As a continuation of the thread below on "LOST 24" GAUGE EQUIPMENT IN ILLINOIS", here is some more information on the former Brookfield Zoo Railroad's two steam locomotives. This information corrects some mis-information that was posted earlier (mainly by yours truly!).

The zoo railroad's locomotive #1 was a outside-frame 2-8-0 that actually was a hybrid of parts assembled in 1968-69 by Sandley. It used the chassis of a 1918 Henschell German "Feldbahn" 60cm gauge 0-8-0 (just the chassis, nothing else). The chassis retained the "outside" Stephenson valve gear common on small German steamers, but virtually unknown to US practices. The chassis also sported an interesting flexible driver axle system known the Klein-Linder system. It was a laterial motion set up on the first and forth driver axles (not 2nd and 3rd as I stated before) that allowed this fairly long driver-wheelbase engine to negotiate sharp curves. Sandley fitted the chassis with a new custom-made boiler and fabricated an American style cab and 8-wheel tender for the engine. Aside from the German running gear, the engine was actually very "American looking". It was painted and lettered for the Milwaukee Road and as built it retained the 0-8-0 wheel arrangement. After being in service for several years at the zoo, it was outfitted with a pony truck for whatever reason to become a 2-8-0.

The second locomotive was #242 and was numbered to reflect its wheel arrangement, 2-4-2. It was not an Atlantic-type as stated in the below thread. This engine was built by Sandley in 1971 and was not your typical amusement park locomotive (usually a scaled-down version of a standard guage loco). This was a full size narrow gauge Columbia type that almost looked like it could have come from a Baldwin catalog. It kind of resembled the ex-Hawaii 2-4-2 #5, now in Kent, CT. Although #242 looked like it had Stephenson [inside] valve gear it actually sported an ingenious Sandley-developed "variable eccentric" gear that was chain-driven from an axle. This engine was painted and lettered for the C&O. The train was equipped with air brakes and both locomotives sported Sandley-built steam air compressors.

It's too bad the zoo railroad is long gone and the equipment is sitting today in some warehouse. As I hinted below, that hybrid 2-8-0 with its flexible running gear set up and healthy tractive effort would work well on Edaville's curves (However I don't know what condition of the locomotives are today).

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Speaking of 24" stuff, are there any of those little feldbahn 0-8-0 available? WHat happened to the one that had been at the Heritage Squaare operation at Golden. Also, what ever happened to the little Jung0-6-2 that was imported some years ago? Whith that stuff, a guy could do full size LGB.

Sorry I don't know the current whereabouts of the High Country lok. I seem to recall hearing that it was on display somewhere--I could be wrong about that. I do remember that it was a Hartmann sidetank 0-8-0T.

If the Arnold Jung 0-6-2T you are talking about is one imported some years ago for use at Edaville, then that lok is back home today in Germany. It had been brought to MA in one of the earlier attempts at reopening Edaville, but from what I heard it had been kept out of operation due to some boiler repairs that didn't meet the MA code.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

With this talk about Sandley engines, I just happened to visit the web site of the Riverside & Great Northern RR (the old Sandley Locomotive Works demostration railway) and was suprised to find some beautiful "builders photos" of the Brookfield Zoo's neat little 2-4-2 #242 taken at the "works" prior to its shipment to IL. From the photos you can see the size of this engine. The 2-8-0 (sorry I don't know of any online pictures of it) was much larger.

Also of interest is some pictures of #242's never-completed "sister" locomotive that appears was in the process of being built (also for the Brookfield Zoo). It sounds like this uncompleted (but well along) two-foot gauge 2-4-2 is still in the shops at the Dells.

To see the photos go to http://userpages.chorus.net/randgn/museum.htm
Scroll down the page. You can click on photos for enlargements.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

What are the vital statistics on this missing Columbia? Looks awful tall drivered

> With this talk about Sandley engines, I just
> Also of interest is some pictures of #242's
> never-completed "sister"
> locomotive that appears was in the process
> of being built (also for the Brookfield
> Zoo). It sounds like this uncompleted (but
> well along) two-foot gauge 2-4-2 is still in
> the shops at the Dells.

It would be rather a shame if that lok never gets completed...especially after all the work the builder already put into it

> Sorry I don't know the current whereabouts
> of the High Country lok.

The High Country Lok is in provate hands on a farm near Boulder, CO. The 0-4-0 that also ran at High Country was sold to a private motel operated line in California.

Dave

lathro19@idt.net

In the R and GN website is a early photo of Atlantic #128. The caption indicates that the engine was damaged in a derailment and sits in the owner's garage. Does anyone know the current disposition of this loco? It's a beautiful engine that should be returned to the rails.

Is there a comprehensive list of the locos built by Sandley over the years and where they are know? I know they built a Pacific and a Hudson as well as the Atlantic and the 4-4-0 but have seen very few pictures of them.

Sincerely,

Rob Gardner

train@nls.net

> What are the vital statistics on this
> missing Columbia? Looks awful tall drivered

Sandley B/N 16, built 1971
coal-fired 30" dia. boiler, 150 psi.
8 X 12 cylinders, 36" driving wheel dia.
Sandley design variable eccentric valve gear
Sandley design cross compound air compressor

That's all the info I have in my notes.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

RE: Brookfield Zoo Railroad 2-8-0 #1

The flexible driver system is called Klein-Lindner (not Linder). If you have the 30-year old Kalmbach book "ARTICULATED LOCOMOTIVES" there is fairly long section on this system, which allows the first and last driver sets to swivel like leading and trailing trucks.

My notes (taken from info supplied by a member of the crew) referred to the chassis as being from a 1918 Henschell. However, I just noted that Dave Conrad lists it as being a 1918 Jung. I now believe Conrad is right, since looking again at the photos the cylinder design does not look like a Henschell.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

The two 15 inch Milwaukee Zoo Engines are owned by an acquaintence who lives outside of Chicagoland. One is the Atlantic the other I think is a 2-4-2. These were both painted Rio Grande and have not run in a few years but are extremely well protected and in good condition. I will see him probebly in a few weeks and post a follow up. The Hudson was up at Heston, In , in a dismantled state the last time I saw it and that was many years ago 7 or 8 to be close. I don't know where or what it's condition is currently.r

Ryoungceo@yahoo.com

Did an online search for a Sandley list and came up with one on Don Ross' rail photo site.

Looks like a fairly complete list with descriptions and some photos.

It also confirms Dave Conrad's listing of the Brookfield Zoo 2-8-0 chassis as being a Jung rather than a Henschell.

Go to http://donross.railspot.com/dr010.htm

Regards,
Jim Robinson

There is another one, in Oklahoma. It is at the more-or-less defunct Eagle Park, in Cache, OK. Aside from the 2' 0-8-0t there is an 0-4-0t that once operated on 3/4 mile of track. They plan on reopening and the engines are inside and in good condition.

Aside from tall drivers, all of Sandley's 2' gauge wheels had narrow treads- a vestige of his scaled-down versions of equipment in 15" gauge. This makes for tighter maintenance standards on the track.

> In the R and GN website is a early photo of
> Atlantic #128. The caption indicates that
> the engine was damaged in a derailment and
> sits in the owner's garage. Does anyone know
> the current disposition of this loco? It's a
> beautiful engine that should be returned to
> the rails.

> Is there a comprehensive list of the locos
> built by Sandley over the years and where
> they are know? I know they built a Pacific
> and a Hudson as well as the Atlantic and the
> 4-4-0 but have seen very few pictures of
> them.

> Sincerely,

> Rob Gardner

I have some videos of the Riverside & Great Northern engine along with the Sandley engines at the Milwaukee Zoo and the Old Wakarusa Railroad on my home page. Just follow the link below.

Tim Boshart's Home Page
timsb@goshen.edu