Doug Alkire

Doug Alkire in his Own Words
From LALS Booster, Jan 2011

I was elected to the first Board of Directors as a director in late 1964 for the 1965-1966 term. I served as a director for a total of six full two-years terms -- 12 years in total -- the most service yet of anyone in the club.

I also served as Chairman of the Facility Planning Group from 1966 through 1986 - a total of 20 years. This position was my favorite, and I proposed a number of projects to help the club grow. The first was the "Disney loop" around the south side of the facility. "Webb Yard" came next. This was followed by the 18-foot long transfer bridge and the 18-foot long parallel steaming bays to give LALS the ability to host BLS and IBLS meets every five years from 1965 through 1995.

Our methods showed the other live steam clubs how to do it, and the British Columbia Live Steamers built a huge new facility and hosted the 2000 IBLS Meet. There has been no IBLS meets since. I proposed the extension of trackage for the 7.5" gauge track in 1966, but it was not until 1985 that the gold spike ceremony was held at the West End.

I proposed the first Phil West car storage shed at the West End of the facility for the 16 riding cars purchased from "Buss" Sutch for $80.00 each and the first track rental shed in the southwestern corner of the facility, where riding stock could be stored with locked doors.

The transfer bridge gave access to the steaming bays, and many LALS members brought new equipment because storage was available, and hauling rolling stock from home to LALS was no longer needed. This, in turn, gave a larger roster of engineers to haul the public so that the burden on the smaller previous group was greatly eased. Also, the list of suppliers increased, which increased interest in our hobby. I was very happy to have joined the hobby early enough to have a part in the growth.

Old 5300 Rolls Again
An article that appeared in the November 1972 issue of Popular Mechanics



It took Doug Alkire seven and a half years - 13,600 hours, he figures - to build the one-twelfth scale model of the President Washington. Old 5300 was one of the "presidential" series of locomotives that hauled passengers for the Baltimore & Ohio when steam was king of the road.

Many of the parts were fashioned from scrap - blocks of aluminum, steel, brass and cast iron. Some pieces of steel were welded, then shaped with a file. Careful filing made parts look like castings.

A Southern California mechanical engineer, Alkire used hand tools, an old lathe and an arc welder for most of the work. Side rods and gears were machined from hot-rolled steel bar stock, finished, polished and case-hardened.

Like the locomotive, the tender was constructed with economy in mind. It was fashioned from scrap and surplus stock.

Its palmetto green paint and gold leaf lettering add to the authenticity. In addition to a coal compartment, the tender contains a welded stainless-steel tank that holds enough distilled water to keep the President Washington rolling for an hour and a half.

Alkire runs his engine in a public park that has track and other facilities for replica railroading. That's where he spends many an afternoon with fellow enthusiasts. It's a great way to let off steam.

5300 Drawings
Andy R wrote on Chaski.org:


 * Doug Alkire's 1-inch scale 5300 was based upon Coventry's drawings (although Doug re-drew them for 1-in. scale.) Doug even corresponded with Mr. Coventry on details.


 * Doug Alkire's 5300 drawings
 * 5300 Photos
 * Modelmaker Article on 5300
 * Railroad Roman Numbers

Another 5300
Another Baltimore & Ohio #5300 model, patterned after Doug Alkire's 1 inch scale model, appeared for sale on eBay.com, November 2019.


 * This is a Baltimore & Ohio #5300, the "President Washington" steam locomotive, 1 inch scale live steamer. The set would need a professional machinist to finish properly, but there is $9,000 invested in about 10 years of work with this set-up. It is truly one of a kind, built by a professional machinist, and is IDENTICAL to the one built by Doug Alkire, who loaned the patterns and castings to the original owner. He was unable to finish the locomotive, but the set contains about 80% of the engine and includes what you see in the photographs. There is the boiler, main engine parts, and numerous small parts down to even the builder plates and class lamps. The package also includes the original drawings needed to finish the project.

[Doug Edwards posted the following on Chaski.org, 2 December 2019]:


 * I don't know what Doug Alkire used on his loco, so can't comment if the loco in the auction follows his or not, but the top casting in the lead truck is a casting from the Doc Fixit patterns for the Southern Pacific A-6 Atlantic. This is not the lead truck design that would have been under the B&O president class, as the lead truck used under the A6 class was retained from the A3 class they were constructed from. That lead truck design dates from about 1906. You can see this lead truck design on the Southern Pacific Atlantic on display in Griffith park in LA.

Death


From the Chaski Board, 20 December 2010

Our friend Doug Alkire has passed away. He had gone to the post office to mail some drawings to a friend in Australia when he became dizzy and confused. They called the paramedics and Doug passed away shortly after, apparently from a stroke. Doug was 92 years old. Doug Alkire was a long time member of Los Angeles Live Steamers and was known for his beautiful scratch built one inch scale Baltimore And Ohio P7 Pacific. Also for his contributions to Joe Nelsons book "So You Want To Build A Live Steam Locomotive". Doug had made friends all over the world with his correspondence, as he was a prolific letter writer. Doug preferred pen and paper to E Mail. As he touched many, he will be greatly missed. So long dear friend.

Tidbits from Chaski
From http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist

Ken Shattock
 * There was a committee formed to set up Wheel Standards led by Doug Alkire.

Cary Stewart
 * When Doug Alkire brought stuff for his Pres. Washington home he hid it behind a telephone pole just down the street from his house. Worked for awhile but (his wife) Daisey found out and then started to make deals for stuff she wanted.



Jack Bodenmann
 * Doug Alkire's 1" scale P7 drawings are absolutely incredible and encompass every little blob and bit. To those of us that knew Doug, this comes as no surprise as he was a truly amazing fellow. The P7 is a most beautiful locomotive and it would be nice to see more of them.

Loco112
 * Doug was the best of us livesteamers. He was also shining example of what a great contribution one man can have on a hobby.


 * I talked to Doug a few times and he always had time to talk to me and answer questions. I asked Doug once about his work on the "Mesa Grande & Westerns" post 1970's loop and trackwork, and he said he did all that work because he had always wanted to build a "mountain railroad". With that work he certainly accomplished his goal.


 * Dougs efforts on the MG&W ROW are an example of how much work one very old man and one very old Power Shovel can have on a miniature railroad that are not even his.


 * I spoke to Doug about his participation in the "So You Want To Build A Livesteam Locomotive" book last year (Fall 2007) and he said it was a LALS newsletter that started it all. I believe J.F Nelson was the club's secretary and put it together with Bill Fitt. Apparently Bill asked the club members if he could use the articles in a book, the rest is history. It was all donated materials and that no one made any money from it.


 * Doug Alkire was one the most cordial people I've ever met. Always willing to give of his time to help or answer questions and to assist anyone with a design problem.... Live Steam or otherwise. And you could be assured the answer he gave you would be straight on.


 * Doug was an aerospace engineer at North American/Rockwell, who worked on many projects.... From the B-1 bomber landing gear to the Space Shuttle's main engine mounts.

BClem
 * Doug was 55 at the time the photo was published in J.F.Nelson's book. He looked younger... I always marveled at the work he did on his locomotive "President" and gained many ideas from his construction photos and his way of fabrication.