Lost: One Rocket Replica

Jeff Terry · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:18 am **Posts:** 281

Back in 2004 a 1930s-built replica of Stevenson's Rocket was auctioned off in Kansas; it had been part of the Jasper Wigglesworth Collection. The buyer paid a hefty sum - $42,000. I've searched high and low and cannot, for the life of me, figure out where it went. Anyone know where it ended up?

car57 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:34 pm

I will look in 3985 'challengers' firebox, apparently you can get the rocket and tender in there!

mike pannell
Cheyenne

Dennis Daugherty · **Joined:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:54 pm **Posts:** 106

The purchaser was Norm Lucas a southern California car collector ,he has some steam cars also. I bid on the Rocket for CSRM but was out bid by at least two others. I talk to Norm Lucas once about the Rocket and he stated that it was now part of his PRIVATE collect and did not want to sell it. Just another trophy.

On another Rocket Replica note the NRM 1970 era replica is now being rebuilt at Bill Parker's "Flourmill" works with a new more correct boiler, new frames, and more correct sized trailer wheel

Jeff Terry · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:18 am **Posts:** 281

Thanks so much for the information, Dennis. That would have been a nice prize for the CSRM, but it sounds like it's in good hands at the present time. Someday, perhaps, it will be on public display again...

Stan Ottaway · **Joined:** Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:39 pm **Posts:** 55

The Rocket replica, built by the Stephenson Company in the 20's (I am going from fading memory) is indeed in a private collection and being made operational. New wood has been installed on the drivers, most of the display-only (the engine is full scale, but built as a cutaway) parts have been replaced with proper replicas of the original components and the valve motion completely gone through.

This information came to me via many hands from people I have found to know about such things, but should be taken as little more than hearsay.

S.O.

filmteknik · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:17 pm

Regarding the "Rocket" that's at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, was that display-only or was that ever operational?

Steve

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

> The Rocket replica, built by the Stephenson Company in the 20's
> (I am going from fading memory) is indeed in a private collection
> and being made operational. New wood has been installed on the
> drivers, most of the display-only (the engine is full scale, but built
> as a cutaway) parts have been replaced with proper replicas of
> the original components and the valve motion completely gone through.

OK, first of all, I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying. You say it's was a cut-away, but that it's being restored to operation? So they're building a new boiler etc to replace the cut-away one?

In any case, I think we're losing something here. If this replica was built by the Stephenson Company, isn't it historic in it's own right? By the time you get done replacing most of the display only parts and wood in the drivers and maybe the boiler if I'm reading what you say correctly, what's left? The frame and the wheel rims?

Why not just use the replica as a pattern to build another replica, and leave that historic artifact intact?