McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
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- Posts: 2930
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
If you wise want to see the most perfectly arranged and spacious 12' x 12', one man machine shop - make a trip out to the McCormic-Spillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, Arizona, a superb of Phoenix. Just visited today, to ride the City owned 15" gauge Paradise and Pacific Railroad, but while there discovered the Park's amazing little museum. The museum includes a restored, yet original, 1930's era, belt-driven, machine shop- originally owned and operated by Walter Lee 'Gabe' Brooks, on his Powderhorn Ranch out in the desert near Phoenix. Gabe's shop includes a 1925ish 12"x48" southbend lathe, a 10" camelback drill press, 10" grinder, power hacksaw, horizontal mill, shaper, and a shop built sheet metal cutter- EVERYTHING BELT DRIVEN FROM AN OVERHEAD BELT SYSTEM - including the little 16" power hacksaw.
Oh yes, Gabe's round overhead lights are hung on a rope pulley system with lead weights on the end. You want more light on the work area - reach up and pull down the lamp shade. The weight on the end of the line goes up in the air towards the pulley mounted in the rafters and suspends the lamp shade exactly where you want it.
Also included in this 144 square foot space is a slanted plans/drafting table, and 8' long work bench, and tooling for all the machinery.
Soon as I get home, Iam gonna rip my shop apart and build me some clear grain 4x4 fir work tables to put together a 12' x 12' workshop space! Maybe even cover my sterile off white Sheetrock walls with some honest rough sawn 4" fir boards. Here are some pics... all in less than 144 square feet! fantastic!!
Oh yes, Gabe's round overhead lights are hung on a rope pulley system with lead weights on the end. You want more light on the work area - reach up and pull down the lamp shade. The weight on the end of the line goes up in the air towards the pulley mounted in the rafters and suspends the lamp shade exactly where you want it.
Also included in this 144 square foot space is a slanted plans/drafting table, and 8' long work bench, and tooling for all the machinery.
Soon as I get home, Iam gonna rip my shop apart and build me some clear grain 4x4 fir work tables to put together a 12' x 12' workshop space! Maybe even cover my sterile off white Sheetrock walls with some honest rough sawn 4" fir boards. Here are some pics... all in less than 144 square feet! fantastic!!
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
By golly I like that set-up!! What a neat little shop. Thanks for the post Glenn!
Pete
Pete
Just tryin'
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
Brilliant set up!
Use wisely what you've got.
~RN
Use wisely what you've got.
~RN
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
It does make one wonder why a 30x40 shop is too small. I need to make another attempt at organizing.
Jack.
Jack.
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
My all time favorite railroad park!!
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
This is a picture of my half-sister with her great grandfather Gabe in Scottsdale Arizona.
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
Only thing missing from that shop is an old steam engine to run the line shaft.
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Music isn’t at all difficult. All you gotta do is play the right notes at the right time!
Music isn’t at all difficult. All you gotta do is play the right notes at the right time!
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
When was that photo taken?
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Music isn’t at all difficult. All you gotta do is play the right notes at the right time!
Music isn’t at all difficult. All you gotta do is play the right notes at the right time!
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
1963 - 1964
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
that's a new exhibit since I was last there. I've also been through the railroad shops for the 15" gauge. A lot of Bill Daney treasure hidden back there.
Live Steam Photography and more - gallery.mikemassee.com
Product Development and E-Commerce, Allen Models of Nevada
Product Development and E-Commerce, Allen Models of Nevada
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
That small belt driven shop has been sitting there gathering dust since I visited the Scottsdale crew of a week in 1988.
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- Posts: 2930
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
Re: McCormick Railway Park Museum machine shop
When we visited last, I asked why they don’t maintain the equipment. At least clean up and oil once in a while. Apparently they moved this shop to its current location sometime in the past. Prior to the move, one of the volunteers did regularly clean and oil all the machines. Kept everything in working order. After the move, either they told him to stop, or he somehow no longer participated in the museum/railroading docent activities. Since then, no one has kept up with the maintenance.
One saving grace, at least, is the dry desert climate isn’t at all conducive to oxidation.
We will be visiting again next month. I’ll ask about why they don’t at least oil the ways once in a while.
Glenn
One saving grace, at least, is the dry desert climate isn’t at all conducive to oxidation.
We will be visiting again next month. I’ll ask about why they don’t at least oil the ways once in a while.
Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....