Fall 2008 brings the rough framing of Shady Creek’s station.  Typical CN style similar to what was part of the network in eastern Canada a century ago. Undersized obviously to fit our 2’ setting complete with waiting room about 8’x8’ plus a ticket office and a freight shed for storage.  2009 will be the year to finish the building with installation of windows, interior and platform.  We found an old CN potbellied coal stove which we will hook up to complete the job.  Watch for ‘completion’ picture in 2009.

Here are some pictures of our Shady Creek Railroad Progress in 2008.  The 8x4 flat car is our first real piece of rolling stock, and it has spring axles, air brakes and knuckle couplers. We now feel we are really railroading. The wheels axles were from speeder trailers, and we took advantage of the split axle so all wheels turn independently around our sharp curves. We try to not make sharp curves, but sometimes lack of space forces us to. I made the car here in Halifax. The main line from the station, the rail shed yard, the wood shed yard and the proposed turn at the far end of the property will only have a maximum 1% grade. That grade will be only for about 300 feet. We currently run on about 1,000 feet of track. I did lay about 80 feet on the level part of the switchback for the storage of rails and ties. This brings me about 50 feet from the Northern property line. The project for next year is to finish the station and lay more track.

The frame of the car with the couplers, hand brake, steps etc.

Of course, the car goes for a car float ride before going onto its home rails.

On home rails and ready to work.

I finally found some time to write.  About a year ago, I read an auction advertisement, which said 'old locomotive hood.' So I went to the sale, and it ended up being an old Michigan and Northern RR Alco RS3 hood. It was number 1601 that had been scrapped in 1979, and here it was in the pine trees by Lake City. Michigan Northern was a railroad located in Cadillac.  It came into existence after Penn Central quit, and it ran for nine years. In that time, they had owned and leased 49 locomotives. My wife wanted a handy barn, so we painted it up Michigan Northern colors, took the dents out, put new number boards and headlights in it. We brought it home on our roll back and did get a lot of looks. Early this spring, it was 60 degrees out, and we still had snow. So we took baby out for a ride, the snow was really heavy so we did slip quite a bit, but we had fun running -- good thing we had sanders. We are in the container business. We ran our first container train the end of September. Actually it is our new tool car.

Our new storage shed.

Baby in the snow

Our first container train!

I just looked back at the picture I sent in last January.  We were about to complete the switch to get out on the “mainline,” and the trolley itself was a metal frame that did run but looked like something out of the junk yard.

At present, the switch works great and the mainline is now almost 400 feet.  Hallelujah.  The trolley itself is beginning to take form.  I found a sign painter on the web.  Everything else I have struggled to learn, including welding on the stairs/running boards.

Hope to buy some more rail before Christmas.  The rocky right of way is cleared for another 600 feet. 

Always looking for used 12# rail.  For the loop at the top, we hope to have a spring-loaded switch for a reversing loop.  I would love to find some new or used points and stock rails.  The existing switch is of the stub variety.   

Give us an email if you are near Chattanooga.

Julian Wilson
jcwilso@tvn.net

Some news from the 2-ft gauge Alexandra Timber Tramway here in Victoria, Australia. http://www.alexandratramway.org.au

After fourteen months out of service with failed boiler tubes, John Fowler 0-6-0T 11885 of 1909 is finally back in steam in plenty of time to celebrate her centenary along with that of the broad-gauge Alexandra railway in October next year.  After lots of hard work by members of the ATT team putting the locomotive back together, it was finally time for a steam test.  A fire was lit in the boiler just before 4.00 pm on Saturday 13 September. By 7.00 pm, the pressure was sitting on 75 psi, and the boiler was steam tight – not a trace of even a slight fizzle from one of the seventy-seven new tubes.  The locomotive was then oiled around and, to the delight of the assembled volunteers, the old girl moved backwards and forwards a few yards under her own steam.  On Sunday morning the fire was re-lit, steam was raised, and lubrication checked.  The safety valves had been set at 75 psi for some years because of the poor condition of the tubes, but they were now reset for 100 psi (the boiler is certified for 150 psi). By 10.30 am, the Fowler was at her appointed place at the head of the train for an “in-service” test for the remainder of the day.  There is still some mechanical work to be carried out and a few minor external steam leaks to be fixed.  The locomotive is fitted with a temporary “stove-pipe” funnel while we complete turning the decorative brass cap from the casting just received from the foundry.  The cladding is not yet on the boiler, and there is lots of cosmetic work still to be done.  Shortly, we hope to be able to announce a date for an official re-commissioning ceremony to thank all those who put in so many hours on the locomotive and who gave so generously to the appeal for re-tubing the boiler.

Bob Bailey 724-452-8226 has the following for sale:
Pair of rebuilt arch bar trucks $2,000
Black cross bucks with jewels $100
Thirty two, 24 inch gauge brick cart axle and wheels 12” wheels $ 3,000 or $100/axle set
Two, 14” wheels/axle 24” gauge with journals $200
Two axles with wheels mounted for outside flange for overhead crane $200
Misc wheels   2 - 10” spoke, 2-8” spoke,
Mine car, treated wood with steel bracing, rebuilt 2000 $500
Rail 20lb 363 feet $1,000/ton
Rail 30lb 477 feet $1,000/ton
Frogs, three 20 lb, two 30 lb $100 each, three 16 lb $ 300
Two switch stands $100 each
Bumper $50
Misc tools

There is still 30lb rail in Berwick Pa.

30 pieces rail 30 feet long, 3 inches high, 12 pieces rail varying 20-28 feet long, 3 inches high, 2 switches, 1 small turntable, 8 sets of wheels, 1 tipping ore car, estimating 75 to 100 rail joiners, Spikes, misc. pieces I can't identify, railroad ties, 95  4 feet long, 44  8 feet long, 24  split lengthwise 4 feet by 8 inches by 4 inches. Asking $3500.00  for metal items, $1000.00  for ties.

As another year comes to an end, I have to add my two cents worth. First of all for all those that have sent some info or pictures, thank you. To those that always and continue to sent stuff, a double thank you.  I also need to thank those behind the scenes that help put this newsletter together. We picked up some momentum in these last two newsletters. I would hope it continues. As winter settles in, please write or send some pictures. One thing I do need to explain because I received a comment on an article. If the article is sent to me and needs to be copied and the copy does not come out, then I can not put it into the newsletter. If the letter is handwritten and I can not read it, I can not retype it. Those with computers can type a short article and send some pictures.  They work really well in putting the newsletter together. Those that don’t use a computer, I don’t mind retyping. So send something. It is a joy for me and I am sure the rest of you to see new things, new ideas and new railroads being built. Have a wonderful Holiday Season.

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

tpbauer@alltel.net
or
tom@thetwofooters.com

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