For those of you not familiar with the song "Navisky", it's an old railroad song about a train stuck in a siding called Navisky in which that particular train seem to be for an eternity.
Click here for song, "Navisky"
It's a reference and for a reason. Life has thrown me some curve balls and so I have to put the Ocalla Tramway on hold for the time being. Although I may be able to work on some locomotives and rolling stock within the next few months the layout is not going to come to fruition for a while.
Even so, despite the delays, so stay tuned. You never know what could happen!
Keep Steamin', folks!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Locomotives of the Ocalla Tramway
Motive power is a quintessential part of any railway operation, big or small. Prototype or Model Railroad. The locomotives for the OT are mostly inspired by the motive power used by the Arizona Copper Co. and the Detroit Copper Co. With a few small exceptions here and there. There is no set roster yet, or rather no set number of locomotives, but I will show what I do intend to have in the way of motive power.
First up are the small, but mighty "Kornut" Porters. The Kornut Porter was the smallest locomotive offered by the H.K. Porter Co. according to their spec they were 10ft long from end beam to end beam, with a 3ft wheel base and 18" diameter drivers. And also built to a gauge of 18". I have not found any photos of this tiny locomotive, but I have drawn what it may have looked like utilizing what I know (which isn't much) about Porter practice.
The color scheme is my own and the locomotive is not drawn to scale. Though I did add Lee Van Cleef as a "Scale Reference" to show the engine's general proportions. As for building it as an actual model my plan is to use the BCH (Big City Hobbies) HOn30 0-4-0 locomotive and widen the gauge to HOn3. The driver spacing and wheel diameters are virtually spot on for an On20 Kornut Porter. I have made up some scale drawings, but I have yet to scan them.
Next up is yet another Porter and it is also an 0-4-0, but it is quite large compared to the above.
This locomotive was inspired by ACC numbers 9 and 10. They were large, outside frame, 0-4-4 locos. I love their chunky proportions, but wasn't too fond of the rear truck, extended frame and fuel bunker. Using those locomotives as a base designed a freelance outside frame 0-4-0 Porter I have dubbed "Maud". I have already started preparing to construct this locomotive using an On3 18 Ton saddle tank Porter kit from Grandt Line. I will still need to fabricate a lot of components to make the bash work, but all in due time. The biggest concerns are finding an adequate motor and gear box.
One big soft spot I have for steam motive power are geared locomotives and one of my favorites is the Shay.
Sorry, don't have a colored one of this, yet. This is a concept I drew for a 20" gauge shay. I drew heavy inspiration from the Gilpin Tramway #1. To build it, I intend on using an old MDC HOn3 gauge Shay kit as a base. Wiseman Model Services produces some S scale conversion kits for the shay that would look perfectly proportional in O scale, aside from a few details. The cab will have to be built up and O scale details added, such as headlights and such.
So far this is what I have, but I'm always thinking up something new to add. Perhaps a Gas Mechanical perhaps? Or a vertical boiler loco? Who knows, so stay tuned!
First up are the small, but mighty "Kornut" Porters. The Kornut Porter was the smallest locomotive offered by the H.K. Porter Co. according to their spec they were 10ft long from end beam to end beam, with a 3ft wheel base and 18" diameter drivers. And also built to a gauge of 18". I have not found any photos of this tiny locomotive, but I have drawn what it may have looked like utilizing what I know (which isn't much) about Porter practice.
The color scheme is my own and the locomotive is not drawn to scale. Though I did add Lee Van Cleef as a "Scale Reference" to show the engine's general proportions. As for building it as an actual model my plan is to use the BCH (Big City Hobbies) HOn30 0-4-0 locomotive and widen the gauge to HOn3. The driver spacing and wheel diameters are virtually spot on for an On20 Kornut Porter. I have made up some scale drawings, but I have yet to scan them.
Next up is yet another Porter and it is also an 0-4-0, but it is quite large compared to the above.
One big soft spot I have for steam motive power are geared locomotives and one of my favorites is the Shay.
So far this is what I have, but I'm always thinking up something new to add. Perhaps a Gas Mechanical perhaps? Or a vertical boiler loco? Who knows, so stay tuned!
Gotta' Start Somewhere...
Got to start somewhere... So why not the drawing board?
The trackplan for the Ocalla Tramway has gone under many revisions before finally settling down onto this one.
They trackplan is a 4x8ft plan based on an HOn30 plan called the Laguna Platt. The plan includes an On30 interchange, engine facility and turntable, mine, and an ever climbing, winding right of way to the mine.Sharp curves and steep grades abound on this compact layout, so only locomotives and rolling stock with short wheel bases can make the climb. Diminutive 2-Truck shays and 0-4-0 Porter locomotives will make up the roster and small 2 axle rolling stock.
Structures are fairly minimal, the dominant ones being the small engine facility and transfer station. There is a small depot and water tank used by the OT towards the center of the layout as well as a water stop on the mountain side along the route to the mine.
The Ocalla Tramway is not meant to be a serious layout, but a fun one. And what point is there in having a hobby if you can't have fun with it?
The trackplan for the Ocalla Tramway has gone under many revisions before finally settling down onto this one.
They trackplan is a 4x8ft plan based on an HOn30 plan called the Laguna Platt. The plan includes an On30 interchange, engine facility and turntable, mine, and an ever climbing, winding right of way to the mine.Sharp curves and steep grades abound on this compact layout, so only locomotives and rolling stock with short wheel bases can make the climb. Diminutive 2-Truck shays and 0-4-0 Porter locomotives will make up the roster and small 2 axle rolling stock.
Structures are fairly minimal, the dominant ones being the small engine facility and transfer station. There is a small depot and water tank used by the OT towards the center of the layout as well as a water stop on the mountain side along the route to the mine.
The Ocalla Tramway is not meant to be a serious layout, but a fun one. And what point is there in having a hobby if you can't have fun with it?
Concept, History, and Intorduction
The Ocalla Tramway is a freelance Arizona "baby gauge" copper mining railway set in the late 1800s and into the Turn of the Century. But what is the Ocalla Tramway? What is "babay gauge"? And what on earth is On20? All will be explained in this post. First up is a brief history on Arizona baby gauge and copper mining railroads, which served as the inspiration for the Ocalla Tramway. Then I shall describe the evolution of the Ocalla Tramway and what it has come today, and what I hope it will become. So then, onto the history!
Ever since the late 1700s Arizona was known to have rich copper deposits. In the late 1870s was when the first narrow gauge rail lines were constructed to help serve copper mines and transport copper ore to the smelter. Clifton, AZ will be the location I shall use as an example. What eventually became the Arizona Copper Co. constructed a narrow gauge railway up Chase Creek Canyon to serve the many mines along the right-of-way. The gauge was an unusual 20" between the rails and is commonly referred to as "babay gauge". Baby gauge, by deffinition, is a track gauge under or less than 24 inches. Which is considered to be the smallest practical gauge for railroad track. However there were track gauges of 18 inches, which was popular for mine shafts across the US. There is much speculation as to why a gauge of 20 inches was used and the true answer may never be known. Either way, this created a very unique system that operated in southeastern Arizona.
The Arizona Copper Co. (or "ACC") didn't receive their first locomotive until 1880, which was a small 0-4-0T built by Porter and given the name "Coronada". And later renamed by its engineer to "Emma", after the engineer's daughter.
Aside from the Coronada the ACC almost exclusively used 20" gauge 0-4-4 Forney type locomotives. ACC #5 being a prime example.
The Detroit Copper Co. used 0-4-0s saddle tankers also built by H.K. Porter. These diminutive narrow gauge trains wound their way through the harsh desert canyons of southeast AZ to serve the many mines and inclines along their right of way.
In 1903 the 20" gauge line leading up Chase Creek Canyon was widened to 3ft gauge. The small 0-4-4 Porters, aside from numbers 9 and 10, (one of the two shown above) were shortened, having their rear trucks removed and then hauled these locomotives to the top of the inclines to better serve the mines.
Sadly today, nearly all of what was left of the ACC and the DCC 20" gauge lines have been completely eradicated by open pit copper mining. However there are a few bits of grade left in the Clifton Area.
Although not much is left, there is still a reasonable amount of documentation and some of the ACC's locomotives are preserved, as wells as one of the DCC's 0-4-0 Porters. And this has provided me a great deal of inspiration form my modeling endeavors.
Next, Inspiration.
I am predominantly an On30 modeler and have an On30 layout in planning, the Big Thunder & Western. Not to be confused with Dave's (http://www.blogger.com/profile/06955737281413114162) BT&W, which sadly never came to fruition. However his Thunder Mesa Mining Co. is also a fantastic source of inspiration to my own modeling efforts.
http://thundermesaminingco.blogspot.com/
As a child I was brought up on Disney animated films and movies and has influenced my own artistic abilities and interests. Disney's rich history with trains and railroads has also inspired me and my On30 modeling. And these characteristics I am carrying over into my On20 Ocalla Tramway.
Originally I was just going to build and On30 layout, but after learning about the idea of having a smaller gauge that could access mines that the "bigger" trains couldn't go seemed pretty interesting. And would allow for greater operational interest. I originally looked into On18, O scale on N gauge track. The reason was because N gauge is readily available as is HOn30 track, which looks pretty proportional in O scale. Though the one drawback is that 0-4-0 steam chassis in N gauge are hard to find. The only 0-4-0 steam chassis are the Bachmann 0-4-0, which can be difficult to find. However Big City Hobbies has released their HOn30 0-4-0.
This would be a perfect chassis for an 18" gauge porter, and the wheel base is nearly a spot on match for the smallest locomotive made, the "Kornut" Porter. And so I had decided on On18. But then while I was looking at the On18 Yahoo! group I came across an Yahoo group for On20! After spending some considerable time looking through the group I was sold on On20 modeling. But what is On20?
On20 is O scale modeled on HOn3 gauge track. Now the biggest drawback to On20 is the lack of 0-4-0 wheelbases and chassis. They are out there, but hard to find. The next best option is to scratch your own frames or bash them. Despite this draw back with the lack of chassis available On20 better matches my motif of AZ narrow gauge. That and I've found interesting ways around the chassis dilemma.
So, with all this being said what is the Ocalla Tramway? And to answer that, onto the concept.
The Ocalla Tramway is a fictional 20" gauge railway who's primary purpose is to transport copper ore from the mines to the Big Thunder & Western. A 30" gauge common carrier. The tramway is also a common carrier, transporting people and supplies to the various camps and settlements along the OT's right of way. The OT will be a small tramway featured on my eventual On30 layout, but I'm also planning on a stand alone On20 layout with On30 interchange for display and promotional purposes.
It's not much, but it's a start. More to come, so stay tuned!
Ever since the late 1700s Arizona was known to have rich copper deposits. In the late 1870s was when the first narrow gauge rail lines were constructed to help serve copper mines and transport copper ore to the smelter. Clifton, AZ will be the location I shall use as an example. What eventually became the Arizona Copper Co. constructed a narrow gauge railway up Chase Creek Canyon to serve the many mines along the right-of-way. The gauge was an unusual 20" between the rails and is commonly referred to as "babay gauge". Baby gauge, by deffinition, is a track gauge under or less than 24 inches. Which is considered to be the smallest practical gauge for railroad track. However there were track gauges of 18 inches, which was popular for mine shafts across the US. There is much speculation as to why a gauge of 20 inches was used and the true answer may never be known. Either way, this created a very unique system that operated in southeastern Arizona.
The Arizona Copper Co. (or "ACC") didn't receive their first locomotive until 1880, which was a small 0-4-0T built by Porter and given the name "Coronada". And later renamed by its engineer to "Emma", after the engineer's daughter.
The Detroit Copper Co. used 0-4-0s saddle tankers also built by H.K. Porter. These diminutive narrow gauge trains wound their way through the harsh desert canyons of southeast AZ to serve the many mines and inclines along their right of way.
In 1903 the 20" gauge line leading up Chase Creek Canyon was widened to 3ft gauge. The small 0-4-4 Porters, aside from numbers 9 and 10, (one of the two shown above) were shortened, having their rear trucks removed and then hauled these locomotives to the top of the inclines to better serve the mines.
Sadly today, nearly all of what was left of the ACC and the DCC 20" gauge lines have been completely eradicated by open pit copper mining. However there are a few bits of grade left in the Clifton Area.
Although not much is left, there is still a reasonable amount of documentation and some of the ACC's locomotives are preserved, as wells as one of the DCC's 0-4-0 Porters. And this has provided me a great deal of inspiration form my modeling endeavors.
Next, Inspiration.
I am predominantly an On30 modeler and have an On30 layout in planning, the Big Thunder & Western. Not to be confused with Dave's (http://www.blogger.com/profile/06955737281413114162) BT&W, which sadly never came to fruition. However his Thunder Mesa Mining Co. is also a fantastic source of inspiration to my own modeling efforts.
http://thundermesaminingco.blogspot.com/
As a child I was brought up on Disney animated films and movies and has influenced my own artistic abilities and interests. Disney's rich history with trains and railroads has also inspired me and my On30 modeling. And these characteristics I am carrying over into my On20 Ocalla Tramway.
Originally I was just going to build and On30 layout, but after learning about the idea of having a smaller gauge that could access mines that the "bigger" trains couldn't go seemed pretty interesting. And would allow for greater operational interest. I originally looked into On18, O scale on N gauge track. The reason was because N gauge is readily available as is HOn30 track, which looks pretty proportional in O scale. Though the one drawback is that 0-4-0 steam chassis in N gauge are hard to find. The only 0-4-0 steam chassis are the Bachmann 0-4-0, which can be difficult to find. However Big City Hobbies has released their HOn30 0-4-0.
This would be a perfect chassis for an 18" gauge porter, and the wheel base is nearly a spot on match for the smallest locomotive made, the "Kornut" Porter. And so I had decided on On18. But then while I was looking at the On18 Yahoo! group I came across an Yahoo group for On20! After spending some considerable time looking through the group I was sold on On20 modeling. But what is On20?
On20 is O scale modeled on HOn3 gauge track. Now the biggest drawback to On20 is the lack of 0-4-0 wheelbases and chassis. They are out there, but hard to find. The next best option is to scratch your own frames or bash them. Despite this draw back with the lack of chassis available On20 better matches my motif of AZ narrow gauge. That and I've found interesting ways around the chassis dilemma.
So, with all this being said what is the Ocalla Tramway? And to answer that, onto the concept.
The Ocalla Tramway is a fictional 20" gauge railway who's primary purpose is to transport copper ore from the mines to the Big Thunder & Western. A 30" gauge common carrier. The tramway is also a common carrier, transporting people and supplies to the various camps and settlements along the OT's right of way. The OT will be a small tramway featured on my eventual On30 layout, but I'm also planning on a stand alone On20 layout with On30 interchange for display and promotional purposes.
It's not much, but it's a start. More to come, so stay tuned!
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