I attended the Waushakem Live Steamers (Mass.) meet this past weekend and witnessed numerous model/replica live steam, Diesel and electric locomotives in operation. Three locomotives grabbed my attention and I thought I'd share them with readers in this group. There is a bit of irony in this posting.
Pat Murphy's NYC Hudson. This beautiful locomotive would have charmed the heart of any steam fan. She run like a clock, except for the occasional steam noises that verifie the life in the machinery. In my admiration of the locomotive, I grieve the absolute loss of all her prototype sisters.
Dave Sclavi's K4s was widely regarded as the most beautiful and intricately detailed at the steam up. Dave told me he examined 1361 when she was running, so he could create this impeccable, live K4s. Would that 1361 might look as good as Dave's replica does, today.
I don't know who owns Southern PS4 1408, but she ran all day, and well into Saturday night, sometimes double-headed with Dave Sclavi's K4s, #1361. She is a perfect Apple-Green locomotive, which did so well to recreate her class.
In discussion with the other live steamers at the event, the opinion developed that each operable engine at the meet was, indeed, a real locomotive, but in smaller scale. I would say that each I presented here go further than that, in that they restore the sensation of viewing what was once common place at trackside, but is no more.