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Coupler Question and Update on McKeen Car Model

Madison KirkmanMadison KirkmanOGR Forum Member

Well, as I said I would, I've spent the last month working on and off on this 3-D drawing of a 55', all passenger McKeen Car, like the Cuyamaca, one of only three McKeen Cars still around, which I am acquiring soon, and of which I also wish to restore to a running factory like condition (minus the 5600 Cubic Inch monstrosity that Mr. McKeen called a 200H.P. engine.)  

 

While working on this model, I had a question, what is the height center of the coupler?  I know in real life, on the McKeen Cars at least, it was 35" about the head of the rail, but what is the measurement for regular O gauge (not O scale) railcar couplers?  I don't know if I want to be able to run this with other railcars, or if I will want to keep it to scale to run only with other cars that I print.

 

Also, ColoradoHiRailer, if you see this, please contact me, my email is on my website. 

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  • McKeen Model McKeen Car: This is my drawing of the all passenger, 55' McKeen Car, like the "Cuyamaca" #1.
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Madison KirkmanMadison KirkmanOGR Forum Member
Thank you, I'm about 10 hours into it,  I have to keep in mind this is a model and while at the same time taking measurements for blueprints of the car. 
 
This will be, by far, the most expensive model I will ever purchase, but I will make sure the rivets are perfect.  Yes, I know, I'm a rivet counter, at least when it comes to McKeen Cars.  I also want to have this model as an example as what the Cuyamaca will look like when done. 
 
Originally Posted by Greg Houser:
Very impressive work.

-Greg

 

Madison KirkmanMadison KirkmanOGR Forum Member
Thank you, I will try write progress updates for this website once I get going with the project.  I'm working on a way to get the car down to my town with out breaking the bank.  
 
And about that drawing, I don't believe I can share that artwork, it's copyright of another owner, but I used some of that information to make this drawing.  This is what the car most likely would have looked like in 1908.  
 
Because I am going to need as much help as possible, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share this link with your friends.
https://www.gofundme.com/mckeencarcuyamaca
 
I will need much more then just $10,000 to restore the car, but before that, I will start the 501c3 process, which is about a $1000 cost alone. Once I have that, I will be able to have volunteers start work on the car.  
 
Originally Posted by trainroomgary:

     I do not know about, the measurement for regular O Gauge railcar couplers. I did enjoy reading about this project and viewing the drawing.

     Look forward to watching your progress on the "McKeen Car".

Cheers from Michigan

 

mckeen 1194-2

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  • McKeen Motor Car Cuyamaca Drawing.
Madison KirkmanMadison KirkmanOGR Forum Member
Thank you, I love photoshopping images, like that image of the "Cuyamaca" from the original image on a letterhead I have to that took about 25 hours, 20 of which were spent correcting the off center red plate from the black plate.  Here is the original image...
 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by trainroomgary:

https://www.facebook.com/McKeenMotorCar

Well done Facebook Page.

McKeen Motor Car Company Historical Society

 

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  • Original Letterhead Lithograph.
Madison KirkmanMadison KirkmanOGR Forum Member
I find it a little funny that I am one person who does notice the imperfections of their restoration.  As far as I am concerned, they did a great job, I have only found very small differences in what the actual car may have looked like.  For instance, the cow catcher most likely had gold striping on it, and I can understand that.  Out of a collection of 1500+ photos, it was only mostly visible in 2 photos, one of U.P. #10, and one of my car.  There are faint lines visible on one of the photographs of the V&T#22, but you couldn't tell by that one photo that it was gold striping. 
 
All in all, they did an amazing job, and they definitely set the bar for me. 
 
Originally Posted by trainroomgary:

An operating McKeen Motor Car, on The Virginia & Truckee Railway.

published by: SYVRRy on You Tube,  A Public Video.

 

FirewoodFirewoodOGR Forum Member

Great project! With all the configurations the McKeen cars found themselves in, it would keep a modeler busy for quite some time.

 

They are all eye-catchers, but I can see why they were so unpopular with their engineers:

http://www.sandiegohistory.org...ary/images/page8.jpg

 

I guess if the McKeens were built a few years later, they would have seen more modern engines, and I guess some were rebuilt with new drives. The slow-turning, heavy marine ones needed a crew to operate them. Even for their time, the McKeen engines were probably ...ahem...lightweight and powerful.

 

Here's a forum post on Kadee coupler heights:

 https://ogrforum.com/topic/kadee-couplers-3

 

As for 3-rail, it's hit-and-miss I find. You will see anything from 3/4" to 7/8" from railhead to top of the coupler. I tend not to worry about "height to coupler center line", as most 3-rail knuckles are sloppy enough to have a fair amount of droop depending on the car.

Just my own observations; maybe there are some club operators out there with standard measurements for large layouts.

 

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