In going through my very well-worn copy of George W. Hilton's 'The Ma and Pa', I was reading again of the Maryland and Pennsylvania's Electro-Motive Company's Gas Electrics, #61 and #62. Several questions came to mind.

First, what is a "distillate" burner. Is this like mineral spirits, or kerosene, or what?

Secondly, I know these cars were very successful on the MPA and finished out their passenger era. Does anyone know what became of them. I presume scrapped, but where? When? Sent overseas, perhaps?

Are there similar cars in existance today? Any operational?

Also, with the recent passing of Jim Gallagher, did his photo/negative collection find a good home?

Thanks for any info.

Todd Mullens
Morgantown, WV



TKMSMullens@wmconnect.com

> In going through my very well-worn copy of
> George W. Hilton's 'The Ma and Pa', I was
> reading again of the Maryland and
> Pennsylvania's Electro-Motive Company's Gas
> Electrics, #61 and #62. Several questions
> came to mind.

> Secondly, I know these cars were very
> successful on the MPA and finished out their
> passenger era. Does anyone know what became
> of them. I presume scrapped, but where?
> When? Sent overseas, perhaps?

Edmund Keilty cites in "The Short Line Doodlebug"
(Interurban Special #99) that numbers 61 and 62 were "retired" in 1955 with no further comment.

> Are there similar cars in existance today?
> Any operational?

The most similar that I am aware of is AT&SF M177 at Travel Town in Los Angeles. It is EMC/Pullman 1929 and currently undergoing restoration to running condition. However, with the infighting occurring between the various groups at Travel Town the work on M177 seems to have slowed/stopped for the present time.

Also according to Keilty in "Doodlebug Country" (Interurban Special #77) AT&SF M190 an EMC/Pullman 1932 is stored in Albuquerque, NM

sc 'doc' lewis


utweyesguy@aol.com

AT&SF M.177 Project
utweyesguy@aol.com

> Edmund Keilty cites in "The Short Line
> Doodlebug"
> (Interurban Special #99) that numbers 61 and
> 62 were "retired" in 1955 with no
> further comment.

*Trust me, they were scrapped. I know of a lot of Ma & Pa stuff that's "in the woods", and no one down here has ever suggested that either of the motor cars survived.

> Also according to Keilty in "Doodlebug
> Country" (Interurban Special #77)
> AT&SF M190 an EMC/Pullman 1932 is stored
> in Albuquerque, NM

I think this was part of the AT&SF historic diesel collection that was transferred to the California State Railroad Museum; if so it's probably sitting somewhere in the back lines at Sacramento.

As far as similar cars in operation, try the PRR cars in operation at the Wilmington & Western and the Black River & Western, alike in spirit if not quite in appearance.

Oh, and by the way, "distillate" was an archaic term for gasoline, if I have been informed correctly.

lner4472@bcpl.net

> Oh, and by the way, "distillate"
> was an archaic term for gasoline, if I have
> been informed correctly.

I had read somewhere that distillate was a form of kerosene. At was apparently similat to gasolene, but a lower grade.

Anwering the question on Jim Gallagher's photos, they are currently in the hands of the surviving family. (Jim had two stepchildren.) The family is very aware of their value and, for the moment, has no plans to dispose of anything or otherwise do anything rash. But it is (as far as I know now) uncertain of the best course to follow in preserving them, perhaps publishing more of them, and making them available for exhibits and the like.

herbhar@yahoo.com

The East Broad Top Railroad built a narrow-gauge motorcar in 1927 from Brill components. Known as M-1, it was used for passenger service on weekends and sometimes also for light freight movements. It is maintained in beautiful condition by the railroad and by volunteers from the adjoining traction museum.

http://www.spikesys.com/EBT/Loco/m1.html
lbiemiller@yahoo.com

The Virginia & Truckee had a gasoline motor car built by McKeen ... it is currently under restoration at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.

V&T #22 McKeen
dmc@45mm.com

According to John Kirkland's "Dawn of the Diesel Age":

"Distillate Engine: This is an engine that burns light fuel oil, grade 1 or 2, having a density on the order of kerosene. These are spark ignition engines which are usually started on gasoline. A carburetor is used for vaporization of the fuel.
After the engine has been started on gasoline and sufficient exhaust maniforld heat has developed to assist the carburetor in vaporizing the fuel, a transition is made from gasoline to fuel oil."

I remember seeing photos of one of these engines in a boat with a separate fuel heater that would allow it to be started cold on distillate.

fk

fk

fkrock@pacbell.net

> According to John Kirkland's "Dawn of
> the Diesel Age":

> "Distillate Engine: This is an engine
> that burns light fuel oil, grade 1 or 2,
> having a density on the order of kerosene.
> These are spark ignition engines which are
> usually started on gasoline. A carburetor is
> used for vaporization of the fuel.
> After the engine has been started on
> gasoline and sufficient exhaust maniforld
> heat has developed to assist the carburetor
> in vaporizing the fuel, a transition is made
> from gasoline to fuel oil."

> I remember seeing photos of one of these
> engines in a boat with a separate fuel
> heater that would allow it to be started
> cold on distillate.

Starting on gasoline and then switching to kerosene when warm was also very common on early internal combustion tractors, as well as the engines that powered such things as crop sprayers (we used to have a potato sprayer like that, with a 2-cylinder air-cooled upright engine). You can see such tractors today at any antique tractor meet; some of them rivalled the big steam tractors in size.

Chris H.

holombo.chris@ssd.loral.com

> In going through my very well-worn copy of
> George W. Hilton's 'The Ma and Pa', I was
> reading again of the Maryland and
> Pennsylvania's Electro-Motive Company's Gas
> Electrics, #61 and #62. Several questions
> came to mind.

> I am surprised that no one has mentioned the ex GN EMC car, #2313, at Mid Continent. I understand that this is the oldest EMC car in existence, and is probably the closest to the MA&PA cars in design, with a 60' body and transverse engine. I have been told that the car is complete with its original engine, but is in need of engine repairs to bcome operational.

artschwartz@sprintmail.com