TVRM Steam - 1975

Jeff Terry · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:18 am **Posts:** 281

I recently acquired a number of poor quality slides taken at TVRM in the mid 1970s. The first is "Zero," a 1916 Cooke 0-4-0T that was scrapped in 1980. The second shot is the "Flying Duchess," a British 0-6-0T (the photos of this loco were the reason I bought the collection). The third shot is a mystery - a home built vertical-boilered 0-4-0 named "Ugly Duckling." Does this locomotive still exist? It's not listed in the equipment section of Steam in the Valley.

Jeff Terry

filmteknik · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:44 pm

Tsk tsk on scrapping any steam in 1980. I'd love to learn more about that last one. That seems like the sort of thing I would have dreamed of making when I was about 12, not that I had the skills then nor do I now.

Steve

DBH · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:02 pm

I love steam powered motor car idea. Pretty simple project depending on how you did it!

Jeff Terry · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:18 am **Posts:** 281

I can't fault them for cutting up that tank engine. It looks to be VERY rough, with lots of parts missing.

I just noticed that the vertical boiler steamer has air brakes! Someone went to A LOT of trouble to built that thing.

Jim Herron · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:36 pm

The "Ugly Duckling" was built by Bob Beekman and perhaps others at the Gold Coast RR Museum when it was based at Fort Lauderdale. It was regularly operated and tickets were sold to ride on it. I rode it myself once. I'm surprised to see it in the TVRM collection and would like to hear how it got there. I thought it was still at the Gold Coast.

-JH

SR6900 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:24 pm

In Steam in the Valley, it said, I thought, or perhaps me asking someone here, it had been gifted to a member, dunno for sure though. No longer here for sure.

junior · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:16 am

Not sure, but there is a gentleman who brings a steam powered car to the W&W in Delaware each time NARCOA operates a trip or the RR hosts railcars. He has a housing built around a vertical boiler like this one in the photo...possibly the same car?

Newriver400 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:51 pm

The Ugly Duckling was property of Paul Merriman. It does indeed survive and through a series of gifts and trades, ended up in the collection of a prominent steam traction, tractor, machinery, and antique collector in North Carolina. I believe it can be seen by the public during the 100+ Years of Progress show at Ederville, NC (held in October/November over the last few years). Visit http://www.edervillenc.com for more information. It's a real trip to see the stuff one man has collected. You might say he's JJJ of farm equipment and antiques. He's one hell of a hard working businessman and a genuinely nice guy from everything I hear and have experienced.

BTW Jeff, I'm glad you got those slides - I forgot to esnipe them and they got away.

Best,
Mike

Clay320 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:49 pm **Posts:** 53

Some more pictures of the British engine

http://www.railroadmichigan.com/boynecity.html

DavidKaplan · **Posted:** Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:13 am

Isn't the loco behind the "Duckling", the 2-4-2 that ended up displayed at the depot at Cowan, TN? It was at TVRM during this time.

These photos were really memorable for me to see as I grew up at TVRM during this era. I did not have much of a camera during those days and therefore have no photo records of my own. I was born in '67 so the mid seventies were some very formative years.

David