Railway Preservation News
http://www.rypn.org/forums/

Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43670		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  joecomer [ Thu Aug 22, 2019 9:19 am ]
Post subject:  Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Hi Everyone. I'm interested in the whereabouts of a one-off park steam locomotive/coach that operated at Flying Point Park in Edgewood, MD for some time... perhaps up until the late 80's?

For reference, here is the location... some of the roadbed is still visible:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4411411 ... a=!3m1!1e3

I've tried searching google, rypn itself and locomotive.com and can't seem to find this engine. I believe it was either a 12" or 15" gauge home-built by someone in Churchville, MD. Very curious to know where it went after the railroad closed up shop at the park.

Thanks very much,
Joe
Author:  p51 [ Thu Aug 22, 2019 11:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Wow, I was stationed at Aberdeen when the Ordnance Center was still there (in the late 90s) and spent time at Edgewood Arsenal in training, and I'd never heard of that until just now.
I'd love to know more about this!
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Thu Aug 22, 2019 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
You owe this ID to the Md. Rail Heritage Library, which has a dozen or so photos of this loco by the late Walter Merkle taken in September 1977. Builder's plate was on the side of the cab, as seen in the overall photo.

PM/e-mail me if you want more.

Attachments:
Elk Valley RR 4, Flying Point Park, MD, 9-77; by Walter Merkle, MRHL Coll. (2).jpg
Elk Valley RR 4, Flying Point Park, MD, 9-77; by Walter Merkle, MRHL Coll. (2).jpg [ 237.06 KiB | Viewed 7469 times ]
Elk Valley RR 4, Flying Point Park, MD, 9-77; by Walter Merkle, MRHL Coll. (12).jpg
Elk Valley RR 4, Flying Point Park, MD, 9-77; by Walter Merkle, MRHL Coll. (12).jpg [ 194.03 KiB | Viewed 7469 times ]
Author:  joecomer [ Thu Aug 22, 2019 2:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
PM sent. Thanks very much for the reply!

I recall it being an unusual wheel arrangement for a park loco... not just the typical Cagney/Ottaway 4-4-0. Super interesting.

Any clue where it might have gone?

Thanks again,
Joe
Author:  Rob Gardner [ Thu Aug 22, 2019 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Looks like Southern or Young valve gear. I'm no expert on how to ID either of these but this looks like it could be one of them. Wheel arrangement appears to be that of a 2-6-2.

Rob Gardner
Author:  wesp [ Thu Aug 22, 2019 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
More info here.

https://books.google.com/books?id=Tp3IaVYwzaUC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=%22flying+point+park%22+train&source=bl&ots=8h_WSIOa8i&sig=ACfU3U09cCRoEtaUZFBsQNh5bt5_chfxLA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiA1bHYm5fkAhVLq1kKHXemDrYQ6AEwFHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22flying%20point%20park%22%20train&f=false

The train was sold by the County between 1995 and 2002.
Author:  joecomer [ Fri Aug 23, 2019 8:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Ah! Thanks very much! It must have been 1984/85 when I rode it. I was a kid at the time.

Humm... I'm sure Harford county still has the sale records, now, if I could just figure out who to talk to. ;) Thanks again for the info.

-Joe
Author:  Bobulltech [ Fri Aug 23, 2019 8:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Richard Herbig at the Harford county historical society. He was or is a county attorney, preservationist and helped save the b and o station in Aberdeen
Author:  softwerkslex [ Sun Aug 25, 2019 5:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Why does the builder plate say "1985"?
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Sun Aug 25, 2019 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
It doesn't. A stray spot of paint, corrosion, or dirt makes it possibly LOOK like "1985," but this loco was built in 1965 and the photos taken in 1977.
Author:  joecomer [ Mon Aug 26, 2019 8:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Thank you Bobulltech, I'll try to find Richard Herbig and reach out.

I contacted the Harford county parks and rec director on Friday. She was very nice, and offered to forward my question to someone else in their office who might now.

Thanks again for your help, everyone.

-Joe
Author:  Pat Fahey [ Mon Aug 26, 2019 8:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Edgewood, MD Flying Point Park Locomotive?
Hi all
The locomotive valve gear is known as a Hackworth type valve gear.
Hackworth valve gear
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Hackworth valve gear on steam locomotive 'Lydia' at the Perrygrove Railway.
Hackworth valve gear on Tal-y-Llyn Railway 'Edward Thomas'

The Hackworth valve gear is a design of valve gear used to regulate the flow of steam to the pistons in steam engines. It is a radial gear, with an actuating lever driven from the crank. The drive may be taken directly from the crank (top picture) or indirectly via a return crank (lower picture). The other end of the actuating lever is attached to a die block which slides in a slotted link. When the link is vertical, the engine is in mid-gear. Forward, reverse and cut-off adjustments are made by moving the link away from the vertical. The valve rod is pivoted to a point on the actuating lever.[1]
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/