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Now up for auction: a home-built steam-powered speeder car
That thing is SO cool! Like a “Tom Thumb” for the 21st Century!
Wish I had 14 big ones to burn, looks like a real work of the craftsman’s art.
Up in Sammamish Country, I’d be concerned that this beautiful work of art might rust out…
Love it, if only I had 14 grand to throw away.
In the East, we have been lucky to enjoy the operation of two separate steam track inspection cars. A fellow from Northern Virginia installed a boiler he found from a small dairy and it ran very well. His main problem, I believe, was that he overworked his volunteer fireman as it was a two man job to run it. Seem like he was always in need of a fireman. He ran it on the Delaware & Ulster at Arkville, NY up a 3.4% grade and one damp night it was a wonderful sight to watch its sparks like a Roman candle and listen to its chugging which could be heard over the noise of a MT19 ahead. This VA steam car was also operated on the Hobo RR at Lincoln, NH in June 1994 and was joined by one larger steam track car, as they ran together to Weir Beach and back. A fantastic, real steam inspection car of the 1880s era is on display in the Shelburne Museum south of Burlington VT. It has very classic leather seats up front ahead of the steam boiler serviced by an engineer who ran it for the bosses.
The buyer should take notice that this car for sale might have sharp or thin flanges and he must consider the cost of replacing them with proper MCB wheels. All flanges must be 1-9/16” thick to have proper back to back spacing of the wheels to pass safely through guardrails at every turnout.
It may be interesting to some that all steam boilers in railroad maintenance service never came under the law for Federal Inspection by the ICC. The boilers of Steam Rotaries, Steam powered cranes, steam wrecking derricks, steam pile driver, steam snow melter, and steam powered spreader or ditchers were never looked at by the Interstate Commerce Commission. They did not conduct transportation or haul commerce. And they did not come under any state inspection because they moved from state to state over the lines of the connected national system of commerce which was beyond the states jurisdiction. They were only under the jurisdiction of the management of the owning railroad company or contractor.
Reg
I SO want to buy it but alas, the spirit is willing but the checkbook is weak! That and I’d first want to build a good shed to store in in to keep it out of the weather.
Mighty cool, and a close reincarnation of Mr. Zaruba’s steam motor car of the late 19th century—never called “speeders” then—on the Arcata & Mad River Railroad in Humboldt County, CA. Photos exist of that one, and this 21st builder darn near “nailed it.” One has to wonder, though, if FRA boiler certification would be required for use on any property but a completely private spur without other rail system connections.
I could see that going down the NEC