 |
|
| Toronto Christmas Train Show - Sat/Sun November 23/24 | |
 Visitors enjoying the large GHLS display of live steam locomotives of all sizes |
The annual train show at the Toronto International Center was another successful event. With more than 25 GHLS members out to help and over 30 engines and rolling stock on display, we easily had the largest display at the show.
The video taken by Tom Stewart of action at the track during the summer was a big hit with the spectators. Nothing explains live steam like a video. We also had a display of 'G' scale live steam locomotives with a small track setup by Russ Milland to run some of the engines on. This was a big draw for the little people as they could get up close to see these small engines run on their own under steam power. |
 |
|
| The many different pieces of equipment on display gave the visitors a good sampling of the variety and diversity of our hobby. The partially constructed locomotives were of particular interest as the work involved in building an engine could be seen and explained. Some of the partially completed engines included Peter Masefield's 4-3/4" Black Five, Rick Intini's 7-1/4" American and 4-3/4" Switcher, Abe Dietrich's 4-3/4" Atlantic, Barry Graham's 4-3/4" 2-4-4T and Fred Eagle's 4-3/4" Atlantic. These displays gave the visitors a good example of the various stages of locomotive construction. |  Fred Eagle's 4-3/4" Atlantic on a hand cranked roller bed |
|
|
 David Powell takes the 4-3/4" "Runner Bean" for a test run at the TLS Train Show display |
Tom Stewart's entire collection was on display to show how the engines look when they are completed along with John Vanzuilen's 3-1/2" B&O Pacific and Linc Johnson's Shay display also got a lot attention. The larger scale locomotives were well represented with Harry Savile's 7-1/4" Willamette, 7-1/4" Consolidation and Michael Guy's 7-1/4" Romulus there to show what the large engines look like. Steve Moore had his alternative power 7-1/4" Great Western on display along with Brian Moore's partially completed 7-1/4" "City of Truro" locomotive. Everyone did a great job of explaining how the locomotives are built and how they work while promoting the club and the museum. |
|
|
| The weekend was not all work as there was still time get around and see the other displays at the show and to visit with fellow train fans. The Toronto Live Steamers had an interesting display with David Bray's 4-3/4" "Runner Bean" running on compressed air over a short length of elevated track.
The train show is a fitting end to a very interesting and productive season for all GHLS members. Thanks to everyone for helping to make this another successful event. |
 GHLS display of 7-1/4" locomotives and rolling stock |
|
|
 GHLS members (Peter Masefield, Rick Intini, Bill Lee) busy discussing live steam with some of the many visitors |
|
|
|
| James Watt Day Tour Package - Sunday January 19 | |
| To celebrate this very important figure in history, James Watt, the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology invites you to participate in a day of adventure. This daylong trip will begin at the museum at 8:30 am with coffee. The trip will include a tour of the 1859 Hamilton Water Works, Ontario Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, Made in Hamilton an industrial heritage tour and Lunch at the Coach House Restaurant located a Dundurn National Historic Site.
Day Trip Tour Package includes:
|
|
|
|
| GHLS 2003 Event Calendar | |
| The GHLS event calendar is back again this year. The 2003 calendar, which features more of Steve Moore's live steam drawings, is now available. The 8-1/2" x 11" B/W calendar has all of the GHLS events for 2003 highlighted and each month has a different one of Steve's humorous depictions of live steam track action. There is also plenty of space to keep track of those other things like anniversaries, birthdays, etc.
The calendar has been produced to help raise funds for club projects next year. No club funds have been used to produce the calendar. All of the money donated will go toward building and maintaining the club track and facilities. A donation of $5 per calendar, or what ever you can afford, would be appreciated. Get yours now so that you can keep track of your busy schedule and don't miss any of the events at the track this year. Every workshop should have at least one! Copies will be available at the club meetings or you can order your copy by mailing a donation check payable to the "Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers" to: Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers |
|
|
|
| Weird Fontaine Loco Story and picture from www.dself.demon.co.uk/locoloco/fontaine.htm | |
| This monstrosity was built in 1881 at the Grant Locomotive Works, of Paterson, New Jersey. It was designed by Eugene Fontaine, of Detroit. The engine was built with the driving wheels ABOVE the boiler, their tread pressing on and transmitting motion to the carrying wheels by frictional contact. The designer claimed this would increase the speed of the engine for the same boiler pressure, though why he should have thought so is a bit of a mystery; it would appear that all that has been introduced is another place for slipping to occur. |  For those of you looking for a unusual and unique live steam project, this may be the locomotive for you. |
| The likeliest explanation is that he was trying to gear up the real driving wheels so they turned faster than the "air-wheels". Slightly larger driving wheels would surely have been an easier way to the same end. This picture lends support to this theory. Some helpful soul has dotted-in the hidden parts of the wheels, showing that they do indeed step up the speed of the rail wheels, by a modest ratio of 1.4 to 1, if my measurements are accurate. It does not seem worth the bother.
This locomotive with two wheels up in the air really was built and put in service. The engine was tried on all kinds of trains, but proved inferior in every respect to the ordinary engines of the same capacity. After many modifications- none of which helped much- it was rebuilt as an ordinary eight wheel engine. For more examples of unusual and strange locomotives check out the "Extreme Steam- Unusual Variations on The Steam Locomotive" web page. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|