While fruitlessly searching for a book l have on coaling towers, l came up with a catalog on Porter's. I think it is a reprint, but is not marked as such l had forgotten Porter had built a lot of diesels, up to 100 ton, including 44 ton. I think of them for tank steamers, but the catalog shows up to tendered Mikados. It shows no articulateds, but l wonder if they built any small ones? Since they built diesels, when did they close?
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Google is your friend.
So is the Forum.
colorado hirailer posted:Since they built diesels, when did they close?
Who says they did?
The first engine I ever fired and ran was a 3' gauge Porter.
The last Porter locomotive was built in 1950. Parts and patterns were sold to the Davenport Locomotive Company.
Rusty
Yes, l did pull up some of the above, and found Davenport sold those rights on to a Canadian co., but among a lot of photos, l found no small articulateds. I also found Porter is still in business in machinery and parts.
This little Porter, was the first steam locomotive that I ever pulled the throttle on. It belonged to the Father of a close Friend of my Mother. Clyde was a machinist by trade, and owned a successful machine shop business. Clyde Loved old machinery, and saved many pieces, that were mostly bought at scrap value. His collection included several Steam farm tractors, Steam Donkeys, old autos, including a Stanley Steamer. His collection also included the original Fairbanks Morse 2 cylinder diesel that powered the chairlifts at Timberline Lodge, on Mount Hood in Oregon, he even had the dynamo and electrical panel for it, and it still ran.
Unfortunately, the only chance I got to run the little Porter, was at the Final Steam Up, in Clyde's Honor after his passing.I did get to meet Clyde previously, but hadn't been able to make any of the other Steam Ups, before the final one, He was a Remarkable, and Generous man.
With only a few appliances out of place, the Bachmann Spectrum Gauge 1(G scale) model is of the same type locomotive. A couple of years ago, I was able to find 2 of the Bachmann models, a challenge as they have been long out of production. I put together some track, transformer and a couple of cars(Clyde never had any rolling stock) and wrapped them up. About two weeks before Christmas, I called Linda(Clyde's Daughter) and said "I am in the neighborhood, thought I'd stop by and say Hi" Linda didn't suspect anything, and was surprised when I had a gift for her, when she opened that box, she immediately recognized the little Porter as her "Dad's Porter" and started crying. She still talks about and Cherishes that little Bachmann.
Unfortunately, the Family was not able to keep Clyde's collection, and the Porter ended up going to a Private individual in Kelowna, BC Canada. Fortunately, he seems to be a very Nice Gentleman, who has invited Linda to come see her Dad's Porter when she Likes.
Doug
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