The Home Machinist!

Found on another site today: West of Medford, Oregon, on the Old Stage Road/route 20, sits this relic. Anyone enlighten us?

I wanna say the name 'Bert Beecher' comes to mind with this. Also, I think the property had a smaller gauge loop of track rusting away nearby or something, but it's been over a decade since I've been there and I can't remember.

It sure is a cool piece of equipment. Crawling in the cab, it appears as though the thing was intended to actually run. Not sure of the history though, or if it ever did...

This is a good resource for tracking down surviving steam locomotives. http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/

Yes, Bert Beecher built this locomotive. It is a 24" gauge model of an SP GS-1 4-8-4. I understood that it did operate when first built but obviously hasn't run in a while. Not a bad looking model. Should be under cover and dressed up at least to look complete.

Would love to hear more about the history of this engine. THere has to be one heck of a story behind. Maybe he didn't want Ralph MacAllister's monster 14" guage 2-8-8-4 to be the biggest miniature steam locomotive ever built?

Bert also built an 18" gauge 2-6-0 that ran on the Meadow & Lake Kathleen RR in Deadwood, Oregon. Not sure if it is for sale along with the RR or not.

Rob Gardner

Rob Gardner wrote: Bert also built an 18" gauge 2-6-0 that ran on the Meadow & Lake Kathleen RR in Deadwood, Oregon. Not sure if it is for sale along with the RR or not.

Rob Gardner

The engine at the Meadows & Lake Kathleen is a Coffman. If not it was reconstituted from Coffman parts. I visited there in 2009 as part of my triennial trip.

Oscar Coffman produced park trains first in Los Angeles and then later from Flagstaff, AZ. The other Coffman I have had contact with is a 2-6-2 from the former Snug Harbor Railroad in Coos Bay. That one is rusting away in Healdsburg, CA in an outbuilding on a winery vineyard. Note the identical cylinders. The M&LK Coffman is considered to be the best preserved example.

The northern was built by Bert Beecher and his father. I never met his father, I think he had passed away by the time I met Bert in the middle 60's. At that time the boiler had not yet been attached to the chassis.

Bert used to run the loco south of Ashland, where the loco could be seen from the freeway.

The loco may have been inspired by the GS-1 class, but it has Baker valve gear, while the GS-1 had Walchearts.

The mogul that Bert has was purchased from the late Jack Berry of the Albany-Salem area. I don't remember the history of the engine before Jack, if I ever knew.

Bert could probably be reached through someone at the SOLS, or So. Oregon chapter of the NRHS. Bert was a charter member of both organizations, and I understand shows up on occasion at the Medford RR park where both entities have a presence.

Regards,

Doug

I saw the Northern today, I don't know any of the how/who/why but the where is now the Blue Heron French Cheese Company on Hwy 101 just north of Tillamook, OR. 2001 Blue Heron Dr, Tillamook, Oregon. Sitting in a field displayed with other miscellaneous unrestored antique equipment. It definitely is large, and I was surprised all 4 drivers were flanged.

I grew up right next door to Bert's property there in Ashland on Reiten Dr.
he was awesome, always let us ride our motorcycles on his property, and bug him when he was working in his shop where he had the engine, a water/coal car, flatbed, and in the shop was working on the caboose and a passenger car. that was about 1979-1985.
He even let me operate the engine one time which all of what he did allowing me and the other neighborhood kids to watch and ask questions etc and operate the engine is why i have such a huge love for live steam and locomotives.
about 12 yrs or so ago i saw him come in where i was working at Ashland towing on Hwy 66 and i got to Thank Him for all the great memories.
so good to see this pic of the engine again which is where it was last near Murphy Oregon.
Unfortunately the last time I drove by that spot it was gone. Really hope it wasn't scrapped.