Doug Alkire: Difference between revisions
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[http://books.google.com/books?id=TNQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA147&lpg=RA1-PA147&dq=Doug+Alkire+IBLS&source=bl&ots=YSDIHeFmhn&sig=NKenBwiFm9LV2GIwIxVNyHTJki0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IFQMUe6JD4SvqgHfooCgBA&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Doug%20Alkire%20IBLS&f=false An article that appeared in the November 1972 issue of <i>Popular Mechanics</i>] | [http://books.google.com/books?id=TNQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA147&lpg=RA1-PA147&dq=Doug+Alkire+IBLS&source=bl&ots=YSDIHeFmhn&sig=NKenBwiFm9LV2GIwIxVNyHTJki0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IFQMUe6JD4SvqgHfooCgBA&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Doug%20Alkire%20IBLS&f=false An article that appeared in the November 1972 issue of <i>Popular Mechanics</i>] | ||
[[File:Doug Alkire 5300 2.jpg|thumb| | [[File:Doug Alkire 5300 2.jpg|thumb|right|400px]] | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
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| [[File:Doug Alkire 5300 1.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Bite-sized chunks of soft coal go into firebox of the President Washington. The 250-pound replica has a top speed of 7 mph and can pull as many as 10 passengers on flatcars.]] | |||
| [[File:Doug Alkire 5300 3.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Doug Alkire oils locomotive before making run. Plugged into smokestack (seen next to Doug's head) is electric blower for creating draft in firebox after Doug "lights off".]] | |||
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| [[File:Doug Alkire 5300 4.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Tender is a gem of authenticity with its green paint, gold lettering and 3200 rivets.]] | |||
| [[File:Doug Alkire 5300 5.jpg|thumb|center|300px|Three safety valves bleed off steam when the pressure in the boiler taps 140 pounds.]] | |||
| [[File:Doug Alkire 5300 6.jpg|thumb|right|300px|More precise detail is seen inside cab. Lever next to the sight glass is the throttle.]] | |||
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Revision as of 12:24, 2 February 2013
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.
