HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

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RICHK
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Location: Seattle

HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by RICHK »

I have been doing some research into the Skookum locomotive.
I find that several drawings were done by J Harold Geissel who was once a frequent contributor to Model Railroader Magazine.
So far I cannot find any biographical information for him. I assume he is no longer with us, however I wonder if someone managed to save some of his drawings.
The illustrations in Model Railroader are interesting , however they are so small as to be useless for building a model.
Perhaps someone "out there" can enlighten me about his drawings.
They would make a very good collection for many "Live Steamers " such as myself.
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NP317
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Re: HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by NP317 »

Rich:
Head on down to Garibaldi on the Oregon Coast, at Tillimook Bay, and visit the actual Skookum 2-4-4-2.
It is still undergoing restoration/repairs there, and is, I believe, in the testing-trouble shooting stage. Stories there.
Certainly someone there will know what drawings have been acquired/created during the restoration.
~RN
Glenn Brooks
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Re: HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Here is a link to an article on Mr. Geissel in a 2011 Pennsylvania Live Steamers newsletter.

http://www.palivesteamers.org/pubs/gaze ... _11-12.pdf

Apparently he was a PLS founding member and very active as a model railroader and draftsmen from the 1920’s thru the 1970’s.

Also if you google him, several other citations pop up.

Glenn
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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....
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gwrdriver
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Re: HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by gwrdriver »

I recall reading that he was known by friends as "Gike" (or Geik.)
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B&OBob
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Re: HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by B&OBob »

A comprehensive biography of Harold Geissel was published in The PLS Gazette, in two parts beginning Nov/Dec 2011
http://www.palivesteamers.org/pubs/gaze ... _11-12.pdf and continuing in the next edition, Jan/Feb 2012.

I was priveledged to know him and travel with him and other PLS members on sojourns far and wide to measure prototype locomotives or explore abandoned lines. He accompanied Frank Moore, my father and me on a Sunday morning ca.1944 visit to the B&O single-engine shed in Wilmington, DE to measure a B-18 Tenwheeler I was going to build. The engine was in steam, but simmering in its shed. An accommodating hostler backed out the engine so we had full access to it. While I took photographs with a Kdak A1 folding camera, Frank measured and sketched the rods and V.G. and Harold counted rivets and sketched the tender, all for information not included in the 1.5" scale erection print, which I had obtained free from the B&O. Two weeks later Harold sent me a 3-view drawing of the tender, including all rivet locations, which I used in the following year to build my tender in 17/32" scale, 2.5" gauge. The loscmotive wasn't completed, painted and lettered until 1979(!) but I had the honor of Harold's attendance for its first run on our old backyard track.
Harold Geissel was a low key, friendly fellow who was fully immersed in drawing, modelling, or learning about railroads, especially his beloved abandoned short lines.

B&OBob
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8thscale
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Re: HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by 8thscale »

Here's a second part link. Thanks Bob

http://www.palivesteamers.org/pubs/gazette/2012_1-2.pdf
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dnevil
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Re: HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by dnevil »

RICHK,

If you are looking for more information on "Skookum" you may want to chat with George Templin, who built one in 1.5 inch scale.

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?tit ... ge_Templin

Send me a PM if you'd like his contact information.

Regards,
Daris
Daris Nevil
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North American Region
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Dick_Morris
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Re: HOW TO LOCATE J HAROLD GEISSEL

Post by Dick_Morris »

Here's a second part link.
Tying this to another thread, note the mention in the J. Harold Geissel article of lost wax castings made by "Doc Fixit."
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