A very young John Kurdzionak (me) on my Yankee Shop / Friends Models 4-6-6 tank locomotive, at the 3/4" scale, 3-1/2" gauge track of Charles A. "Carl" Purinton in Boxford, MA, in 1987. This once-very-popular design, and the other designs of Yankee Shop/Friends Models and H.J. Coventry, shall be produced again if there is enough interest in their return. Photo by Robert Hornsby.
Seventeen years later: running a "Raritan" with my boss as passenger. This was in 2004 at the Montreal Live Steamers.
A Revival of Small-Scale "Ride On" Live Steam, & Benefits Thereof......
These small-scale locomotive designs used to be as common as "The Raritan", "Little Engines", "Railroad Supply" and "Kozo" designs are today. Perhaps better put, these designs were once as common as "diesels" are today! But today, these are designs that many, if not most hobbyists, do not even know existed. They have been off the market for decades.
Let me introduce you to small-scale live steam. These designs are big enough to pull the engineer and some passengers, yet are small enough to be machined in a small home workshop and transported in one's backseat or trunk. They are coal-fired live steam, and they look, sound, and smell just like steam locomotives look, sound, and smell!
Need convincing? Have a look at these photos of Richard Symmes on a 3-1/2" gauge "Friends Models" 4-4-2 Atlantic, at speed, on his highline track among the pines in his backyard on a slightly foggy, misty day....this is real live steaming, as it was meant to be! (Click on the images to enlarge). Three photos by Bob Hornsby.
Friends Models 3/4" Atlantic
Friends Models 3/4" scale Atlantic passing at speed
Friends 3/4" Atlantic, passing the camera
These designs:
1.) Are ideal for the newcomer to live steam, or to the experienced hobbyist who neither has (nor wants to buy) a "full shop" of large machines, hydraulic lift equipment, and a large vehicle or trailer such as are needed to build and transport a monster-sized locomotive in the larger scales.
2.) Can be built in small, modest workshops. A 9" or 10" lathe, a mill drill or small milling machine, a drill press, a bandsaw, and hand tools will handle most parts for most locomotives.
3.) Will easily fit in your backseat or trunk (and they won't take up an entire port in the garage, either).
4.) Can be rerailed, usually by 1 person, in less than 20 seconds.
5.) Will provide hundreds or thousands of hours of workshop pleasure, not to mention the fun and excitement of running on the track when complete and the indescribable sense of accomplishment that goes with it.
6.) Lend themselves nicely to a small backyard loop or an up-and-down track adjacent to your driveway. If space on your property is at a premium, these engines are small enough that they will let you have that steam-powered backyard RR you always wanted.
7.) Offer variety of good-looking and great-running designs not seen from suppliers in the last 30 years or more. Many builders, after having built a 3/4" scale RARITAN or the Kozo Hiraoka locomotives, are eager to begin their next project.....perhaps something bigger; perhaps more powerful; maybe a different wheel arrangement, etc., but nevertheless still something "small scale" and "manageable". Perhaps something on this website suits your tastes.
8.) Burn coal. Need I say more?
Thank you for looking. Thanks for your interest. And THANKS for your business.
BACK TO BASICS: Harry Hansen runs his 1/2" Scale, 2-1/2" gauge P-7 Class, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad "PRESIDENT WASHINGTON" 4-6-2, at the New England Live Steamers (NELS) track in Danvers, MA in 1946. Donald Hills photo, courtesy of Robert Hornsby, used with permission. This famous H.J. Coventry design from 1928, one of the first commercially available "live steam" castings kits ever to be offered, will pull two adults. It will be produced again by FRIENDS YANKEE SHOP MODELS if there's an interest in it.
CLASSIC LIVE STEAM OF YESTERYEAR, AT ITS FINEST: Joe Hild runs his 3/4" Scale P-7 Class, PRESIDENT WASHINGTON at the New England Live Steamers (NELS) track in Danvers, MA in 1946. Donald Hills photo, courtesy of Robert Hornsby. Used with permission. This proven design will pull several adults. MANY successful examples of this locomotive have been built from the 1930s right into the present time. Why not get started on yours?
