THE TWO FOOTERS                     

Barry and I are still railroading.  We are waiting on a false steam loco (vintage Tom Thumb) powered by a gas engine.  We have a real upright steam boiler but we will not be using steam.  We are building a stagecoach-type passenger car.  After Christmas, we will write you a story of our new loco and car. 

The Williams Grove steam boiler is repaired (thankfully costing far less than the estimate).  The boiler is now back on the wheels, a newly rebuilt cab is now being installed and the plumbing will be done by spring.  Every weekend, work is done on the loco.  Spring 2006 will see her run!

Money has been a little low this past year, so any work that was done was low budget. I did get the roadbed ballasted and the 100ft. long flowerbed dug out where they parallel the highway. It’s amazing how red mulch and fake flowers can dress up an area, and don’t have to water anything!

I’ve started laying out and excavating the East Loop.  The dirt that I remove from a cut should be enough to use in the approaches for the wooden trestle which will parallel the road.  I do a lot of hand excavating, which costs less money and doesn’t tear up the surrounding yard.  I feel this hand work is part of the fun of the hobby, to watch your dream slowly become reality, and it makes me sleep well at night.

I bought ten 4-wheel. 2-ft gauge brickyard carts recently.  Three were nice, and the rest I was able to salvage wheels axles and bearings for future projects.  I also am dealing on 2500 ft. of dead-straight 20-lb rail which I hope to get soon.

Several groups of Antique Car and Antique machinery owners came to ride the train and see all the junque (notice the spelling).  But I have to say that the most fun was during my yard sale.  When folks were done shopping, I would ask if they would like a train ride.  “What Train?”, they asked.  Then when they realize that there is actually a train sitting 20 ft away, they are like little kids for a while.  They sit and relax for a few minutes and enjoy themselves.  Then they try to pay for the ride.  “No, some of the best things in life are still free, and this is one of them,” I tell them.  I feel that this is what makes this hobby worthwhile, making someone smile. 

Below is a set of very old arch bar trucks restored by Nick D’Amore and me with the help of the B&W crew who cut and extended the axels from 20” to 24”.   The trucks also include new oak bolsters.   We cleaned and replaced some metal and new bolts where needed. 

The friction bearing and wheels are good.  For $200 a truck and complete restoration, we ended up with a nice pair of 24” arch bar trucks.

(Passenger-wagons with the “winter-pyjama”) 

 B&W Velocipede rebuilt in 2005.   May be operated on 2 ft or standard gauge rail.

Equipment Lineup… September 19, 2005

 The active membership list has been included in this issue of the newsletter.  Be so kind as to make appropriate changes in regards to your information to ensure that we have an accurate membership list.

Note: The membership list is not available on the web-site edition of the newsletter.

The Two Footers
534 Armory Road
St. Marys, PA  15857

tpbauer@alltel.net
or
tom@thetwofooters.com

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