YOU SLACKER !!!!!!!!!!

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

And I complain when a siderod on my loco comes loose and I have to tighten it up!

From the Baltimore Sun today…

Robert Hamilton Jr.
Catonsville machinist constructed a working steam railroad on 8 acres at his family home.

By Frederick N. Rasmussen, reporter
February 27, 2007, The Baltimore Sun

Robert Bruce Hamilton Jr., a retired machinist and rail fan who built a scale-model miniature railroad that he operated on the spacious grounds of his lifelong Catonsville home, died of complications from heart disease Friday at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. He was 90.

Mr. Hamilton was born and raised at his family’s estate, Emerald Hill, and graduated in 1933 from Catonsville High School. Because of the Depression, he abandoned his dream of studying medicine and went to work for American Hammered Piston Ring in Baltimore, which later became part of Koppers Co.

He swept floors for several months before being promoted to lathe operator. Mr. Hamilton eventually became a machinist while taking night classes for 11 years at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he earned first honors in mechanical drawing. Mr. Hamilton was deferred during World War II because of his war work at Koppers making precision piston rings used in aircraft engines.

In 1951, he and his brother, Douglas W. Hamilton Sr., founded Hamilton Associates Inc., a machine shop that later expanded and moved to Meadows Industrial Park in Woodlawn.

Mr. Hamilton’s interest in model-building began at an early age, when he designed and built model airplanes. Several of his models were to become part of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

After retiring in 1977, Mr. Hamilton turned his attention to building the Patapsco Valley Railroad and its motive power, which he installed on 8 acres at Emerald Hill. He began by reconditioning a used backhoe, which he needed to clear and grade the railroad’s r

2

Good for him. He contributed. I wish I could have met him and seen his layout.

3

What an impressive story. The locomotives sound wonderful. I guess they are still running as part of the club that is mentioned?

4

I think they are. But not sure. It will take a trained group to maintain what has been installed thus far.

5

What a pleasant story, and what an achiever! He must have many who are very proud of him.

I would love to see some video.

Canada lost one of its three remaining WW I vets last week. Time moves along.

6

A very inspirin story!!! Thanks for posting it there, Phil. Now! I need to get off my duff and see if I can’t get a few things I’ve been wanting to do done in the few years I have left to me.

7

(quietly under my breath) me too…[:-^]

8

Aw, he’s got nothing on me. I’m just not 90 yet. I’ve got nearly fifty years to go. I hope to do the same thing. I want to build a live steam train I can ride on![;)]

Step one. Get some property with room to run such a train.

Step two. I guess I’d better get me one of them thar fancy backhoe thingies to rebuild like he did.

Step three. Get some money. Lots of it. Maybe this one shoulda been #1.

Step four. Print an obituary. Just in case.

Step five. Get some money. Lots of it.

Step six…aw heck. for now I’ll be happy with my plastic 2-6-0 battery operated radio controlled garden scale train with 2 cars that runs on a 4’ circle. (It was cheap…what can I say? I said I needed money) At least it gives me something to run around my small koi pond this summer![:)]

Letsee…need to get a circle of 5’ track at least, need to build a brildge over part of the pond…have stones for ballast already…yep that can keep me busy for awhile…

9

Wow, jump in the wayback machine. Used to live in Baltimore because I went to the Maryland Institute and at another time back then met the mayor (he went to all the local comunity meatings at least once a year),left before he became govener.

10

Mr. Hamilton was indeed exceptional. I wish I could have met him. I’ve met a couple of old guys I admired very much though both were not quite as focused as Mr.Hamilton. Jess Bennet in Idaho comes to mind. Jess is now 93 and doesn’t build so much any more but hes still active in the Idaho and easten WA S scale circuits. He has scratchbuilt innumerable S gauge locos and has a large complete layout in his home,he has been featured in MR a couple times.

I don’t mean to be hijacking this thread but there’s a number of old guys(over90) out there who I feel need to be recognized. MR does this from time to time and sometimes posthumously. It’d be nice to visit with these fellows while they can still tell about the details.