New play toy

MKT fan Dec 5, 2006

  1. MKT fan

    MKT fan E-Mail Bounces

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    This is a 1938 Fairmont S2E Section car I restored. This was on the Oct. Llano run this year.
     

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  2. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    :shade: :shade: :shade: :shade:
     
  3. MKT fan

    MKT fan E-Mail Bounces

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    How about a few more

    Here are a few more speeders. Waiting in line to leave on the days run.
     

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  4. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    What is the roster history of this one?
     
  5. MKT fan

    MKT fan E-Mail Bounces

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    history

    This section car was on the "THE VALLEY ROAD"
    better know as the Trinity & Brazos Vally & Burlington-Rock Island Railroad. It runs great and running down the rails at 35 mph in an open car is a blast. Next run is lat Jan. on the Llano run again (Ex SP Track)
    I have my long johns ready. :):):):)

    Mike
     
  6. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like you did a great job with the restoration. What's the engine manufacture, I don't recognize the Logo?
     
  7. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've always wanted one of those, a local club runs on sections of the CGW every once in a while in Byron IL. Are they expensive and hard to find?

    Jim
     
  8. MKT fan

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    answers

    The car was made by Fairmont and has a Faimont QBA 8-13 HP single cylinder 2 stroke engine. Bore is 4.75, stroke is 4.75. You have to hand crank the engine to start. It has 2-55 lb flywheels you have to work against. I will post some engine pics tonight. You mix the gas with oil just like all 2 stroke engines. I try to post an AVI of it running. When standing still it sounds like a "put-put car". Also no muffler...
    As to the cost I have about $4500.00 into the car and trailer. You can actually get started for about $2500.00. Of course this does not count insurance, fee's, gas to get to run, motel, etc.. But I find it all worth it. For additional info go to http://www.narcoa.org/
    it's the national orginization.

    Mike
     
  9. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Mike, I took a look at your website, man I want a speeder now! If I could only find an ex CB&Q. B&M used mainly HyRail trucks. I see that some clubs allow the use of HyRail trucks. Hmm, I found a Chevy HyRail for sale in nearby Iowa. A little white paint, some BNSF graphics and I'd have a HyRail and a truck to get lumber!

    Jim
     
  10. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sweet! Montana Museum of RR History has a former GN speeder--to be restored.
    I would love to take a speeder ride someday--maybe Mullan, or Marias? Moffat or Tennessee Pass?
     
  11. MKT fan

    MKT fan E-Mail Bounces

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    Two more pics

    One is of the engine and controls. The second is a rear view on the trailer.
     

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  12. MKT fan

    MKT fan E-Mail Bounces

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    Speeder running

    If you go to the 3rd page of my page on RailImages I uploaded a small AVI of the car running. At the time I had been towing another speeder that had stopped running. There is a 5 min. fix time or you get towed.
    At lunch he found out he had a fould spark plug. You will hear why they are called "Put-Put cars"

    Mike
     

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  13. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Mike, can you also start it by pushing? The B&M had a speeder at the Hoosick, NY section house during the late 40's that was push started. IIRC, it had a lever-operated leather belt "clutch" that one of the guys would engage as they pushed the speeder. He would then release the lever when it started so every one could get on.
     
  14. MKT fan

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    push start

    I do not think you could push that car (1000 lbs weight) plus push against the compression of the engine. Some of the smaller cars could be started that way I guess. I know that it starts every time I crank it.
    Some times it will run backwards...LOL
    Thats the reverse gear on these cars. Push the spark far advance, turn the batt off, and just as the engine is about to stop apply bat and the engine will reverse. Then you go backwards.

    Mike
     
  15. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    I know what you mean. :sad:

    There used to be some two-stroke cycle single cylinder marine diesels that ran in reverse about half the time they were started. Trying to persuade a 1 Meter x 1 Meter 60 RPM directly coupled (no clutch) single cylinder beast that the skipper really wanted to go down channel out to sea and not backwards crushing the pier would occasionally cause the engineer to run out of starting air, and patience.........:angry:

    In the meantime, that's a lovely speeder, clearly showing your TLC...:thumbs_up:

    BTW, I doubt if the B&M car weighed anywhere near 1000 pounds. Two guys would wheel it out of the shed on planks onto a plank platform between the rails. They then would pick it up like a wheel barrow using handles that slid out the rear and spin it into position onto the rails. Granted, the engine was in the front with most of the weight over the front wheels, so maybe there wasn't that much weight at the handles. But I don't remember the two guys straining and grunting that much.......?
     
  16. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    MKT fan: There are wooden parts on this speeder? I thought it would be all metal as I thought they were worked very hard.

    Also, I thought I remembered pushing to start on the Atlantic Coast Line back in the 1950s. Not sure about that.
     
  17. Matthew Roberts

    Matthew Roberts TrainBoard Member

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    Llano Line, I bet that was fun, riding through those numerous truss bridges, and along the Llano River! A little weedy, though. Did you go all the way to Llano. I do think I remember an ASTA volunteer talking about the speeder runs while I was riding the Bertram Local at Railfair this year.
     
  18. MKT fan

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    wood sides

    Fairmont used wood till after WWll. Maof the cars had there wood replaced with aluminum or steel as they wore out. If you look at my second post the first photo shows a 1942 fairmont (the one with the red water tank). If you notice the frame is drilled to reduce use of metal during the war. In Texas there are 22 running speaders. There is one older than mine (1937) but it is not running and needs to be restored. My speader is also one of the oldest operating speeders in the country. I configured it as a recreational speader. But still kept the original car as it was.
    Yes running on the from Llano down the SP line was a hoot. The group over there has done wounders with cleaning the track. Very few weeds.
    And the rail is in great shape.


    Mike
     

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