Dwight Durkee

Dwight Durkee was the BLS Secretary( Western Region) after Harry Dixon passed away, from 1977 thru 1993 when Dick Thomas assumed the job.

Gallery

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  The Durkee Shop of Dwight Durkee Jr., Cupertino, California. 4-4-0, 1-1/2 inch scale, 7-1/2 inch gauge, cylinders 2x3 inches, drivers 7-5/8 inches. This old-timer has a genuine kerosene oil headlamp. From "The North American Live Steamer", January 1956.

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  Durkee firing up his 1-1/2 inch scale Early American engine on the hydraulic lift. Photo by Harry Dixon, Summer 1957.

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  Firing 4-4-0 "Virginian" Locomotive at Cupertino Live Steam Track circa 1965. With Bay Area live steamers Dwight Durkee, Henry Steimle, Builder-Bill Smith, Louie Lawrence and Bill Bay. Photo by Harry Dixon.

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  DeWitt Clinton 7-1/2 Gauge Locomotive circa 1960 built by Marion and Dwight Durkee of Cupertino California.

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  DeWitt Clinton 7-1/2" Gauge circa 1960 by Marion and Dwight Durkee.

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  Dwight Durkee and the DeWitt Clinton on the North Loop, Redwood Canyon in 1963.

"Grant" Locomotive

BLS Report

Charles A. Purinton

The Miniature Locomotive, July-August 1954

Dwight Durkee Jr. of Cupertino, California, has an excellent start on the Grant, an early American type of locomotive that was popular around 1873.

This is his first attempt at building an engine and, as you can see from the picture, he is doing alright, especially when you start from scratch with only a picture to follow. Patterns and castings were made for the drivers, front wheels and the cylinders, which are 2 inch bore and 3 inch stroke and use "D" valves. The drive wheels are 7-5/8 inch diameter and are sprung with working leaf springs. The side rods have the conventional brasses and working wedges, while the frame and pilt were made up from bar stock and brazed together. H states that he has some 740 hours of work in the engine so far, but also has the boiler and tender underway.

He is a tyro who praises the helpful instructions that Charles Arnold has to offer in his book on boiler making. Dwight has started this engine in 7-1/2 inch gauge and proposes to put down a 500 foot line at his home, where there is plenty of room for expansion and his round house begines to fill up with more locos as his future plans progress.

File:DwightDurkee Grant Miniature Locomotive JulAug1954 005.jpg

1.5 inch scale, 7 1/2 inch gauge 4-4-0 American built by the late Dwight Durkee, Jr. of Cupertino, California. Photo provided by Dwight's son, Dwight, Feb 2014.

Where is it?

Dwight's son writes:

My mother's understanding is that this and all of my dad's equipment went to Germany. Does anyone have any further information? Please send information to Daris Nevil.

1957

The North American Live Steamer, Volume 1 Number 10

Harry Dixon

A recent visit was made to the Timber & Ferndale Railroad at Cupertino, California, where president and general manager Dwight Durkee, Jr took us on a tour thru the back shop and garden layout. After a short rain storm his engine Fern was fired up for a run. Later lunch was served by Mrs. Durkee, who is a very avid steam enthusiast. She is building a caboose for this line and expects to have it ready for the Goleta Valley run in August. In the afternoon we were honored with a visit by another live steamer from Modesto, who brought along his 1-1/2 inch scale engine of the Apache railroad. Ralph Sweely is the owner and he is being assisted with the unloading by Captain William L. Bay of the Pan Am Lines. Enclosed are four views of the activities of a very pleasant visit with the Durkees.

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  1.5 inch scale, 7 1/2 inch gauge 4-4-0 American built by the late Dwight Durkee, Jr. of Cupertino, California.

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  Ralph Sweely unloading his 1-1/2 inch scale Early American assisted by Captain William S. Bay.

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  Dwight Durkee driving Ralph Sweely on engine.

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  Ralph Sweely and his engine under steam.

Timber & Ferndale Railroad

Kenneth Shattock wrote in Call Boy, April 2013:

Call Boy Editor Dwight Durkee had a track at his apricot orchard in Cupertino. Even though he was editor, it was rumored that he was never seen at the Redwood track. Here we see, left to right: Dwight Durkee, Henry Steimle, Bill Smith Sr., Louis Lawrence, and Bill Bay. The engine is a 4-4-0 “Virginian”. Of course, the orchard and apricots are gone, and the property is now producing

apples, under the names of iPod, iPhone, and other products created by the late Steve Jobs

References

• Dwight Durkee at 1975 BLS Meet LALS