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Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43881		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Rainier Rails [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 6:31 am ]
Post subject:  Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Okay, first off, even knowing that Big South Fork Scenic and the URR #77 have been...touchy...subjects here in the past, thought that this other engine was worth asking about. I don't keep up on steam, so I don't know if this one has been discussed before. I did do a check of Doug's website (didn't see a listing?), and ran a quick check here (might've missed mention of it), but no matching results.

Friend of mine, Joe Hiltz, took this photo week before last.

Any info on this one would be appreciated.

Attachments:
VRF-4094R.jpg
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Author:  PMC [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 6:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
I'm hardly a steam expert either, but those look like Fairmont motor car wheels, and notice that the "piston" isn't connected to the wheels. My guess is some sort of mock-up.
Author:  Rainier Rails [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 7:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
PMC wrote:
I'm hardly a steam expert either, but those look like Fairmont motor car wheels, and notice that the "piston" isn't connected to the wheels. My guess is some sort of mock-up.


I had actually wondered about it being some sort of mockup as well, but my lack of knowledge of "tea kettles" doesn't serve me well here. The look of the wheels is also what threw me. But if not the running gear, then perhaps the boiler is from something that once actually ran? (Although is there even the hint of a firebox, or is that too a reasonable facsimile?) Questions, questions.
Author:  parktrains [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 8:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Oh lord we mentioned the 0-6-0 whose name we dare not speak. So before the thread gets deleted:

This thing is a mock up. My understanding is that is was originally built by a farmer near Maysville, KY that ran it on a short stretch of track on his farm. It's built out of a combination of Fairmont parts and mining equipment. I think the "boiler" was once an air compressor tank.

Anyway the thing was driven by a truck engine in the cab. That rusty wheel in the middle is a truck differential and the gear box is still in the cab if I remember right. The way it would work is that tires were fitted to the axle and made friction contact with the two middle Fairmont speeder wheels and drove the thing around. People would ride in the 'tender".
Author:  David H. Hamley [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
OMG!
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
You sure it isn't that mystery B8a? Very accurate in the details!
Author:  Frisco1522 [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 10:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Kentucky moonshine designed and built.
Author:  k5ahudson [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Looks pretty fake to me. Nice automobile brake drum sticking out the side of it.
Author:  NYCRRson [ Sun Nov 03, 2019 11:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Very nice how the smokestack comes up out of the smoke-box right in the MIDDLE of the "boiler"..... Between the steam dome and a sand box ???

A good candidate for a SteamPunk competition...
Author:  John T [ Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Here is the other side:

https://www.inspirock.com/united-states ... a567317761

Here is the outfit that owns it:

https://kentuckyheir.com/2010/06/22/bar ... -kentucky/
Author:  John T [ Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Here is another example of the same type of loco:

https://virginiacitymt.com/trains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHCY9Wjc_Z4

And one in Israel

http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/tal ... ales07.htm
Author:  k5ahudson [ Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
After looking at the photo from the other side the "boiler" does appear to be a pressure vessel, but I think it may be a compressed air mining locomotive made to look like a steam locomotive. Maybe even just a heating boiler. I still can't see how power gets to the wheels though if it actually does run.
Author:  Bob D. [ Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
The brake drums on each side had rims and tires providing friction drive to the loco drivers. Auto rear axle, transmission, engine , for motive. Big steam outline model of whatever could be scrounged up I'd say.

Bob D.
Author:  John T [ Mon Nov 04, 2019 5:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Here is one of my favorites at Demascus, VA

https://www.deviantart.com/boilerwash/a ... -552612310

It is a gas loco built on a pony truck from a N&W 4-8-0 to switch a local industry.

Another example

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... ijn_01.JPG
Author:  Rainier Rails [ Mon Nov 04, 2019 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mystery Steam Engine, Stearns, KY
Thanks to all for the replies. A "faux kettle" it is.
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