I can see a little more clearly now how the engine is connected to the big flywheel. It looks like some kind of reduction gearing and then the sprocket on the side could go to the drivers via a chain. This could be either used on the light, temporary track on a mine, or the same for a lumber company (maybe they couldn't afford a Shay?), or even a scrap yard (with all the debris lying about, plus the really weird nature of this beast... I'm having flashbacks of the old Salvage 1 TV series...). Yup, this has to be modeled!
Most know that diesel locomotive 'prive movers' have become power generators for various industrial purposes. Does anyone make a model of one? I guessing these are enclosed so maybe that is moot.
After some more research, here's what the ungainly locomotive is: Ludlow & Southern #2. It is a former 4-6-2 from NYC or something like that. The L&S was a mining shortline in California that connected with the AT&SF hauling copper ore. When the boiler was determined to be unsafe, they mated a Holt tractor gasoline engine and drivetrain to the former steam locomotive and kept it running. Here's the story: https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/locomotives/the-oddest-of-oddball-locomotives/ The questions now arise: Since it's no longer in operable condition in the photos, did it have a cab while running? You can see the sprockets where the drive chains used to attach. What else is missing that was salvaged or vandalized?
Now that's a cool (and a half) story! Something similar could be improvised as a model with a chassis from a low-end steamer. I have an assembled kit of an EMD 16-567 prime mover. A few old steam tractor kit parts, and simulated duct tape and I could have a "Handyman Special" that could have been cobbled together by Possum Lodge members (Dougie Franklin comes to mind as a major participant...).
Don't see why you can't use used railcars on your layout - unless you are referring to ones that you can only use for parts, because after all, older stuff was typically made with much higher quality than today - for example I have an early Atlas RS-11 locomotive (pre 2000 - Atlas/Kato era) and it runs better than my Bachmann 0-6-0 and my Bachmann GP40
@B-T Many factors affect a choice to keep or set aside / reuse a given element of a model railroad. For Freight or Passenger Cars You have changed eras You can now afford higher detailed cars You want to make something from those cars, (excursion train) You don't see as well as you used to so brighter cars are in order, (my bright yellow hopper and white ACF 2-bay hopper) You have a smaller layout and can no longer use all of those cars You have a clever idea and it would make an interesting scene Any others?
I didn't have this board at the time. So, all of my O gauge and older N gauge were taken to a swap meet in Milwaukee and sold for as little as 10 cents. I wonder what some of those O gauges would go for now.
could not find a picture of the tank car, however, here there is a model of the same thing but using an old tender. It does not have to be a purpose built tank as this is the livery of the tenders in the Italian Railways, black with a browinsh red on the chassis.
Here another use for an old tender: a second life as a tank car after its locomotive is scrapped. The one below actually came from an USATC consolidation
Art imitates life, so to speak, with my own tank on stilts: That's from my layout as it was a few years ago, while I was still puttering around on it. Everything is still exactly where it is here, but I've added static grass, trees, and a dirt path in the green patch behind the tank.
Branchline fuel storage. I had a Walthers tank car that suffered a broken frame after a derailment (concrete floor impact). It is going to be a diesel storage tank for the local switch job. Every once in a while a company tank car will be spotted adjacent and unloaded into the storage tank so it can be returned. It’s the early 70’s, spill containment measures not required yet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
