Windsor Ontario Live Steam Club: Difference between revisions

From IBLS
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 11: Line 11:
With this track, we had a 1963 fall meet in September. This track, such as it was, lasted until 1967 where it deteriorated so bad as to be unsafe for large 1 inch scale engines. In the summer of 1968(?) the wooden uprights were replaced by cast concrete pyramids and the stringers by 2 inch x 6 inch x 16 foot pressure treated creosote wood. The ties were also creosote soaked and the rail replaced with 1/4 inch x 5/8 inch hot rolled steel set into 7/8 inch x 1-1/2 inch x 8 inch ties. The original track had 1/4 inch square hot rolled welded on 1/8 inch x 3/4 inch x 8 inch long bars. The new track was only 3/4 inch and 1 inch scale.
With this track, we had a 1963 fall meet in September. This track, such as it was, lasted until 1967 where it deteriorated so bad as to be unsafe for large 1 inch scale engines. In the summer of 1968(?) the wooden uprights were replaced by cast concrete pyramids and the stringers by 2 inch x 6 inch x 16 foot pressure treated creosote wood. The ties were also creosote soaked and the rail replaced with 1/4 inch x 5/8 inch hot rolled steel set into 7/8 inch x 1-1/2 inch x 8 inch ties. The original track had 1/4 inch square hot rolled welded on 1/8 inch x 3/4 inch x 8 inch long bars. The new track was only 3/4 inch and 1 inch scale.
   
   
2 meets a year was held on this track until the mid to late 1980's when other tracks in Ohio and Ontario got going. Also, many of our members passed away. The track site was lost in 1992 and the Sunparlour Line, as it was known, ceased to exist.
2 meets a year was held on this track until the mid to late 1980's when other tracks in Ohio and Ontario got going. Also, many of our members passed away. The track site was lost in 1992 and the <i>Sunparlour Line</i>, as it was known, ceased to exist.


<gallery widths=300px heights=300px perrow=2>
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px perrow=2>
Line 21: Line 21:
File:DaveJarvis WindsorOntarioTrack.PNG|Dave Jarvis running his re-gauged Mountain Locomotive. George Murray made a 3-1/2 inch gauge engine out of a 2-1/2 inch gauge job and sold it to Dave.
File:DaveJarvis WindsorOntarioTrack.PNG|Dave Jarvis running his re-gauged Mountain Locomotive. George Murray made a 3-1/2 inch gauge engine out of a 2-1/2 inch gauge job and sold it to Dave.
File:HenryPeotter WIndsorOntarioTrack.PNG|Henry Peotter built this engine which I was told ran at 200 psi.
File:HenryPeotter WIndsorOntarioTrack.PNG|Henry Peotter built this engine which I was told ran at 200 psi.
File:HenryPeotter at WindsorOntario-1.PNG|Henry E Peotter and his locomotive. His initials were used to identify his railroad on the tender.
File:HenryPeotter at WindsorOntario-2.PNG|Henry Peotter's locomotive
File:JackHart America WindsorOntarioTrack-4.PNG|Jack Hart's first engine was a 1/2 inch scale Hudson. His next was this beautiful 3/4 inch scale 4-4-0. It ran for many years on coal but was eventually changed over to propane. Jack worked in the tool room at Ford in Windsor.
File:JackHart America WindsorOntarioTrack-3.PNG|Jack Hart and his 3/4 inch scale American.
File:JackHart America WindsorOntarioTrack-2.PNG|Jack Hart's American
File:JackHart America WindsorOntarioTrack-1.PNG|Jack Hart's American
File:EricCorbett WindsorOntarioTrack-2.PNG|One of the regulars at the meet was Eric Corbett. He built this Coventry B&O 0-6-0 and never finished it beyond how it looks here. It ran like a Swiss watch but he just never had the desire to complete the details. He was always a fun guy to have at a Windsor meet.
File:EricCorbett WindsorOntarioTrack-1.PNG|Eric Corbett's 0-6-0
File:FrankBirch JackPrest JackHart WindsorOntarioTrack.PNG|[[Frank Birch]], [[Jack Prest]] and Jack Hart having a discussion. [[Jack Prest]] was the BLS Secretary for Canada at the time until his untimely passing.
File:LarryEdwards Atlantic WindsorOntarioTrack-1.PNG|Larry Edwards of Green Bay Wisconsin was a regular visitor to the track in the 1960's. His 3/4 inch Atlantic was well traveled and a great steamer. The late Ed Loomie eventually ended up with this engine and after his passing, it disappeared into the winds.
File:LarryEdwards Atlantic WindsorOntarioTrack-2.PNG|Larry Edwards' Atlantic
File:MurrayBennell WindsorOntario-4.PNG|Murray Bennell was a regular at Windsor also. When he had his engine to the point of running, he borrowed the Maisie tender from Ted Lee and ran his engine at the meets. Eventually, Murray would finish the engine and tender, using the steel sheet from the back of his mother's washing machine. His engine was also well traveled and was at most of the eastern US tracks, Montreal and Winnipeg too. Murray was always fun to travel to the meets with and for many years, he was the driver when he and Tom Sullivan would go to the [[Waushakum Live Steamers|Waushakum meet]] every year. At the time of his passing, he was working on a 3/4 inch [[Carl Hoffman|Hoffman Hudson]]. For several years. Murray also had a high line track set up on his brothers farm in Ridgetown Ontario.
File:MurrayBennell WindsorOntario-1.PNG|Murray Bennell
File:MurrayBennell WindsorOntario-3.PNG|Murray Bennell
File:MurrayBennell WindsorOntario-2.PNG|Murray Bennell's locomotive
</gallery>
</gallery>

Latest revision as of 14:25, 2 October 2022

by Murray Bennell

Prior to my entry into this group, they were a small group of like mined individuals. I believe they met through the O Gauge club of Windsor. Syd Smitherman owned 2 acres out in the country and here they (Jack Hart, Ted Lee and Syd) built a circle of raised track of 2-1/2 inch and 3-1/2 inch gauge of about 50 feet in diameter. Jack had a 2-1/2 inch gauge NYC Hudson and Ted had a 3-1/2 inch Maisie. I believe the group consisted of Syd Smitherman, Jack Hart, Ted Lee, Gord Gilles, Jack Prest, George Lutzac and Al Liddel.

When I entered the picture in the summer of 1962, they were in the midst of trying to get together the wherewithal to build 600 feet of 2-1/2 inch, 3-1/2 inch and 4-3/4 inch gauge elevated track. They started to build this in 1963. Ted Lee had passed away by this time but Gord's son Bob had joined along with a friend who worked for a trucking company. They were able to get scrap dunnage from, I believe, International Harvester in Chatham. The stringers for the track were made from 3/4 inch x 5-1/2 inch x 6 foot long junk boards, doubled up on each side of the 2 x 4 uprights. This was all bolted together thanks to a magnificent benefactor.

The uprights were bolted to 2 inch x 2 inch x 4 inch thick concrete bases poured on top of the ground. Leveling was done after all was assembled. As luck would have it, there was not much grade in the lay of the land. The biggest outlay of money was for the concrete bases and the steel turntable.

With this track, we had a 1963 fall meet in September. This track, such as it was, lasted until 1967 where it deteriorated so bad as to be unsafe for large 1 inch scale engines. In the summer of 1968(?) the wooden uprights were replaced by cast concrete pyramids and the stringers by 2 inch x 6 inch x 16 foot pressure treated creosote wood. The ties were also creosote soaked and the rail replaced with 1/4 inch x 5/8 inch hot rolled steel set into 7/8 inch x 1-1/2 inch x 8 inch ties. The original track had 1/4 inch square hot rolled welded on 1/8 inch x 3/4 inch x 8 inch long bars. The new track was only 3/4 inch and 1 inch scale.

2 meets a year was held on this track until the mid to late 1980's when other tracks in Ohio and Ontario got going. Also, many of our members passed away. The track site was lost in 1992 and the Sunparlour Line, as it was known, ceased to exist.

  • This is a picture of Al Roedding and Dave Jarvis with Al's 3/4 inch UP Northern. This picture was taken in the 1960's at the Windsor Ontario track. Provided by Steve Bratina.

    This is a picture of Al Roedding and Dave Jarvis with Al's 3/4 inch UP Northern. This picture was taken in the 1960's at the Windsor Ontario track. Provided by Steve Bratina.

  • Al Roedding at the throttle of his UP Northern at the Windsor Ontario track, early 1960's. Photo by Steve Bratina.

    Al Roedding at the throttle of his UP Northern at the Windsor Ontario track, early 1960's. Photo by Steve Bratina.

  • Al Roedding's UP Northern at the Windsor Ontario track, early 1960's.

    Al Roedding's UP Northern at the Windsor Ontario track, early 1960's.

  • AlRoedding UP Northern Windsor 1960s-3.PNG
  • Jack Hart driving Harry Gerrie's engine then owned by Jack Lilburn.

    Jack Hart driving Harry Gerrie's engine then owned by Jack Lilburn.

  • Dave Jarvis running his re-gauged Mountain Locomotive. George Murray made a 3-1/2 inch gauge engine out of a 2-1/2 inch gauge job and sold it to Dave.

    Dave Jarvis running his re-gauged Mountain Locomotive. George Murray made a 3-1/2 inch gauge engine out of a 2-1/2 inch gauge job and sold it to Dave.

  • Henry Peotter built this engine which I was told ran at 200 psi.

    Henry Peotter built this engine which I was told ran at 200 psi.

  • Henry E Peotter and his locomotive. His initials were used to identify his railroad on the tender.

    Henry E Peotter and his locomotive. His initials were used to identify his railroad on the tender.

  • Henry Peotter's locomotive

    Henry Peotter's locomotive

  • Jack Hart's first engine was a 1/2 inch scale Hudson. His next was this beautiful 3/4 inch scale 4-4-0. It ran for many years on coal but was eventually changed over to propane. Jack worked in the tool room at Ford in Windsor.

    Jack Hart's first engine was a 1/2 inch scale Hudson. His next was this beautiful 3/4 inch scale 4-4-0. It ran for many years on coal but was eventually changed over to propane. Jack worked in the tool room at Ford in Windsor.

  • Jack Hart and his 3/4 inch scale American.

    Jack Hart and his 3/4 inch scale American.

  • Jack Hart's American

    Jack Hart's American

  • Jack Hart's American

    Jack Hart's American

  • One of the regulars at the meet was Eric Corbett. He built this Coventry B&O 0-6-0 and never finished it beyond how it looks here. It ran like a Swiss watch but he just never had the desire to complete the details. He was always a fun guy to have at a Windsor meet.

    One of the regulars at the meet was Eric Corbett. He built this Coventry B&O 0-6-0 and never finished it beyond how it looks here. It ran like a Swiss watch but he just never had the desire to complete the details. He was always a fun guy to have at a Windsor meet.

  • Eric Corbett's 0-6-0

    Eric Corbett's 0-6-0

  • Frank Birch, Jack Prest and Jack Hart having a discussion. Jack Prest was the BLS Secretary for Canada at the time until his untimely passing.

    Frank Birch, Jack Prest and Jack Hart having a discussion. Jack Prest was the BLS Secretary for Canada at the time until his untimely passing.

  • Larry Edwards of Green Bay Wisconsin was a regular visitor to the track in the 1960's. His 3/4 inch Atlantic was well traveled and a great steamer. The late Ed Loomie eventually ended up with this engine and after his passing, it disappeared into the winds.

    Larry Edwards of Green Bay Wisconsin was a regular visitor to the track in the 1960's. His 3/4 inch Atlantic was well traveled and a great steamer. The late Ed Loomie eventually ended up with this engine and after his passing, it disappeared into the winds.

  • Larry Edwards' Atlantic

    Larry Edwards' Atlantic

  • Murray Bennell was a regular at Windsor also. When he had his engine to the point of running, he borrowed the Maisie tender from Ted Lee and ran his engine at the meets. Eventually, Murray would finish the engine and tender, using the steel sheet from the back of his mother's washing machine. His engine was also well traveled and was at most of the eastern US tracks, Montreal and Winnipeg too. Murray was always fun to travel to the meets with and for many years, he was the driver when he and Tom Sullivan would go to the Waushakum meet every year. At the time of his passing, he was working on a 3/4 inch Hoffman Hudson. For several years. Murray also had a high line track set up on his brothers farm in Ridgetown Ontario.

    Murray Bennell was a regular at Windsor also. When he had his engine to the point of running, he borrowed the Maisie tender from Ted Lee and ran his engine at the meets. Eventually, Murray would finish the engine and tender, using the steel sheet from the back of his mother's washing machine. His engine was also well traveled and was at most of the eastern US tracks, Montreal and Winnipeg too. Murray was always fun to travel to the meets with and for many years, he was the driver when he and Tom Sullivan would go to the Waushakum meet every year. At the time of his passing, he was working on a 3/4 inch Hoffman Hudson. For several years. Murray also had a high line track set up on his brothers farm in Ridgetown Ontario.

  • Murray Bennell

    Murray Bennell

  • Murray Bennell

    Murray Bennell

  • Murray Bennell's locomotive

    Murray Bennell's locomotive

Retrieved from "http:///mediawiki/index.php?title=Windsor_Ontario_Live_Steam_Club&oldid=17194"