......Maven e-mailed some pics of his new pride and joy he just got out of the body and fender shop. Says he's qualified to fly the thing. He also got a new camara and it looks like he takes a mean picture. I accused him of possibly sending me some postcard photos :-) Anywho, I thought I would take it on myself to post'em here.



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.........Buckshot

Maven still plays with trains I see!! Now that is what I call a real mans toy! ohshooter

Buckshot....you guys better quit posting train pictures, you'll get Jumptrap aroused...../beagle

Now that's impressive!!!!!I see all these folks in my area parading around in BMWs and Mercedes'....how neat is a locomotive!!?!! BTW Maven, where does one buy insurance for a locomotive engine?

Regards.....

... avery vintage ALCO...?

Resp'y,
Bob S.

To keep on topic, I saw a cast bullet laying next to the track. I think it was a 230 gr. .45 but I'm not sure.
<G>

Maven, great pics! Wish I had one of those toys. We need a track between my house and Sundog's. ... felix

Reminds me of a tour I took of EMD (ElectroMotive Division of GM). There was the second of two engines being built for Tito. One for each end of the train, both with TONS of armor plate added.

(Each normal engine has two massive blocks of LEAD for ballast - a couple of feet wide, couple of feet tall and six or 8 feet long - underneith the 'frame' (a steel plate the length and width of the engine about 4' thick).

I will never forget an instructor of mine (SGT Phillips) who, in his boredom while serving in Korea, ordered a Diesel Locomotive and 13 miles of track (he was a radio repairman). He was caught when the supply unit asked whether or not they should deliver it since they only had the engine and 11 miles of track.

I did not know there were train cranks here. I would have bid on this but I don't buy Chinese guns or machines.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6737&item=2428763576
Still it would look go on the lawn.
JB

I noticed that it said "Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley" on the side of the engine. Where is that?

Friend told me about a recent shooting match he attended. Someone had a small train like the kids ride in amusement parks. The train went around the track and behind a burm(they look just like dirt piles). The track area behind the berm was wavy. They mounted a deer profile on top of the train so that when it went behind the berm,all you saw was the deer bouncing along. You took your shots and when the train got back around,there was a derail device so the target could be pasted and then sent around for the next shooter. With A Maven train guess you'd mount an elephant profile and need a bigger dump truck to make the berm.

All, I just returned from a wedding in St. Simon's Is., GA and a visit to my in-laws in FL and just happened to see Buckshot's post. Yes, the loco is an Alco, class of 1956 S-4 (1,000hp)built by Montreal Locomotive Works. The one in the engine shed is also MLW (1956), but an S-7 (no external differences though). Both belong to the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society, which operates the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley RR and provides the insurance (indirectly). The railroad is currently a tourist-only operation, which runs from Milford to Cooperstown, NY (8 mi. in ea. direction). However, the entire branch is ~18 mi. long and interchanges with the former Delaware & Hudson at Oneonta (NY). Although I'd like to take credit for the photos, I can't for they were taken by Eric Bechtold, who is the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society webmaster and an excellent lensman. ...Maven

JBMauser, What a coincidence, but I used to work on an SY-class 2-8-2 locomotive usually between Binghampton, NY and Little Ferry, NJ, but also between Butler, NJ and Utica, NY. If you go to the Castpics website and look up "Maven," you'll find a picture of me with NYS&W-owned #142 taken in October, 1999. Trust me, steam engines are wonderful to watch, listen to and smell, but filthy and a bit more difficult to operate than a diesel-electric. ...Maven

I'm going to fly up to NY and drive to Oneonta to see me new grandchild. Maybe I'll get over to see that train. actually it's Schnevies (spelling?) but it's close to Oneonta.

Maven, didn't know you was a trainaholic. If you're into those homemade downsized versions try to get to Bend Oregon sometime. My boss has a local club that rides around on these small steam trains and a coupla times a year they go to Oregon. Someone with more money than me, who likes trains, has set up a very professional track setup in the desert of eastern Oregon. Try looking up Kitsaplivesteamers...Gary D.

All, To return to CB matters, let me share this: About 3 yrs. ago SY-class 2-8-2 #142 experienced a hot box (trailing truck,fireman's side) on a fan trip (Little Ferry, NJ to Warwick, NY)...in the middle of nowhere (near Sparta, NJ). When we uncoupled from the train (diesels completed the rest of the excursion) and limped into a spur, we found the bearing (Babbit) had melted. Guess who salvaged a 1 lb. piece of it to enrich my usual wheelweight "blend"? As I recall, the CB's were perfect. Btw, once we got the new bearing (after a trip to Binghampton and then Utica, where #142 lives), it took maybe 1.25 hrs. to install. ...Maven