I have always loved the early American style locomotive. In fact, my fist project was a 1-1/2” scale American 4-4-0. My next locomotive was the 3/4” gauge OS Porter. I purchased this as a kit from an older gentleman who never finished it and just enjoyed looking at a partly assembled locomotive on his dresser each morning. He finally decided to part with it and I was the lucky one to get this
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LE Baldwin Mogul 2-6-0
Here are a few pictures of my Little Engines, Baldwin Mogul during her first steam-up. I plan on rebuilding this locomotive in the future and selling her. The track is the Waushakum
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Consolidation 2-8-0
I’m building the Railroad Suppy 2-8-0 Consolidation. I really have not kept up with updating this page, but will post pictures here and there to give you a look of where I am in the project. I’ll have to re-post pictures, since they are in separate galleries.
Drivers on the Frame – 3/29/2005
I’m a bit behind on updating this page. The drivers are all complete and on the axles along with the crank pins and on the frame. The frame rolls really nice. Smooth as silk. You can find pictures in the gallery. I hope to get a lot done next week, since I will be home for a few days of rest following Lent and Easter.
Axles Almost Finished – 12/14/2004
Today I began work on the four main axles. I’ll finish them up tomorrow. The drivers are off to be keyed by Don.
Slow Progress – 12/11/2004
I have not posted much on this page. However I am making slow progress. The cylindar block along with the cylindar and piston valves. I’m now working on the axles. Once they are finished, ti will be time to press them on the drivers and turn in the flanges. I have a few pics. Once I take a few more, I’ll post them here. I’m learning a lot on this project under the guidance of a master builder and friend, Don Cornell. I haven’t made nearly as many mistakes as I did in building the Mogul. I’m just taking my time on this engine and doing things right.
Parts Ordered – 1/20/2004
This afternoon, I talked with Mike and place the order for the first four sections of castings. When the order is complete, I will pick it up to save on shipping.
Visited Railroad Supply – 1/19/2004
Today, I visited Railroad Supply to see their operation and the quality of their castings. I was really pleased with what I saw. Roland gave my father and I a tour of his shop and the warehouse. Everything was really well organized and the castings look top quality. Castings and raw stock is in well supply for all of the locomotives offered.
Later in the day, Mike met us with a copy of the building and erection prints for the Consolidation. The prints are also very well done. Everything is clear and direct. Each print has a list of everything needed for the print and each part has a smaller print for more detail. Prints are seperated in manila envelopes by each section
Locomotive Specifications
Total weight (engine and tender) dry: ?
Weight on drivers, dry: ?
Overall length: ?
Height: 21-1/8″
Driver diameter: 6″
Capactiy of tender: ?
Fuel: Coal or oil
Valve gear: Walschaerts
Working pressure: 125 lbs
Cylinder bore and stroke: 1-5/8″ x 3″
Tractive effort: ?
Minimum radius: ?
American 4-4-0
The Queen of Peace 
1-1/2″ scale 4-4-0
(You can find pictures of a rebuild of this locomotive in the gallery.)
The American style locomotive was the standard engine built by all of the locomotive manufacturers for many years bfore the turn of the century. The locomotive had many exterior variations, however Continue reading →
Bob Delisle’s Shop
Back in June, when it was announced that I was becoming a pastor, I received a very interesting email. It read something like this: “Hi Father, I was at Mass at Holy Ghost when Fr. Zinno announced that he was being transferred. He went on to explain that the Continue reading →
Don Cornell’s Shop
The first time I got to ride on a Live Steam train was at the Waushakum Live Steamers old track on Norfolk Street in Holliston, MA. That is how I met Donald Cornell. I’ll never forget the thrill of riding behind Eustis #8, his beautiful 2″ scale, 4-3/4″ gauge, narrow gauge replica live steam locomotive.
Today, I headed off to Don shop to get a look at his current project and get some hands on learning. Don is one of those guys who builds an engine to envy. He is a professional machinist and a true craftsman. His work is top quality. A visit to Don’s shop is an inspiration and I’m sure all who visit leave with a desire to build their own locomotive. Don has built two 7-1/4″ gauge locomotives which now live somewhere out west.
Don is currently building a 0-4-4 R.T., forney, 2′ Gauge, 4-3/4″ Track, 2″ Scale, Sandy River #1. This engine was former Ariel of Billerica & Bedford. What an impressive work of art.
First look at this locomotive draws your eyes to the cow catcher which is made of cherry wood. The head lamp is an actual oil burning lamp. His recently completed cab is built of maple. All of the wood is mortis and tendon.
The inner panels are milled to give a nice angle. The roof is made with scored plywood to give it flexibility, leaving the impression of individual planks across the inside. You can easily pull or push the loco by the front pilot and it rolls along very smoothly. The trailing truck has a unique look with a reverse spring, just like the original locomotive when it was with the Billerica & Bedford.
Don is one of those guys who doesn’t use prints or castings. Everything is built from scratch, based on a picture of the desired locomotive. The only castings on his current locomotive project are the drive wheels.
If you ask Don for advice in building a Live Steam Locomotive, he will tell you: “keep it simple”. He would prefer to have something that works well and is practical than to have an exact replica with every detail.
When asked how much it cost him to build the locomotive, Don will tell you that he only put about $500.00 out of his own pocket. We all know that the hours spent building this work or art make his locomotives worth much more.
Dick Boucher’s Shop
Today, I joined some of the guys for a trip to Dick Boucher’s shop. Dick has been a member of the Waushakum Live Steamers since 1973.
Pictured are (L) (Chuck Abraham, Dick Boucher, Bob Newcombe, & Don Cornell)
Dick is a professional machinest and has to Continue reading →
SteamingPriest.com – New and improved!
Hi everybody and welcome to our new and improved website! The great thing about the new site is that when I do an update, it is done on every page with a minimum of work. You can now also search for an item in our search box.
Easier To Find
Let me know what you think of the new site. Notice that you can leave comments. Please keep them clean and charitable! Comments will not be on for all postings..
A note to our suppliers: Please check your listing and let me know of any changes. In your eMail subject, write “Supplier Update”. On your listing, you will see tags. Let me know if there are any tags that would explain your products. All tags should be one word. Also, let me know if you would like to be in another category (one category per listing, please.) If there is another category, let me know and I can add it. Listings are limited to Live Steam suppliers. No model trains, etc.
Subscribe and Share
In the upper right hand corner of the home page, you can subscribe via your eMail. This will allow you to receive automatic updates via RSS. Below each post, there is a little green box with the words “share this”. If you click on the share this, you will be able to eMail and do a number of other this.
Share Your Project
Are you building a locomotive, a railroad or doing something that will help others in the hobby. Please send me some pictures and a short article and I will post it here.
Problems With This Site!
Please let me know of any problems with this site. Also, check out your club’s, supplier’s, etc… listings and let me know if there is anything wrong or something that needs to be updated. The new site enables me to do easy updates, so you should see updates much sooner.
If I left something out, please send me your comments and suggestions!
Happy Steaming,
Fr. Finelli
Covered Bridge
I wanted a covered bridge on my railroad, but when building, my father and I decided to finish the track and leave the bridge until we have more time. As you know, we had the Golden Spike Ceremony back in May, so I thought the time had come. Last week, we built the covered bridge. We still have to add some details, but not bad for a couple of days. If you haven’t seen the other pictures, you can find them through today’s link. See the pictures in the new gallery!
+ Dimond, George M.
May 31, 2008 + George Mason Dimond, Jr.
87, died Saturday May 31, after a short illness. Born in Bedford, July 2, 1920, son of George Mason and Helen (Cavanaugh) Dimond. He graduated from Boston College in 1943 with a BS in Business Administration. George served as a corporal in The United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945. Continue reading →