3/4" scale, 3-1/2" gauge 4-6-4 "Hudson", New York Central Railroad
The original "Laverne Langworthy" (and "Yankee Shop") Hudson.....
CASTINGS' POSSIBLE RETURN TO MARKET IN 2012: If you are interested in the return to market of the famous "Laverne Langworthy Hudson" in 3/4" scale (ROUGH CASTINGS), please see below for details....
Harry Hansen runs his 3/4" scale "Laverne Langworthy" Hudson
Mr. Hansen's "Langworthy Hudson" today.
The famous "Yankee Shop Hudson" in 3/4" scale was designed by Laverne Langworthy of Westerly, Rhode Island. Mr. Langworthy was born in 1877. He was a high school machine shop teacher in Westerly.
In the 1930s, he began designing, drawing, and making patterns for what was to become one of the finest models of a 3/4" scale New York Central "Hudson" ever designed. Beginning in the mid-1930s, he advertised castings for this Hudson in The Modelmaker magazine. Around World War II, Lester Friend of "Yankee Shop" bought the design rights and the patterns for the "Langworthy Hudson", and thereafter it became unofficially (but popularly) known as the Yankee Shop Hudson.Laverne Langworthy died in 1944.
Laverne Langworthy at Danvers, MA in 1938.
This is 21 Grove Avenue, Westerly Rhode Island.......the former home of Laverne and Grace Langworthy. Taken July 22nd, 2010. This home is just one block from the Westerly Station on the New Haven Railroad's famous "Shore Line" between Boston and New York (now Amtrak), and is the location from which Mr. Langworthy sold his Hudson castings in the 1930s. He died in 1944.
3/4" scale 3-1/2" gauge Coal Fired 5-1/2" diameter copper boiler, silver soldered (can be rolled from flat sheet, or seamless copper tube can purchased from Reeves in the United Kingdom)
Combustion Chamber 3-1/2 inches long with 6 water tube (circulation) stays Two thermic siphons Superheater Shaking grates
Steam powered water pump below the cab Dummy power reverse Baker or Walshaert valve gear
Cylinders 1-7/16 inch bore by 1-3/4 inch stroke Piston valves, 7/8 inch diameter by 9/16 inch stroke All steam and exhaust ports cored into the cylinder casting
Drive Wheels, 4-15/16 diameter on tread Engine truck, front trailer, and tender wheels: 2-1/4 inches diameter Rear trailer truck wheels, 3-3/16 inches diameter
Firebox 5-5/8 inches by 8-1/4 inches
Steam Brakes on the engine and tender Hand pump in the tender Injector and axle pump optional (to be fitted by the builder, but a Friends Models 2 ram axle pump drawing, and casting, can be supplied)
Solid Cast Bronze "Tender Water Bottom"
Length of engine and tender, 72 inches Height, top of rail to top of stack: 11-5/16 inches Width of tender and cab, 7-1/2 inches Wheelbase, engine: 30-1/4 inches. Tender: 23-1/16 inches. Engine & tender: 62-7/16 inches. Rigid wheelbase, drivers only: 10-1/2 inches. Weight of locomotive (approx.) 220 lbs.
Cost for a complete set of brand new, top-quality, made in USA "sand castings" in iron, bronze, and aluminum (EXACTLY the same as formerly available from Laverne Langworthy, Yankee Shop, and Friends Models):
$5,995.00
A complete set of drawings is included in the above price, so a credit off of the above price will be given for those who have already purchased drawings.
Please note: this is an increased price than was quoted in 2009 through 2011. If you "took the survey" and "signed up" for Hudson castings prior to October 9th 2011, you may purchase the castings at the prior quoted price level. Higher costs of "everything", has required that the quoted price be increased.
If you'd like this design back on the market, may I ask that you please make your desires known to me. Please participate in my "Laverne Langworthy Survey" by clicking HERE.
Important: in the survey, you MUST supply me with your name, address, city/town, state, country, phone number, email, etc. so that I know "who you are, and how to contact you". Many people have taken the survey....but some do not tell me "who they are". These are considered "false responses"; they are deleted from the survey and not considered.
The survey is so that I can determine how many people are seriously interested in these castings' return. You will incur no financial obligation by participating in the survey.
The survey went online August 17th, 2009 and was online throughout 2010 and 2011. The survey will be up into 2012 to see if there is enough interest.
If enough people are interested @ $5,995.00, then those interested will be asked to supply a 50% deposit ($3,000.00) for the castings.
If enough people supply deposits, the required pattern and foundry work for the "Laverne Langworthy Hudson" will commence and the castings will be produced for the first time since 1972. The other 50% balance (approximately $2,995.00) will be due when the castings are ready.
If "enough people are interested" but not enough deposits are received, then your deposit will be returned and no pattern or foundry work will commence. For example, if 12 people are interested but only a few send deposits, then your deposit will be returned in full, and no pattern or casting work will commence.
I thank you very kindly for your interest. To see the "side view" (elevation) as drawn by Mr. Langworthy, or to purchase the complete set of drawings, please see the links below.
To look the entire project over, you may purchase the complete set of drawings for the 3/4" scale Hudson. To do so please click HERE.
The late J. Drennan "Doc" Lowell at the Pioneer Valley Live Steamers' track at Southwick, Massachusetts in the 1970s, on a 3/4" scale, 3-1/2" gauge "Yankee Shop Hudson".
The 3/4" Scale, 3-1/2" Gauge "Yankee Shop Hudson".
A "Yankee Shop Hudson" at the New Jersey Live Steamers. 3/4" scale, 3-1/2 gauge, another excellent example of this classic by Laverne Langworthy.
