I wanted to ask for help/recommendations on getting some brake shoes cast for the blind drivers on our Alco 2-6-2 with 44" Drivers. I have a brand new one to use as a pattern, but before I go that route has anyone out there already set up with a foundry somewhere to cast blind driver brake shoes? Unfortunately, the version I have is different than the style used on Baldwin engines like the Sierra Rwy. #28.

If I do have to start from scratch, what type of cast iron do you recommend and any hints on foundrys or companys that might be able to help me with this project.

Thanks for the help.

Alan Siegwarth
Niles Canyon Railway

Alan,

Gary Martin in Portland Or. has been helping us out on some of the key Disneyland Railroad castings we have been employing in the last two rebuilds. He is quite approachable and an excellent resource. His info:

gary@martinmodel.com
(503) 274-6960

website: http://www.martinmodel.com

Good hunting,
Chris Allan

Brake shoes are a funny thing. If you want them for completeness on a static display - no problem. Almost any grey iron foundry can make a blob that looks like one.

Most real world brakeshoes need some expertise from the foundry. For instance most have a steel backer plate cast into the shoe for strength and to prevent a cracked or broken shoe from falling out. This complicates the pour unless you know how to do it, and set up the gates and vents accordingly. We have been using a foundry in Chihuahua, Mexico, FDC, I think. You can PM me for details or e mail addy of them. They also did shoes recently for B&LE who still have some cars using them.

NOTHING IS EVER SIMPLE DEPARTMENT -

They offer four hardnesses I think. In our case we decided to match the hardness of the shoe to the hardness of the wheel or driver tire, in an attempt to get the most wear and life of both.

A softer shoe will wear quicker, perhaps in a season. A harder one may end up effectively chewing the wheel tread but last much longer.

We have ended up making patterns and core boxes for all the shoes sourced from them, ourselves, in our woodworking shop. I doubt we could afford to have the patterns made commercially.

Bob Kutella

Here is a good source.
Lanam Foundry, Inc.
State Rte. 2, P.O. Box 215
New Martinsville, WV 26155
Phone: 304-455-1630, 888-624-8000 (toll free)
Fax: 304-455-2210

I have used them a couple of times and they do VERY good work. They supply shoes for both the preservation and minning industries. The have a huge number of original patterns and can make any shoe if the have an original to copy.

Cheers.

Don't do what one group in the UK (now a very successful mainline operator) did some years ago. They sent off a worn brake block as a pattern, totally forgetting to build it up to the correct 'new' size first, in due course they recieved a delivery of brand new "ready worn" brake blocks! They did get it right the second time though.

Patterns generally need to be made oversize (how much depends upon the material that is being cast).

Western Foundry in Longmont, Colorado had a lot of experience doing this work.

dave

When I talked to Western Foundry a few years ago they got kind of spooked when I said the shoes would be used on operating rail equipment. They seemed concerned about their liability exposure. If I remember correctly they could not furnish the hardness number of their rather generic cast iron and did not offer different hardnesses for the brake shoe application. They did not seem able to have cast a steel backer in the shoe. All in all not a positive feedback from the person on the other end of the phone.

Bob Kutella

The patternmaker from Western dropped in today with his son - about 3 wearing Thomas clothes. He indicates they are making brake shoes. Perhaps it depends on who you talk to there and what specs you provide?

dave

We were providing hardwood quality pattern and core boxes, finished with fillets and pattern paint, and asked for an inserted steel backer plate and 230 Brunell hardness. They said are you going to USE them? When we said yes, the excuses began flowing.

If you see the guy again Dave, please ask to confirm they are in the business and send me a PM with contact info. We are currently bidding about 40 specialty shoes for a trolley. Patterns done, ready to go.

Thanks

Bob Kutella

Hi,

We use Lodi Iron in Lodi California. They have made brake shoes for us (us being the Municipal Railway) for our older streetcars. They have made them with and with out backing plates. The difference is in the costs. They seemed to be confident that they can control the formula better these days than before and the need of a backing plate might not b needed We tried both (with and with out ) backing plates and have gone for the cheaper model. We use grey cast iron and the birnel hardness of 250 to 325 on one model and no specified hardness on the other. The one with no hardness specified wears out in about a 1,000 miles. The other we haven't tracked.

Good luck,
Karl Johnson