Finger Lakes Live Steamers Prepare for 50th Anniversary - 1-4 Aug 2019
- Written by Scott McDonald
Marengo, NY - When the FLLS celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2009 they only had a Gauge One garden layout. Although it has an elevated wye that is very nice for setting up a live steam engine, chasing a manual locomotive was not fun for the operator and takes its toll on the landscaping when the train inevitably stalls in the most inaccessible section of track. In order to more easily accommodate manual live steam trains they have added an elevated Gauge One layout. There are two connected loops with over 20-foot radius curves. One side of the layout has a small yard with umbrellas for shade and a long siding for one of the loops.
Since then a new elevated Gauge One track has been built, (see SitG January/February 2019 Issue #159), and an additional portable layout provided by the Aikenback Live Steamers will be available. Plenty of opportunity to run at this event!
More details on the plans for the 50th Anniversary to be held August 1 - 4, 2019 and registration information are available on the FLLS website:
http://www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/.
New Menu Item - Workshop Project Plans
- Written by Scott McDonald
A new menu item has been added to the www.steamup.com website to make it easier to find downloadable project plans that have been feature in the pages of Steam in the Garden.
Registered users of the website will see a "Workshop Projects" menu button appear under the Magazine section on the left side of the our main webpage after they login. Clicking this button will bring up a page that will indicate the title of the published project along with the issue(s) where the plans were first published. Clicking on the title of the Project will take you to the plan(s) needed for downloading. These are PDF files that can be further saved and/or printed so that you can get started on that project.
We will be going back in time to bring you fresh scans of previously published plan drawings. Full instructions to go along with the plans can be found in the original magazine which may be available for order as a back issue (if still in stock) or download with you digital subscription.
Stay tuned - more plans to come in future issues of Steam in the Garden.
Starting in Steam - Soon to be Digital Only!
- Written by Scott McDonald
Stocks of our paperback booklet "Starting in Steam" have dwindled to the last dozen. After three printings, this booklet will soon be available only in digital form. If you have put off buying a hard copy printing of this handy introduction into live steam, then don't delay! Once they are gone, that will be it.
New Roundhouse Locos for 2018
- Written by Scott McDonald
Doncaster, UK - It's the New Year and our friends at Roundhouse Engineering have announced their two new locomotives for 2018. For the fans of live steam we have a return to a familiar face of times past with a steam tram that follows in the footsteps of the earlier "Stanley". Say hello to "Clarence".
This boxy 0-4-0 is sure to please as it trundles around the garden railway. Roundhouse states that it is not a particular prototype model but typical of the style of trams that could have be found all over Europe. This means the live steamer has a basic canvas upon which they can add the details to take "Clarence" from simple to as extravagant as they desire to go along with your urban or inter-urban modelling tastes.
In Memoriam: John Coughran
- Written by Jim Gabelich
John Coughran was born in El Paso, TX in 1931. His house must have been close to the Railroad tracks because I remember him saying he always knew when the freight trains were coming through because the whole house would vibrate from the 2-10-2’s and 4-10-2’s rumbling by.
During the Korean War John joined the Navy and became a Fire Control Specialist on board a ship that shot 3-inch and 5-inch rockets in salvos to support troop landings.
