Lima

[J3a-614]

While looking up material on the Lincoln funeral car, I came across this; as usual, enjoy!

http://limalocomotiveworks.com/index.htm

http://www.shaylocomotives.com/

http://www.shaylocomotives.com/data/dataframe.htm

[jonathan]

I did.

[J3a-614]

Glad you did. Sadly, I feel mixed emotions on this place, too, the birthplace of our Shays, quite a number of your Big Sixes, and so much of my C&O's power, including a 4-8-4 numbered 614, which was the last steam passenger locomotive built by a commercial firm (as opposed to a company shop, which was the case for the last three 4-8-4s from the N&W at Roanoke).  This facility survived virtually intact until 2000; its lat production included M1-A1 Abrams tank shells and turrets (all heavy steel/armour work).  A fire ended the preservation efforts that were under way.

 And did you take notice of the rotary plows, the last ones built in America, under license from Alco (which held the Leslie patents for them)?  Did they look familiar?  They should--they are the protypes for Athearn's rotary!  They were shipped without tenders; the individual roads added their own.  

It's interesting to note that while these plows were steam-operated, they were intended to live in a diesel world, with oil firing and many construction refinements, including a lot of internal roller bearings and cutting blades of tool steel.  In that respect the effor was succdessful, as two survive in preservation, the last of which was kept in reserve into 1985!

The construction shot reveals some details of the plow's internal anatomy (which was considerably different from a more typical plow as built by Alco-Cooke); front end (with the operating cab) is at the left (rotary wheel and housing not yet applied), behind which are the Shay engines and the rear-facing boiler, on which are visible a turbogenerator and injector.  Also visible are the live and exhaust steam lines to the Shay engines and the twin stacks.

Who wants to modify an Athearn plow with a detailed interior?  :-)  

[pdlethbridge]

Now that would be a good job for Jonathan. He's nominated. Get busy, Jonathan, and keep us supplied with photos of your wonderful work.

[jonathan]

ok... Only six months left to finish my dockside (if I actually receive the valve gear I ordered).  Right after that, I'll get to work on a steam powered snow plow, with interior.  Now, which one of you is going to finish my layout?



As you can see, there's a little work left to do.

Regards,

Jonathan

[pdlethbridge]

I wouldn't want to keep you from your appointed tasks. You better get busy!

[Woody Elmore]

Jon - this is the 21st century - multi-task!

Can't wait to see the dockside with valve gear.