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Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
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Author:  Joshua K. Blay [ Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
Does anyone know if Forney type locos were produced by a multitude of companies or was the design limited perhaps even licensed to/by a certain few?

All the best,

Joshua
Author:  Jeff A. [ Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
The Forney design was patented by Matthias N. Forney in 1864, so there must have been some sort of liscensure involved. However, a number of builders offered Forney-type locomotives. A number were built by Hinkley Locomotive works, which was M.N. Forney's employer for a time. Baldwin built some, as did Portland, Vulcan, Porter and others.

The Forney design was similar in appearance to the Mason Bogie, but used a rigid set of drivers instead of the Bogie's troublesome swiveling power truck. With the tender located over the rear wheels (actually, by design the front wheels as Forneys were originally intended to operate tender-first) the locomotives had the advantage of keeping a consistant weight on the drivers...a trait which other tank locomotives did not have.

Forney-type locomotives were used primarily on commuter and elevated railroads, and were widely used on the Maine 2-foot gauge lines.

Matthias Forney, in the 1870's became editor of the Railroad gazette, the major trade publication at the time. As such, he became the leading opponent of narrow-gauge doctrine...he felt very strongly that it represented an inferior technology. It is somewhat ironic that the locomotives he designed were so well suited to the demand of narrow gauge operators.
Author:  Dennis Storzek [ Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
Jeff A. wrote:
The Forney design was patented by Matthias N. Forney in 1864, so there must have been some sort of liscensure involved. However, a number of builders offered Forney-type locomotives. A number were built by Hinkley Locomotive works, which was M.N. Forney's employer for a time. Baldwin built some, as did Portland, Vulcan, Porter and others.


Since patents only ran for seventeen years at that time, the design would have become public domain in 1881, well before most of the Forneys that still exist were built.
Author:  Bob Davis [ Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
I'll put on my English instructor hat and advise one and all that if you have a Forney locomotive, and then acquire another one, you have two Forneys. Same applies to a common name for streetcars: Fort Collins had one trolley for many years, now they have two trolleys, and both are Birneys. Rule: if there's an e before a y just add an s, although since we're discussing the English language here, someone will probably come up with an exception. Note: if there are any zoo directors out there, and you have a mongoose, and a donor gives your zoo another one, you're on your own.
Author:  Ron Goldfeder [ Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
Elevated Forneys were built by Rogers, Grant, Rhode Island, Rome, Pittsburgh, and Danforth in addition to Baldwin and Hinkley.
Author:  Bruce_Mowbray [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes-Barre, PA also built Forneys

Bruce Mowbray
Springville, PA
Author:  tomgears [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
Here are some illustrations and vitals on several Forney types built by several builders. Note that the Catechism of the Locomotive was written by Matthias N. Forney.

http://books.google.com/books?id=X1viAA ... &q&f=false

The obituary for Matthias Forney published in Locomotive Fireman's Magazine.

http://books.google.com/books?id=eXMWAA ... 22&f=false
Author:  Ted Miles [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
Guys,
My favorite Forney is the great little locomotive that they run at the WW&F Museum at Alna, Maine. Their Portland built locomotive, WW&F #9 is also a Forney.

Here is a question for you. Anybody know why the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, Colorado is named after them? I believe that they have a Forney locomotive, but also many others including a UP Big Boy.

Ted Miles
Author:  trolleyira [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
The Forney Museum in Denver Colorado is a different Forney.
This Forney built the very popular Forney welder that many farmers had in their shop. In addition Forney built a twin engine airplane similar to a Beech Twin.
Forney was quite an inventor in his own right and son Jack heads up the
Forney Museum of Transportation.

Ira
Author:  Jeff A. [ Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forneys (err Fornies?)- Who Built Them?
The Forney Transportation Museum was founded by Matthais Forney's second cousin J.D. Forney, founder of Forney Industries of Fort Collins CO. As Ira pointed out, Forney industries is a large wholesale supplier of hardware and industrial products.
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