Working on some train stuff.

"Berang" (berang) 10/26/2020 at 06:26 • Filed to: None

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A few months ago I bought an old Bachmann model of the John Bull off ebay, with the plan to back-date it to its 1830's appearance. But for a few months I hesitated to do anything with it, because it’s a pretty cool model as is. In any event, the model portrays the locomotive in its current day appearance, as preserved. However, the engine, built in 1831, was in regular use until 1866, and was extensively modified during its working like. Which means its as-preserved appearance is quite different from its as-built appearance.

Within a year of its arrival the cow-catcher/pilot truck was added. The boiler was also replaced, the small steam dome over the firebox was removed, and a large steam dome was fitted using the opening for the inspection cover at the front of the boiler. The wheels were replaced, probably multiple times, and the springs were relocated from under the frames, to over the frames.

At the end of its working life, it looked as above. After retirement it was “restored” by removing the cab and spark arresting stack.

As built it looked something like below.

This model was based off a drawing Isaac Dripps made of how he remembered the locomotive looked after he assembled it (it was set to the U.S. from england in a knocked-down state). However his drawing was made in the 1880s, and his memory might have gotten a few detail wrong.

In any event, I did not set out to replicate the John Bull with this exercise, but simply to make something representative of what one would have seen on the rails c. 1840.

So I removed the cow catcher, relocated the steam dome to the firebox, removed the external steam pipes, and added a more interesting paint scheme. The copper clad firebox was, so far as I know, never seen in the U.S. but a few British railways did outfit quite a few locomotives with them in that era.

The headlight I’m a bit hung up on. I don’t believe locomotives really used them c.1840 - the technology just wasn’t there yet. There were some whale oil lamps in use during the 1840s, but really headlights weren’t much of a thing until the 1850s. Unfortunately, there’s no documentation for when the John Bull underwent most of its modifications/updates.

I’ve still got to do some fine clean up, a little filing here and there to clean things up, and little fine detailing. But otherwise the only major thing left to do is make some sort of balloon stack (spark arresting stack), of the sort that definitely was in use by the 1840s.

Here’s a photo from c.1851 of the locomotive Thomas James, built in 1837. It shows typical mods done to early engines. The balloon stack, the bell, the sandbox (on top of the boiler, with the star on it) and the tiny cab. Cabs weren’t really a thing yet in the 1840s, so I’ll forgo that one.

So that’s what I’ve been up to while suffering insomnia.

facw > Berang 10/26/2020 at 08:30

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As long as we are talking John Bull, here’s a picture of it s modern state:

And in 1981, when it was restored to operating condition to celebrate it’s 150th birthday:

A bit sad to go through all that work to get it running and then just park it back in the museum (maybe they’ll take it out for another spin in 2031!), but the American history museum isn’t on any rail lines, so logistically it would be a challenge to operate out of there.

facw > facw 10/26/2020 at 08:48

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Hmm, I swear I fixed that “it’s” maybe I corrected it to the wrong thing? Or maybe just kinja.

Berang > facw 10/26/2020 at 08:52

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Restored is maybe too strong a word. They basically dusted it off and put some oil on it. It was still in running condition in 1930s.

A lot of the oldest existing locomotives were still operable not that long ago. A whole bunch of antiques were running for the 1949 Chicago Rail Fair, including a B&O grasshopper and an 1837 Baldwin.

camaroboy68ss > Berang 10/26/2020 at 09:23

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They were probably restored, I know the boilers have to go through inspection every so many years to be certified to steam up. The last thing you need is pulling a old engine out and have a boiler meltdown. We have a couple running engines in a rail museum by me and one of them was down for quite awhile for the inspection. It might depend on how the boiler is constructed too.   

Berang > camaroboy68ss 10/26/2020 at 09:34

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They tested the boiler before running it in 1981, but I don’t believe they needed any repairs. I don’t know if that would be allowed today.

I think things were generally more lax with a lot of these older locomotives as they were not used for revenues service. The 1851 built Pioneer, for example, operated at the 1949 rail fair - without a sight glass, the boiler was never fitted with one. This should have been illegal at the time, but I’m sure there was some sort of loophole to exempt it.

camaroboy68ss > Berang 10/26/2020 at 09:51

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they would have to have it inspected and certified again if they wanted to run it. I’ m sure some innovations are looked over as they are only being used for little special events at low speeds, with lots of people checking everything on the engine. Plus it would probably be off a main line, if you were to run the engine on working main line it might have to meet more modern rules.

66P1800inpieces > facw 10/26/2020 at 11:12

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I love that you can see the simplicity and major mechanical components. What was once just a tool of transportation is now kinda artistic.