Chris,Ken,
John built most of a ATSF mike for Rusty Paulus here in Houston. I
haven't seen it run in years. Billy Click also owns a RI Mike with
either a whale back or sausage tender (somewhat crude as I remember)
plus a C&NW Atlantic that runs like crazy. Both of those engines have
been painted but have some paint damage. I'm not certain how they would
fare detail wise. I had understood that he had used epoxy for
assembly--I guess we wouldn't know until something breaks.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
On 3/7/12 3:20 PM, mhrywest wrote:
Chris,
I have a "sister" engine here in the form of a NP Pacific built by
John Kromhout. Well at least I did have, don't know where it is
displayed or stored just now. I also have a SOO Line Mike, Mountain
and Pacific built by John and a SOO Prairie built by Tom Lennon.
John's engines were built to the old S standard and the drivers are a
bit course by today's standards. Still they look good on display. I
don't put them on the layout because it it 1963 and I am afraid they
would be towed away for scrap. Like your, each one is a hefty hunk of
metal.
John was a wonderful guy, I don't recall exactly how many SSL&S
engines he built, perhaps 50 or so. He was a craftsmen in his own way,
very inventive in how he created things. He was an early convert to
Super Glue and was know to all his Grandchildren for his ability to
Super Glue anything. I expect Frank's engines would have better slow
speed action and smoothness but when John turned on the welding power
supply he used for track power, his big steam engines would jump to
life. He ran them hard and they pulled like crazy. Don't recall John
using homosote so his trains made a heck of a noise when running. John
was hard of hearing at the end, don't know if trains were responsible.
As I think back to my years in S, I have many wonderful memories that
John was a part of. Thanks Chris for bringing back these old memories.
Ken Zieska
