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The International Brotherhood of Live Steamers promotes the "Live Steam" hobby in North America and abroad. Join the International Brotherhood of Live Steamers About the IBLS Beginners start here This wiki contains 1,003 articles.

I'd like to thank IBLS and its contributing members for the articles and information which have helped tremendously in guiding me along Gary Kasper The IBLS wiki contains a wonderful number of standards for the home hobbyist to integrate into their designs in order to properly interchange with other equipment Van Anderson I feel it is my duty to pick my own brain and broadcast technical information that would be useful to others, thereby increasing the chances of prolonging The Hobby. Paul C. Haar, former Secretary of the Northeastern Ohio Live Steamers

Features

3D Model of LBSC's Tich by Jim Mullner

The Legacy of Fred Springer

The Art of Tube Bending

The beginning and end of the Meauwataka & Wildwood Railroad

Women in Live Steam

IBLS Updates the Coupler Standard

Build a String of Econogons

Live steaming "down under" at the QSMEE annual Track and Tent event

The Legacy of Horace Shaw and the Whysall Light Railway

Live Steam programming language??!!

Bill Yoder's 3/4 inch scale registry - first update for 2025 with 17 new iron ponies

Ian Racer and his scratch-built loco were featured in the December 2024 Newsletter of Speed Metals

Ken Scheer discusses Rail Expansion & Rail Joint Design

How to Build a Model Railroad by Harold Loose includes historic Live Steam

Fascinating collection of over 100 detailed mid-century freight and passenger car plans

Speaking Signaleze

Ken Scheer discusses critical measurements for building smooth turnouts

Ken Rodig shared several articles and drawings from the Large Scale Model Railway Engineering newsletter

A comprehensive list of steam locomotive drawings

Click here for a comprehensive list of articles.

IBLS Store

Patch

A high-quality, 6 color patch commemorating the founding of the Brotherhood of Live Steamers by Carl Purinton in 1932. The patch is 3 inches high, 2.7 inches wide.

Only $5.00US each, includes postage. Click here to purchase

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7.x Wheel Gauge

This 7.x inch gauge Wheel Gauge will make verification of your wheel profile easy. Measures flange, wheel angle, and Minimum Tire Width (TW). Printed in durable PLA plastic. Color may vary.

Only $2.50US each, includes postage. Click here to purchase

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7.x Coupler Gauge

The 1.5 inch scale Coupler Contour Gauge will make verification of your coupler profile easy. Measures contour and coupler swing. Printed in durable PLA plastic. Color may vary.

Only $5.00US each, includes postage. Click here to purchase.

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Regional IBLS Secretaries

• North America
• Australia
• Europe

Standards and Recommended Practice

This heavy Pacific 4-6-2 was built in 1936 by William L. Daney, Pueblo, Colorado.

• IBLS Wheel Standard
• IBLS Coupler Standard
• IBLS Safety Chain Standards
• IBLS Track Standard
• Loading gauge
• Standards and Recommended Practice
• Boiler Inspections
• Bolt and Pipe Threads
• Texas Standard Tie Spacing

Wandering Locomotive Books

Bill Van Brocklin and #28 on Carl Purinton's Boxford Outer Belt Railroad

• Winton Brown Engineering Data
• Koster's Miniature Railroad Supplies
• Lee Wright and Lee's Trains
• Jan-Eric Nystrom's Baldwin 3003
• Bill Yoder's 3/4 Inch Scale Registry
• Jim Murray and MDM Locomotive Works

Articles by Category

3/4 inch scale live steam model of a Union Pacific Challenger built by D. W. Massie of Montreal, Canada.

• Category:IBLS Secretaries
• Category:People
• Category:History
• Category:Pop Culture

• Category:Beginners

• Category:Standards
• Category:Definitions

• Category:Clubs
• Category:Tracks
• Category:Suppliers

• Category:Construction
• Category:Maintenance
• Category:Operations
• Category:Right of Way
• Category:Safety
• Category:Materials

• Category:Books
• Category:Catalogs
• Category:Periodicals

• Category:Steam Locomotive Parts
• Category:Diesel Locomotive Parts
• Category:Railroad Car Parts

• Category:Prototypes
• Category:Steam Locomotive Models

Articles of Interest

• Steam Locomotive Drawings

Contributing

Have an idea for an IBLS article? Please contact daris@nevil.org