IBLS Journal 1938

On September 18, 1938, the Brotherhood's annual meets began being held at the brand new New England Live Steamers track at Danvers, Mass.

The track was 620-feet in length and was constructed in less than a month on property owned by Lester Danforth Friend assisted by several Live Steam "brothers", which included 'Carl" Purinton and his 16-year old son, Charles S. Purinton (Charlie) . Despite the absolute worst kind of New England weather (known as an "Easterly spell") the activities continued. However, there was trouble, the alternating drizzling and pouring rain kept the rails too wet for good traction. The track could accommodate both 2 ½ and 3 ½ gauge locomotives and rolling stock.

A large turntable, with its stalls, and an ample service track adjoined the loop, with which the latter connected by an ingenious transfer table device.

Despite a driving rain, the first engine to run that historic day was "Carl" Purinton's 4-4-4 tank engine, followed by a ¾" scale Timken "four aces" 4-8-4 built by Fred Jerome of Toronto.

When lunch was served to all of the day's participants, the members and visitors had a chance to see some of the models and chassis under construction, which were all exhibited under cover.

The work that was done by those early day live steamers on those little engines was deserving of the respect by anyone who admires fine machine work.

Speaking of "lunch"--- the main entrée for the day's historic event was Mrs. "Carl" Purinton's memorable fish chowder which she was well known for. "Carl" said it was officially known as "Marblehead Chowder". Evidently, as always, it was the hit of the day !

The meet at Danvers was the sixth Annual Live Steamers meet of which many were to follow in the ensuing years, during the course of the BLS existence.

Modelmaker Magazine Report
From the October--November, 1938 issue of The Modelmaker magazine, comes this story of the great track at Danvers, MA and the "pioneers" who started the live steam hobby as we know it today on the East Coast. Even the late Mary Purinton's "fish chowder" is mentioned here.



Live Steamers' Meet, 1938

New 620 Ft. Track at Danvers, Mass., Accommodates Many Locomotives Sept. 18.

by John Leonard

Despite the worst kind of New England weather, a very satisfactory sixth annual Live Steamers Meet was held in Danvers, Mass., on Sept. 18. Besides the steam engine builders, a considerable crowd of interested spectators gathered.

This year the meet was held on the new track built by local brothers in Danvers. This track is 620 ft. long, and includes both 2-1/2" and 3-1/2" gauges. A large turntable, with its stalls, and an ample service track adjoin the loop, with which the latter connects by an ingenious transfer table device. The engines were run on a definite schedule, managed by E. W. Leaver. Since each engine's schedule was posted, most of them were fired and ready by the time their half-hour running periods began.

Despite a driving rain, the first engine to run, Charles A. Purinton's 4-4-4 tank engine, was fired and under steam at 10 o-clock. It was followed closely by a Timken "four aces" in 3/4" scale, built and run by Fred T. Jerome of Toronto. Seven other fine jobs followed these.  We noticed particularly a very fine 3-1/2" gauge Pacific, Central Vermont prototype, built by Ralph McElvey of Portand, Me., and Harry Sait's B&A 4-6-6 tank. Ed Weaver ran his British Atlantic later in the day. Somewhat confusing was another 3-1/2" gauge Timken, built by C. F. Robbins of Keene, N. H. We were able to distinguish Mr. Robbin's engine from mr. Jerome's because the former carried a working power reverse gear.

As we have said, the weather was very poor--what New Englanders call an "easterly spell." Because the alternately drizzling and pouring rain kept the rails too wet for good traction, load-pulling tests were out, and some of the various engines, timed by Parker Kemble, were run on speed tests. Here are some results; time are given for one circuit of 620 ft.:


 * F. T. Jerome's 3-1/2" gauge 4-8-4 - 39.2 seconds
 * C. F. Robbins' 3-1/2" gauge 4-8-4 - 37.4 seconds
 * H. E. Sait's 3-1/2" gauge 4-6-6 tank (driven by Mr. Jerome) - 36.8 seconds

Before these tests were run, your reporter requested a ride from Mr. Jerome (who, as you can see, is a "highball" artist) and got it. Balancing on a trolley behind this gentleman, on a trestle 10 fto. above a little gulley, is only recommended for those with strong nerves!

When lunch (Mrs. Purinton's traditional and memorable fish cowder) was served, we had a chance to see some of the models and chassis under construction, which were exhibited under cover. The work done by live steamers on their little engines is deserving of respect by anyone who admires fine machine work.

George Roberts showed a beautiful array of parts and patterns for his CNR 4-6-4 engine. Lester Friend, the genial and hard working president of the Live Steamers, showed the chassis of a B&A 4-6-6 tank engine.

L. D. Langworthy, of Westerly, R. I., was on hand with a 3-1/2" gauge Hudson chassis and boiler.

S. O. Vaughn, of Brockton, Mass., had a Timken chassis, with real Timken bearings throughout. And there were many other very fine jobs. We noticed, too, a 3-1/2" gauge 0-4-0 chassis, shown by Charles S. Purinton, son of "Carl" Purinton, who, at 16, is probably the youngest operating live steamer in the country. A. W. Wegner brought a beautifully detailed Pacific chassis, 2-1/2" gauge, from Denver, Colo.

Here is a complete list of engines present:


 * 1-1/4" Gauge
 * 4-6-2--L.D. Friend, Marblehead, Mass., finished
 * 4-6-4 (Josie)--N. W. Burtt, Kenmore, N. Y., chassis
 * 4-6-4--G. B. Nutting, Saco, Me., chassis


 * 2-1/2" Gauge
 * 4-4-4 Tank--C. A. Purinton, Marblehead, Mass., finished, ran at the meet
 * 4-6-2 (B&O)--A. W. Wegner, Denver, Colo., chassis
 * 4-6-6 Tank--C. A. Purinton, Marblehead, Mass, finished
 * 4-4-2--H. B. Kimball, Swapscott, Mass., finished, ran at the meet
 * 4-6-0 (PRR G-5)--Joseph Pedrant, Yonkers, N. Y., chassis
 * 4-6-2--Albert Woodward, Marlboro, Vt., chassis, ran at the meet
 * 4-4-2--Norman Steele, Woods Hole, Mass., finished, ran at the meet
 * 2-8-4 (B&M)--Joseph Smythe, Lynn, Mass., finished, ran at the meet


 * 3-1/2" Gauge
 * 4-6-6 Tanker (B&A)--L. D. Friend, Marblehead, Mass., chassis
 * 4-6-4 (NYC)--A. L. Jones, Auburn, Mass., chassis
 * 4-6-4 (NYC)--C. A. Chabet, Worcester, Mass., chassis
 * 0-6-0--Stuart Evans, Utica, N. Y., chassis
 * 4-8-2 (New Haven)--Herbert Henry, Providence, R. I., chassis
 * 0-4-0--Charles S. Purinton, Marblehead, Mass., chassis
 * 4-6-4 (NYC)--L. D. Langworthy, Westerly, R. I., chassis and boiler
 * 4-6-2 (PRR)--C. W. Woodson, Aurora, N. Y., chassis
 * 4-4-2 (British)--E. W. Leaver, Providence, R. I., finished, ran at the meet
 * 4-6-4 (CNR)--George Roberts, Toronto, Ontario, chassis
 * 4-8-4 (Timken)--S. O. Vaughn, Brockton, Mass., chassis
 * 4-4-2 (Free-lance)--Gene Stevens, Norway, Me., finished, ran at the meet
 * 4-6-6T (B&A)--H. E. Sait, Old Orchard, Me., finished, ran at the meet
 * 4-8-4 (Timken)--F. T. Jerome, Tonronto, Ontario, finished, ran at the meet
 * 4-8-4 (Timken)--C. F. Robbins, Keene, N. H., finished, ran at the meet
 * 4-6-2 (CV)--Ralph Mc Elvey, Portland, Me., finished
 * 2-4-0--Walter Jordan, East Providence, R. I., chassis