Bill Van Brocklin

Bill Van Brocklin Jr. was a prolific live steam locomotive builder. Perhaps he is best known for his steam pump designs.

Photo Journal

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  The cover photo of the July-August 1950 edition of "The Live Steamer" features a detailed view of the well known 3/4 inch scale Boston & Maine Atlantic type locomotive built by William (Bill) Van Brocklin Jr of Roslindale, Mass., and it is shown with the builder at the 1949 N.E.L.S. annual Live Steam Meet at Danvers.

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  Billy Van Brocklin on the high line running is his Yankee Shop 3/4 inch scale 4-4-2 at Waushakum. Photo by Carrdo.

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  Bill Van Brocklin at Carl Purinton's track, Boxford, Massachusetts, circa 1960.

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  The late Bill Van Brocklin with his 1800 era 4-4-0 which he named "Fire Queen."

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  A beautiful Illinois Central 4-4-0 "Fire Queen" built by Bill Van Brocklin and owned by Elmer Roth as of 1995. It feaures a coal fired copper boiler, 2 injectors, 2 cyl. steam water pump, 2 injectors, mech. oiler, whistle,hand pump and hydraulic brakes on the tender. She was rebuilt in 1995 by Elmer. Photo by James W. Leggett. From TrainNet.org.

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  With Bill Van Brocklin's new 4-4-0 on the turntable, the guys look on. Charlie Purinton, George Diamond, Bill Van Brocklin and Cap Purinton. August 22, 1987 meet at Carl Purinton's Boxford Outer Belt track. Photo by Bob Hornsby.

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  Bill Van Brocklin at Roy's in Danvers, Mass, 1988. Photo provided by Bob Hornsby.

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  Bill Van Brocklin at the last Waushakum Live Steamers meet held at the old track location. The 1996 meet was the last and final meet at Norfolk Street track site. Courtesy of Patrick Fahey.

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  William Van Brocklin, Jr engine house at Waushakum Live Steamers. Photo by Arthur Butler, from collection of Patrick Fahey.

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  The elevation drawing of the Van Brocklin single-cylinder pump.

Locomotive List

Patrick Fahey of the Waushakum Live Steamers provided scans of Bill's locomotive list.

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  No. 16 - In 1975, Bill Van Brocklin brought his 4-6-0 ten wheeler to the meet at Carl Purinton's Boxford Outer Belt Railroad. Here it reposes on the 3-1/2 inch gauge track. This engine has Baker valve gear. Photo by Bob Hornsby.

Steam Pump

One of Bill Van Brocklin's steam pumps was listed on eBay in December 2013. Here is the description, along with photos.

This little pump will scale properly in both 1" or a smaller 1.5" scale engine. Steam bore is 13/16" and water bore is 1/2". Stroke is approximately 1-1/8".

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  Advertisement found in The North American Live Steamer, March 1956

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  Advertisement found in The North American Live Steamer, 1957

Bibliography

• "Handy Gadgets", Construction article for dual check valves, The Miniature Locomotive, Jan-Feb 1953, page 26
• Van Brocklin Mechanical Lubricator, The North American Live Steamer, Vol 1 No 5, 1956
• "Album: Trio of Locomotive Builders", George C. Handley, Alfred Jungenize and Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, June 1977
• "Fabricate Cylinders", William S. Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, September 1977
• "Fabricate Axleboxes", William S. Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, June 1978
• "Get Positive Oil Feed with a Hydro-Force Lubricator", William S. Van Brocklin, Jr, Live Steam Magazine, November 1978
• "Wheel Quartering Fixture", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, December 1986
• "Water Gauge Location", William S. Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July 1988
• "One-piece Firebox Loco Boiler: Design Simplicity", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, January 1990
• "Checking Your Wheel Load", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, February 1990
• "Simple Stop Valve", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, February 1991
• "Use of a Trammel in Valve Setting", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July 1991
• "Slip Eccentric Valve Gear Drive for Small Locomotives", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, April 1992
• "Automatic Cylinder Drains", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July-April 1993
• "Building a Small Oscillator for Marine or Other Uses", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, January-February 1995
• "Building a Small Oscillator for Marine or Other Uses: Errata", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, May-June 1995
• "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 1; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July-August 2001
• "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 2; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, September-October 2001
• "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 3; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, November-December 2001
• "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 4; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, January-February 2002

External Links

• Van Brocklin simplex and duplex pump castings, Friends Models
• Bill Shields redesign on the Van Brocklin duplex pumps
• Construction photos of 3/4" Van Brocklin pumps
• Additional information on Bill Shield's Van Brocklin pump heads
• Machining Van Brocklin pumps
• "Some thoughts on building a pump" (PDF), Tom Artzberger, GGLS
• "VanBrocklin Duplex pump", Chaski.org