The Home Machinist!

Hello,

This is my first posting to the live steam category. I have been a member of the Chaski website for some time and have obtained some very valuable information to help me with my project. I am building a 1.5" scale Pennsy K-4s. I started the project four years ago and elected to begin with the tender as I have no previous metalworking experience. To get me started I took electric and TIG welding classes at a local Vo-tech. I also have read many books on lathe and milling machine operation. My wife's cousin teaches machining and got me started on my machines. My machines are old used American made equipment. I have a 12" Atlas(manual change gear) lathe from the early 50's and a Bridgeport Variable speed mill from the early 80's. I also obtained a nice used Miller Sycrowave 250 on ebay. I grew up in Newport, PA(pop 1,800) next to the four track Pennsy Middle Division which led to my selection of the K-4s to model. I became interested in live steam in the early 50's when one Sunday night Disney featured scale live steam locomotives(3/4", 1", and 1 1/2") on his weekly show. I never lost the interest. My tender is 80% to 90% complete and I will post some pictures in the near future.
Dan

Welcome aboard. I, too, saw my first live steam on the Disney show. Heart palpitations at the age of 10 are unusual but I had 'em then. Keep us posted on your project; post some photos.

Welcome aboard... I'm from North of you near Reading, PA. Have you been to PA live steamers ? One complete K-4 operates there often...

Keep working on the project steadily and it will be running soon.

Look forward to pictures.
Dave

Welcome to the live steam group. The show you likely saw was "Where do the stories come from" which featured Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball, Walt Disney and featuring Walt's 7 1/4" Carolwood Pacific Railroad which was in the backyard of his Holmby Hills Home. The show is finally available as as part of a two disc set of "Walt Disney Presents" episodes, part of a larger series of Walt Disney treasures DVDs.

http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Treas ... 000ICM5RG/

It also includes the Donald Duck "Out of Scale" cartoon.

In addition, Walt's train, including the Lilly Belle locomotive, is now on display at the Walt Disney Family Museum at the Presidio in San Francisco.

Good luck on your K4, sounds like you're off to a real good start. There are a couple of Pennsy modelers here who know a lot about the unique parts that Altoona made for its engines.

--Mike

Hello Dan,
Glad you're participating here. Hope all is well with you, miss our times discussing your flying time in B-52's!!!
Take care,
Dave Griner