionels use stinx a lot worse.

I also set off the carbon monoxide detector once playing with a throttle governed 2hp Witte in the basement

[Allen]

I have half a bottle of old Gilbert/ AF amoke fluid -- smells kinda like oil of frankincense and white kero

[mrb37211]

Unka(I wonder if I could convert that little American on my tree to Live Steam? I know there have been some tiny ones built by people more talented and adventurious than me [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif"%20alt="[/img])Jesse

One of the pioneers in narrow gauge model railroading, Hugh Boutell, built at least one live steamer in 17/64" scale to run on HO track -- an 0-4-2 with 4 wheel tender. Apparently he also built a live steam shay at some point, based on the listings for his name in http://www.index.mrmag.com/tm.exe

A Narrow Gauge Live Steamer
Model Railroader, March 1941 page 146
( "BOUTELL, HUGH", LIVESTEAM, NARROWGAUGE, MR )

Geared loco, fired with incense
Model Railroader, January 1945 page 12
( "BOUTELL, HUGH", GEARED, LIMA, LIVESTEAM, SHAY, STEAM, ENGINE, LOCOMOTIVE, MR )

So you can do it, Unka Jesse! Just pick up a case or two of those high power reading glasses and have at it.

Charles

[FLtenwheeler]

Take a look at this web page

The Internet Craftsmanship Museum [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/tongue.gif"%20alt="[/img]

I have seen one engine so small that hardware is smaller than 0000-160. He made the taps and dies to do the job. But I can not find the page any more.

Tim

[FLSTEAM]

Unka

You must be one ot those train nuts...........)

[UnkaJesse]

John, Me a train nut?? Nah! Newaw hoppon GI! The fact that there is a "N" scale train on the tree, some "S" gauge stuff stored, A few HO items (Heisler) (Shay), one of those large American Flyer Hudsons that came with an Erector ® Set, and five 1-1/2" scale lokies means nothing, nothing I say. Do the ATTACHMENT answer your query?

Unka(I am trying to swear off of trains, I am)Jesse