Bill Van Brocklin

Bill Van Brocklin Jr. 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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  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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  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.

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

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
• "Get Positive Oil Feed with a Hydro-Force Lubricator", William S. Van Brocklin, Jr, Live Steam Magazine, November 1978

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