Doug Alkire

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

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.

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.

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".

Tender is a gem of authenticity with its green paint, gold lettering and 3200 rivets.

Three safety valves bleed off steam when the pressure in the boiler taps 140 pounds.

More precise detail is seen inside cab. Lever next to the sight glass is the throttle.

Death

Doug Alkire runs his 1" scale B&O P-7 at LALS.

Tidbits from Chaski

From http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist

Cary Stewart

When Doug Alkire brought stuff for his Pres. Washington home he hid it behind a telephone pole just down the street from his house. Worked for awhile but (his wife) Daisey found out and then started to make deals for stuff she wanted.

Trainman4602

As for an all Stainless steel boiler I say why not. If they are properly handled they should never give you a bit of trouble.

Three notable live steamers come to mind. They are Dave Moore, Doug Alkire and Tom Miller’s big boy. Each of these gentlemen has an all SS boiler. They have operated there locomotives for years without trouble. Dave Moore built three locomotives with SS boilers. So much for the critics.

Ken Shattock

There was a committee formed to set up Wheel Standards led by Doug Alkire.

Jack Bodenmann

[Doug Alkire's 1" scale P7] drawings are absolutely incredible and encompass every little blob and bit. To those of us that knew Doug, this comes as no surprise as he was a truly amazing fellow. The P7 is a most beautiful locomotive and it would be nice to see more of them.