my little Bear Creek Lumber & Railroad was originally build as a log hauler. The workers set up some logging camps along the line and on major places, some small villiages grew up in the woods. This results in a small branch line service for passengers and freight on the logging railroad. In earlier days, the Shay was used to haul those short line trains between two log runs. Later a second hand bought Forney was added to the roster for the branch line service.
Meanwhile, my railroad is settled in the era 1910-1920 and both steamer are very busy to keep all trains on the line running. Finally, the railroad president (I) decided to order a thrid locomotive for the railroad. While the last years, only second hand oder home made rolling stock was used on the line, the budget was enough to buy a brand new and modern gasoline-mechanical Boxcab loco.
This engine really represent the modern times on the old railroad and will be used in both, logging and short line service.
Well... This may be "the story" behind ma actuall project. But as always, each story has something true =)
Some years back, I build a German light railway diesel loco in 2.5" scale. This was my first locomotive on 5" gauge track. As I changed the theme of my railroad from European light railway to US logging railroads, I added a new wooden cab and new couplers to americanize the loco. But the major scale of this engine was still 2.5" scale and my new US-stuff was 2"-scale. The loco was way to big beside the other rolling stock and finally, the diesel loco was to modern for my era. So I scrapped the old locomotive down to the chassic and started a new one.
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During research on the internet, I came across with eraly gas-mech Boxcab locomotives and this engines would match the time era of my other rolling stock very well as milestone to a new era (as told above
). At last, I choose a "freelance" model as prototype for my new locomotive - the BoulderValleyModel On30-Boxcab in 1/4" scale.At first I rebuild the frame and lowered the floor for 30 mm. I also spend new journal boxes in the right scale and new endbeams. The old locomotive was build from plywood and some metal parts, so I decided to do so too on the new engine. The model is battery powered and I made a new stand for the batteries and started installation of the electric parts.
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The Box was made from 3/8 plywood and a lot of details. 840 nails are used to show the rivet details. I made the window frames and parts of the door on my cnc mill and just set them in place.
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Meanwhile, I painted the box in silver grey and the locomotive is 90% finished. Still missing, are the roof, some details, lettering and parts of the electric installation. I hope to get the model finished within the next days.
Comments are welcome =)
Cheers, Gerd
