Galveston Island Trolley

May wouldn't this work? Its from MTH.

https://www.bing.com/images/sh...IMGSHP&mode=serp

That was really high-tech for the 1980’s: a “wireless trolley”!   

Bill

mike g. posted:

May wouldn't this work? Its from MTH.

https://www.bing.com/images/sh...IMGSHP&mode=serp

Mike:

That one has a trolley pole, Max needs one without a pole.  How about this one: http://www.lionel.com/products...trolley-set-6-21969/

Bill

Northwest Short Line Stanton Drive

Review the online catalog for other options.

Add it to your Internet Favorites for future reference.

Bill's right Mike.  Thanks anyway.

The Lionel one doesn't look like the Galveston, Bill.

The Stanton drive looks good, OG.  I'm guessing that NWSL has a truck which would serve as the other end bogie.

Thanks for your inputs, Guys. 

Maybe check out Hollywood Foundry?  They're local(ish) to you.

Thanks, BT

Only a day's drive (700 km), away.  I've used some of their stuff before and I see now that they can supply SPUDS for any track gauge.  That sounds very promising.  Thank you.

I've also written to Kasgro Rail Corp, who own the Galveston Island Trolley system now.  I've asked for overall general dimensions.  Time will tell if I get an answer.

If I know the size of the beast, I should be able to calculate everything else from the photos.

It's sad that the trolleys never ran again after Hurricane Ike. I live about 25 miles from there and my wife works on the island. The trolley line goes past her building. 

Tell her I'll send her a photo of one running on my layout, when I get it done, Fred. 

I received a nice reply from Geoff at Hollywood Foundry.  They don't do O scale drives, but he directed me to David at Steam Era Models.  http://www.steameramodels.com/

Their Black Beetle looks promising.

Onward and Upward. 

Try looking at Q-car for drives and sideframes.

http://www.qcarcompany.com/

Don't know what trolley body design was used to create those, but I'd imagine that something close has been produced in the trolley modeling world that would be pretty close.

Or, for those modeling older, former, trolley lines, how about the line that ran from Galveston into Houston.  From there, it ran East as far as Baytown, and West into Katy.  Of course, this all came to an end in the '40s, even after the rebuilding of the bridge and causeway combination post storms of the period.  I have always wondered about the prospect of the Houston Light Rail ever expanding as far South as to again provide access to Galveston.  This was, of course, proposed several times.  With this, and the completion of the Texas Central high speed rail from Houston to Dallas, it would make it great to travel by rail from as far as OKC to Galveston, all by rail and in comfort, all in less than a day, and a lot cheaper than by car.

Jesse    TCA  12-68275 

Are those Freight car trucks on that trolley?

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Are those Freight car trucks on that trolley?

Yes, according to this website, those cars used conventional Bettendorf-design freight car trucks:

http://www.heritagetrolley.org/TNERJMemphGalv.htm

Bill

Thanks for all of that, Guys.

I've heard back from David Foulkes of Steam Era Models.  I can have SPUDS with wheels from 10.5 to 14 mm discs, and wheel bases from 25.5 up to 40 mm in 0.25 mm increments - and he can supply a dummy to match.

I really need to find out what the dimensions of the cars was/is.  Then I can make a decision on the size of the trucks.

I have a couple of O scale brands of Bettendorf trucks.

My calipers tell me that the wheelbase is 35 mm and the wheel tread diameter is 17.5 mm.

The Black Beetle SPUD won't drive anything over 14 mm, so it looks like I'll have to stick the side frames over the wheels and hope that no one notices.

While a 70 ton Bettendorf might normally have 33" diameter wheels, there's nothing that says they can't be bigger (up to a little less than half the axle spacing) or smaller (as long as it's at least big enough to keep the sideframe off the rails) as long as the wheelbase is correct.  You may need to modify the sideframe or the spud mounts to get the right vertical position.

Or you could always replace the wheels on the axles.  Maybe supply them to Steam Era to install when they fabricate the unit?  Or go back to considering the Stanton unless staying with an Australian company is preferrable.

Thanks.  There is a significant cost saving using the Australian Black Beetle, but they can't drive the bigger wheels due to the gearing.

On another matter, Professor Jon Bell returned my email, but he doesn't know who might have the dimensions of the cars.  I'm still looking for that.

I'm still having no luck tracing anyone who knows anything about the Galveston Island Trolleys.

Even the overall length would be a start.  I could work from there from the photos.

I guess that there were only four made and now they are out of service.  It's going to be tough to find help with this one.

Hi Max,

It took me about an hour, but I think I found what your looking for. Look on page 498! But this PDF has everything and anything you want to know about trolleys.

http://www.heritagetrolley.org...ayHandbookRichey.pdf

Q Car Co. offers a wide assortment of below the floor trolley and interban drive trucks.  I recently re-motored a Sunset 3rd Rail Brill gas electric with Q Car Co. drives for better performance.  The difference is remarkable - particularly starting from rest.  Couldn't be more pleased and I must mention Quinton is a great guy to work with.

Thanks, guys.

You are very close, Mike.  Except that they are electric cars, but it certainly makes interesting reading.  I'm thinking that the diesel Galveston Island Trolleys are going to be a real challenge.

Max:

Is any of this info that was in the reference I posted awhile back useful: 

“In overall appearance, the cars are excellent replicas of the 1903 Brills used on the Council Crest line at Portland, Oregon. There is one window more per side than the Council Crest cars, but otherwise they follow the design closely. The bodies, including sides and roofs, are built of steel. The interior trim and seats are of wood and present an authentic appearance. There are seats for 40, and a maximum of 40 standing passengers can also be accommodated.”

For more info here’s the link: http://www.heritagetrolley.org/TNERJMemphGalv.htm

You said you tried writing Kasgro.  Note that the above reference mentions Kasgro and Gabe Kassab who was the project manager for the Galveston trolley project.  I met Gabe about 15 years ago at the Pittsburgh Pirates Fantasy Camp but he would be about 90 years old now if he’ still alive.  Try calling Kasgro as their website gives phone numbers and email addresses of several individuals.  Perhaps there’s someone there that remembers the project.

Also what is the disposition of the 4 cars?  Were they scrapped or do they still exist somewhere?  If they're not scrapped, have you tried the various trolley museums?  Even trolley museums outside of Texas may have purchased a car as an example of a unique non-wired streetcar.

HTH,

Bill

Thanks, Bill.  I did look at that link.

When I say that I've written to Kasgro, I meant by email.  No one replied.  I'm in Australia, so 'phone calls are problematic.

We have a Brill here, so I can go and measure it if I find I can't do better.

I have no idea what has happened to the four cars.  I'm still trawling the internet, looking for them.

It's a nice little project, which should keep me entertained for a good while.

Hi Max, I was just trying to get you the size, I didn't know the electric and diesel are 2 different sizes! Go figure silly me!

Hi Mike.

Thank you.

All trams are different sizes.  Electric ones are different from each other as well.

The problem is that the Galveston Island Trolleys were ever only four in number; based on the Brill design, but still difficult to find.  They were all replica trams, so what their exact dimensions may be could be anything.

We have some Brills here, so I might eventually have to take my tape measure to Steamranger. 

http://www.steamranger.org.au/ 

I appreciate your efforts. 

Cheers

Hey Max, I found this, maybe it will help. Just a shot in the dark. Don't buy it just zoom in to see the pictures.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/O-GAUG...9:g:gnsAAOSw3xJVcEW7

she's a beauty

Wow, love all those power truck choices...Sure wish all those, any of those?, choices existed for three rail.

That's Brill-iant, Mike.

Those drawings will save me a trip to Victor Harbor.

Thanks.

mike g. posted:

Hi Max,

It took me about an hour, but I think I found what your looking for. Look on page 498! But this PDF has everything and anything you want to know about trolleys.

http://www.heritagetrolley.org...ayHandbookRichey.pdf

Great find!

Lookie what I saw, for us who don't want to do the girder rail thing:

Yes, Rex.  Thanks.

I only decided to run a tram after I had laid the tracks and infilled them, so I'm happy with that.

Cheers

Hi Max, I am glad I was able to help. I have learned so much from your posts, I thought I should try and do something for you!

I appreciate it, Mike.

The plans should be here by 10th March.  Then my OCD will kick in. 

Ha Ha!  The plans have arrived.

A bit of a scam, really.  But thanks for the thought, Mike.

On the good news front, the Black Beetles have arrived and they are a perfect match for the wheel base on my Athearn trucks.

I've had to order some special #1 screws to attach the side frames to the SPUDS, and I've ordered some of Alan's Bondene glue.

Everything takes weeks here, so I'll get back as stuff arrives.

Max,     It may not hurt for you to venture over to the Subway Transit and Traction sub Forum here on OGR. I'm betting those guys could help you out.

Simon

Thanks, Simon.

Max,

Don't know if you have seen this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...eston_Island_Trolley

 http://www.minerent.com/

I think the bottom link is the builder. Maybe they can help you with the dimensions.

Simon

Yes.  Thanks, Simon.

As far as I could see, there are no dimensions in the Wikipedia link and Mine Rent do not return my emails.

Neither do Kasgro Rail Corp who are reputed to be the new owners of the rolling stock.

What we all have to keep in mind is that this tramway consists of four replica built cars on about 10 miles of closed track.  Plus, the service appears to have been discontinued.

The odds against tracking them down are going to be astronomical.

I've posted in the Subway Transit and Traction page, but so far no one has replied.

Early days, yet.

Cheers