source of 0-4-0 Reading Camelback 7.5" gauge

[Ed Hume]

I'm looking through a bunch of old Live Steam magazines from the 70's and there are a number of 7.5" gauge 0-4-0 Camelback locomotives with slope back tenders (eg. READING 1173). Where did the builders get the plans and/or castings? There must have been a popular source - are they still available?

[locodan5416]

I read one LS magazine saying those were by four different people that coordinated their efforts. One guy built 4 tenders, and so on. I have no idea what castings were used. I imagine they used LE or something else. I wouldn't think they used many other castings and just did most stuff out of solid.

One thing I've noticed about the Allen Mogul is you spend more time messing around with the castings then a piece of solid... and you have to really change your set up, even if they are the same casting.

[Ed Hume]

I just found another reference that may be a clue. In the July 1982 issue, Don Marshall is talking about driver castings. "I found these on a Reading A-5 0-4-0 designed by a craftsman named Elmer Nuskey of Philadelphia. These castings are now offered for sale by David Sclavi of Trenton, New Jersey." Any NJ live steamers know more about this?

[pockets]

Ed,
Swing by the Chaski board and ask Dave, direct.

Greg B.

[siggy]

Ed - I found an ad for the loco you're asking about in the Jan/Feb 1993 Live Steam, page 7, if you have that issue.

Dave Sclavi you mention is/was/is again the proprietor of Mercer Locomotive Works (http://www.mercerlocomotiveworks.com/) and in 1993 was advertising an unmachined kit for this camelback for $1035.

Apparently, Dave shut down Mercer for several years but is starting it up again. He posts regularly on the Chaski LS board as the username Trainman4602. In fact, this is the same guy I was telling you about that was doing the series on casting and pattern making.

Based on previous posts of his on the board it sounds as if he sold off most of the assets of the original Mercer so who knows if he still has anything to sell.

Robert

[Harlock]

Just to get silly for a moment, at www.mercerlocomotiveworks.com/, look at the second picture down...the guy right behind the engineer....it's Howard Stern!



Oddly, I have seen that page before and those are some lovely looking camelbacks indeed. What a unique loco to bring to meets!

--Mike

[siggy]

harlock said:

look at the second picture down...the guy right behind the engineer....it's Howard Stern!

--Mike

That's Dave's son you're talking about...

[Harlock]

Dave's son looks just like Howard Stern then! Good to know who it is at least.

--Mike

[Ed Hume]

You old bald guys are just jealous of his long hair. I went through college in the early 70's and my hair used to be long too - not quite as long as his though. You'd never know it today.

[siggy]

hume said:

You old bald guys are just jealous of his long hair..

Us "old bald guys..." ?? I think you've missed the mark - it should be us "young bald guys..." and we're not jealous at all. Look at all of the upside: save money on haircuts, faster to comb (As long as we're not going for the Donald Trump / Sam Donaldson look), saves money on shampoo... The upside is limitless! ;D

Robert

[Harlock]

Oh I wasn't making fun of it, just the resemblence was amusing. I have no problem with long hair, I had long hair down to the small of my back from around 1994 to 1998. I cut it because as I started doing more physical and outdoorsy stuff, it got in the way, and it's a pain in the ass to maintain. Also I read somewhere in a survey that only 2% of women are attracted to men with long hair. (doesn't explain fabio though? heh)

While I was in Ely, one of the locomotive engineers / firemen was a tall, skinny italian guy with long hair tied back with several bands, and a moustache. he looked quite good, kind of like a Super Mario Brother with long hair, heh. (video game reference) He'll be in a few pictures when I get them online.

[Harlock]

Hey that was my 100th post. Brass Hat!

[liamlocomotive]

I have one of those Reading Camelbacks. I bought the castings from Dave Sclavi back in 1985. The patterns were made by one of the foursome that built the original 4 locomotives. If I remember correctly, there are 50 castings or so in the set.

Last month there was a classified ad in Live Steam for a set of castings and a boiler for that locomotive for $500. Dave told me that he had sold those parts to the guy selling them and that he wanted to buy them from him....Apparently, the parts are on the way out to the left coast.

Andy Pullen

[Ed Hume]

Andy you lucky dog - I really like the looks of that engine. I'll bet it's a good steamer too with the wide firebox.

[liamlocomotive]

Hi Ed,

Thanks...There's a pic of her in the articles on this website. Look for "Steam in the Juniata Valley." Volume #35 if I remember correctly. She'll pull the wallpaper off the wall and run with it. I've never had any trouble making steam with the wide firebox and I've found that Pocahontas burns great in there. Smokey as a steel mill, but that's part of the fun, right?

The first one I saw was at NJLS back in about 1982. It was just zipping around and around with 20 Ritenberg hoppers. It was acting like it was running with no load.

A friend of mine told me that there is one of those locomotives on ebay right now. The seller's dad was going to make an 0-6-0 out of it. Yesterday is was at about $500. It's listed as a Mercer steam locomotive, I think....Take a look....

I know of several being built as I type this. If you decide to buy it, let me know and I'll pass along my experience with mine.....

Andy Pullen

Dan,

You're letting the castings get the better of you. Sure you can cut your parts out of solid, but why do that when a casting is available? Working with cast parts takes some thought to set up, but once set up they are easier to work with. I've worked with Allen castings and they are a pleasure to work with. Eat some fish (brain food) and give the parts some thought or ask how to set them up. We're here to help.....

A