Doug Alkire: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Doug Alkire BO 1inch.jpg|thumb|center|300px|1" scale B&O P7 built by Doug Alkire. This engine was featured in Joe Nelsons book "So You Want to Build a Live Steam Locomotive" and there are many photos and descriptions of it there if you want to have a look. Doug spent 1,200 hours creating original drawings and a 40 page operation and service manual with photos and diagrams.]] | [[File:Doug Alkire BO 1inch.jpg|thumb|center|300px|1" scale B&O P7 built by Doug Alkire. This engine was featured in Joe Nelsons book "So You Want to Build a Live Steam Locomotive" and there are many photos and descriptions of it there if you want to have a look. Doug spent 1,200 hours creating original drawings and a 40 page operation and service manual with photos and diagrams.]] | ||
== Old 5300 Rolls Again == | |||
[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|left|400px]] | |||
[[File:Doug Alkire 5300 1.jpg|thumb|right|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.]] | |||
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. | |||
Revision as of 12:13, 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.