GCSRR/TVRM 838 "Ugly Duckling"

JordanGCRM · **Joined:** Sat Nov 09, 2024 4:03 pm **Posts:** 2

Hello! I'm on the Train Crew at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum and have slowly begun to realize that our museum has more history then some of the equipment! I've begun researching the museums past equipment and have come across "Gold Coast No. 838 'Ugly Duckling'".. A vertical boiler, Motorcar looking steam engine! i know it was built by Robert Louis Beekman, and some point after hiss passing it was sold to Paul Merriman of the TVRM someone in this forum posted a photo of it in an underdeveloped state years ago, does it still exist?

I (think) i've attached a photo of it completed. aswell as the one i found on this forum. No Copyright infringement is intended.

Anything Helps.
Thanks!
Jordan

gcrr · **Posted:** Tue Nov 19, 2024 11:00 pm

I've often been intrigued by it and similar speeders. It seems to be a bit of niche in the speeder world.
https://youtu.be/u7zVuB4m2nM?si=2XGcZ-aVqFjHJfS_
https://youtu.be/qYVB6aJqviI?si=iowErhLCkeHyTTRA
https://youtu.be/9l0l5x5pJy4?si=opErjCfaOfRs-knA

How do these things relate to FRA Part 230?

Quote:

§ 230.1 Purpose and scope.

This part prescribes minimum Federal safety standards for all steam-propelled locomotives operated on railroads to which this part applies.

I suppose it all depends on what the definition of a locomotive is.

Nova55 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:09 pm **Posts:** 597

Its not a locomotive. Just like rotary snowplows, etc. and thus do not fall under FRA rules for locomotive boilers.

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Nov 20, 2024 9:18 am

From memory (subject to time related unintentional alterations):

Marine boiler from a steam launch. Dodge truck transmission. Stanley Steamer engine. It was fired on LP gas when I last saw it run over 50 years ago.

JordanGCRM · **Joined:** Sat Nov 09, 2024 4:03 pm **Posts:** 2

Dave wrote:

From memory (subject to time related unintentional alterations):

Marine boiler from a steam launch. Dodge truck transmission. Stanley Steamer engine. It was fired on LP gas when I last saw it run over 50 years ago.

Interesting. A dodge transmission i wouldn’t have expected.

Dave · **Posted:** Thu Nov 21, 2024 7:50 am

Bob Beekman was an expert tinkerer. Evocative linguist as well.

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

Quote:

"Interesting. A Dodge transmission i wouldn’t have expected."

That might have been the Dodge of the real Power Wagon years, when the name still meant quality and good engineering.

Alan Maples · **Posted:** Thu Nov 21, 2024 4:47 pm

While I can't speak to its ultimate fate, it is long gone from TVRM.

- Alan Maples