ALCo-GE-IR Boxcab Models Continuation Page 1 keywords = boxcab model miniature live steam CNJ Central New Jersey 1000 B&O Baltimore Ohio ALCo GE IR I-R American Locomotive Company General Electric Ingersoll Rand oil electric diesel engine rail road
Updated: 24 Nov 2006, 15:00 ET
(Page created: 07 Dec 2001)
{suffering badly from image loss - please bear with me!}
[Ref: This is boxcbmd1.html (URL http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/boxcbmd1.html )]

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S. Berliner, III's

Model
ALCo-GE-IR
(and other)
Boxcabs Continuation Page 1

Consultant in Ultrasonic Processing
"changing materials with high-intensity sound"
Technical and Historical Writer, Oral Historian
Popularizer of Science and Technology
Rail, Auto, Air, Ordnance, and Model Enthusiast
Light-weight Linguist, Lay Minister, and Putative Philosopher

A "new" boxcab! Ingersoll-Rand Demonstrator #9681
(photo provenance uncertain; possibly from 1980s AAR flyer)

MODEL ALCo-GE-IR
(and other)
BOXCAB Oil-Electric Locomotives
(continued)

(by which I mean scale models of boxcabs,
NOT different versions of prototype boxcabs)

(American Locomotive Company - General Electric - Ingersoll-Rand)

There are now more than fifty (50) BOXCAB pages;
see the main Boxcabs page and the Boxcabs INDEX.

This site has now been visited times since the counter was installed.

PAGE INDEX:

On the "main" model boxcabs page:
BOXCAB MODELING NOTES.
BOXCAB DIMENSIONS.

The rest of that page is unindexed; scroll away.

On this model boxcabs continuation page:
Boxcab Model Miscellany - continued from the main Boxcab models Page.
MONSTER MODEL BOXCABS.

On the the model boxcabs continuation page 2:
(24 Nov 06)
More Boxcab Model Miscellany - continued from the main Boxcab models page and continuation page 1. (24 Nov 06)

Now, before we continue with serious boxcab modeling, I have long meant to buy this cute little boxcab but never was willing to spring for the ferocious price; it's approximately S-scale and was offered at the Greenburgh show here on Long Island on 05 Oct 2002 at a bargain, so I finally sprang for it:

It's Thomas the Tank Engine's little buddy, Toby the Tram Engine! The card that accompanies the toy states that Toby is always happy to work, although he can sometimes be a bit temperamental; I don't believe that latter at all!

SCALE MODELS of BOXCAB OIL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

(Base information moved from Main Model Boxcabs Page 07 Dec 2001)

LIRR 401 CNJ 1000

Z-Scale (1:220) Drawings

(This is no longer just a drawing!
See the Main Model Boxcabs Page and Even More Z on Z-scale page 5.)

The World's First Production Diesel Road Switcher

Also the first diesel to haul a revenue train on a long-distance run

For modeling information primarily specific to LIRR #401 (first), the first diesel road switcher, you were previously referred to LIRR #401 and Sister Boxcabs continuation page (which shows the LIRR's excuse for a new #401!), but the Boxcab Modeling Notes and Boxcab Dimensions, were moved to the main model boxcabs page.

[ - I added three pages of detailed photos of the CNJ #1000 (120 photos)
and a page of detailed photos of the only surviving 108-tonner, Foley Bros. #110-1 (35 photos).

When I found the AA-2 class drawing for LIRR #401, I also found my original earliest perspective drawings, trying to lay out the three-views from photos (before I found actual drawings) for my first attempt, chopping up two IMP 60-ton HO models:

(Images from the collection of S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
[Thumbnail images - click on the pictures for the full images.]

These tracings were drawn on drafting vellum (anyone remember real vellum?), not vinyl-coated MYLAR plastic film. You know, I didn't do these! They were done for me by my brother-in-law, a Civil Engineer and shortly thereafter a P.E., ca. 1967.

Boxcab Model Miscellany

Speaking of boxcab steam dummies (Toby, above, and " Verhoop"), how about Richard Stone's 16mm garden variety kitbash:

(10 Sep 05)

This model, which has oscillating cylinders operating on the rear axle only and a chain drive to the front axle, is an amalgum of a Locomotion railcar and a Perfect World tram, was originally built by James Gilchrist, and has been extensively reworked, as documented on the Rickety Shed Light Railway site.

On the preceding page, I showed mockups of the LIRR #401, #402, and #403 in Z-scale (1:220); I'll repeat that last one here for continuity - a #403 mock-up (using a far-too-long FR 60-ton body):

Lest you disbelieve that I'm loony enough to chop up a perfectly good Märklin #8800 0-6-0T steamer for this latter project; here's the almost-bare chassis, preparatory to cutting just abaft the motor and forward of the rear motor mounting screw, as well as up front just forward of the front cover plate screw. I didn't take the trouble to find a close-up lens but you can more-or-less make out the following (left to right); rear coupler, buffers, and spring, rear motor mounting screw, brush, wheel pickup with crank pins at each end, next to the center drivers, with the main rods (there aren't any side rods) with crossheads, "valve gear"/crosshead guides, and the insulator block in the middle, static filter and holders, wheel pickup and brush below dime for comparison, cylinder saddle, spring, buffers, and front coupler. The chassis with the motor, front screw, and running gear is above; note that the center axle drivers have been pulled but I am NOT going to cut it down to the width of the chassis, after all. Rather, I'll buy an extra set of intermediate axles (the gears are the same size as on the center axle on the 8800 - unlike those on the 8805) and use one of them, already cut to length.

Those crank pins have to be the all-time high in miniaturization of any model railroad item with which I have ever worked! Jewelry! And I thought the buffers were impressive!

Next comes the razor saw! Really! You'll see! If the late, great Bill Schopp, who used to write for RMC in the '50s and '60s, could do it, so can I (and have, many times)! I TOLD YOU SO! Didn't believe me, huh? Other than the background, this photo is unretouched:

(07 Dec 02 photo by and © 2002 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
{Gotta find those close-up lenses!}

I have just enough of the front (right) remaining to hold a modified cylinder saddle, which holds the insulator block, which, in turn, holds just about everything else!

Since I was slicing away the rear of the chassis and motor frame FORWARD of the rear mounting screw, I was concerned with means of holding the motor down at the back. HA! It turns out that the rear screw was not tightened; it was some 0.5mm up above the frame boss. If it ran this long that way, I guess it can continue to do so. I'll probably just cantilever a support from the front to counter the bending moment on the front support, just because.

Such fun!

MONSTER MODEL BOXCABS!

(material moved here from the "main" model boxcabs page on 07 Dec 01.)

If you REALLY want to see a BIG boxcab model, take a gander at this one:

Photos from Blue Ridge Lines site
{images restored 27 May 04}

It's the 1½" scale Blue Ridge Lines Boxcab #74. This Loco was built in 1974, a very loose copy of the CNJ #1000. It has four traction motors, operates on 24V DC, and is the only loco on the (otherwise) live-steam railroad that is equipped with air brake controls. It is on permanent lease to the Blue Ridge Summit Railroad and weighs in at approximately 450 lb.

Thanks to Mark Laundry for this one.

Another large-scale boxcab model, of CNJ #1000, has been around a while but is incomplete; the builder, Jim DeLong of Silver City, New Mexico, was trying to figure out how to replace storage batteries with a semi-scale 6-cylinder diesel (I suggested going to a comercially available 6-cylinder gasoline engine model and converting it to compression ignition). The project had been stalled a number of years (so what's new?) but Jim advised on 27 Mar 03 that he sold the boxcab to Ron Atkinson, a member of the Chula Vista {California} Live Steamers. Here's the unit at the Chula Vista Live Steamers Fall Meet on Labor Day weekend of 1994:

(cropped from photos courtesy of J. DeLong 1994 - all rights reserved)
[left-hand photo is thumbnail - click on image for larger picture]

{Sorry, folks - these are cropped from huge images showing Jim in all his red-bearded glory
but I am conserving server memory!
You'll just have to be content with his knees and butt!}

Rail Systems Company out in Sutherlin, Oregon, made an ALCo-GE-IR-based 1½" scale boxcab once; I've asked for photos but here is a pair of them on a cropped scan from their site:

(Cropped 05 Aug 00 from Rail Systems photo.)

Randy Knaub of the Long Island Live Steamers made a tiny boxcab electric in 1½" scale which he pictured here running on the Adirondack Live Steamers track on 12-13 Sep 98:

(Cropped 05 Aug 00 from Randy Knaub photo.)
It sure looks like the lil' critter gets her power through the trolley pole from John Landon's knee!

28 Dec 00 - Sam Herschbein out in Seattle (a Portola #110-1 buff) advised that RMI Railworks makes a boxcab. Sure enough, RMI Railworks, the home of Roll Models, Inc., of Fresno, California, shows a "Box Cab" {sic} based on the early ALCo-GE-IR 300-ton prototype, with a photo and plans. It seems quite nice, with a riveted (>1,200 of 'em, hand set!) steel cab, two ½HP 24VDC motors driving heavy-duty, industrial, axle-mounted gearboxes (a hydraulic drive powered by a 5.5HP Honda gas engine is also available), plus a 150W sound system. It weighs in at ~305# (~380-530# with batteries). If they mention scale anywhere, I didn't see it, but the model measures 59" long by 18-20" wide by 25-27" high (the specs and drawings don't quite agree), which would make it one-eighth scale; I gather it is 1½" scale with narrow gauge trucks [their "trolleys" (so-called) run on 7½" gauge]. RMI's model has a solid plate pilot and I was aghast until I realized that that is a standard way they do it on their other diesel (hood) models.

RMI Railworks sent me (09 Jan 01) this pair of photos of a truly outstanding job by one of their customers, George Templin:

(Cropped 05 Aug 00 from photos provided by RMI Railworks and
reproduced by special permission - all rights reserved to RMI Railworks.)
[Thumbnail images - click on the pictures for the full images.]

George and I had been in touch before and he just (12 Jan 01) sent me some more pictures of his CNJ #1000 loco (which, exactly a month ago, he described as having a 5.5HP Honda 6 HP, electric start, hydraulic drive, at 2½" = 1' scale, measuring 27" high by 59" long, and "runs and tracks great". It has had "twenty-five 500# test cars on it; working hard, but working." Me, I would have put an exclamation mark after that last statement! Here she is just before being painted and lettered and a closeup of an actual duplicate builder's plate George sent me (which measures 1½" x 2"{!}):

G. Templin's CNJ #1000
(Cropped 13 Jan 01 from photos by George Templin - all rights reserved
Plate photo by SB,III - 13 Jan 01.)
{I regret that I was unable to get a sharper shot of the plate; it is laquered and I'll have to try again.}

The last two shots above were taken on the "Templin Farms RR" and I particularly like the last (right) because of the 12" = 1' Fairmont speeder model in the background to give an idea of size. Now, George had told me he had an oddball model CNJ #1000, a standard-gauge, tinplate model of unknown parentage, with McCoy trucks; it runs on AC and all eight wheels are powered. George thinks it may have been a McCoy prototype and pictured it on his O-scale trackage:

There are those erroneously symmetrical stacks, again! Note also that none of these large-scale models have the smaller, narrower hatch (like a second clerestory) on top of the main engine hatch and between the stacks; the Z units do (or, rather, have a simulation thereof - in Z, who'd notice?). If anyone has more information about that "McCoy" loco, please let us know.

Until I can retrieve these RMI and Templin photos, please be satisfied with these RMI shots of their CNJ #1000 and generic boxcab and one of the former with a silhouette to show size:

On awakening on 06 Dec 01, here's what I found; Jim Thiewes being hauled around in Phoenix by his brand-new RMI 2.5" scale boxcab, all 1,200# of her:

2.5"? Yes, indeedy! 2½" to the foot (1:4.8 scale); she's a full 84" x 36" x 24"! That is one BIG loco and Jim was kind enough to send along another view of her (and all of that on 7½" gauge track - yikes!):

She's identical to the smaller unit (which seems to be in 1.9" scale); I'd never realized that RMI built two sizes. Any bigger and you could ride INSIDE - whadda monster! Strictly speaking, the open space under the left side of the rear radiator (just abaft the clerestory), where you can see the road in the background, is wrong; the radiator cooling tanks should be solid all the way down to the roof. Also, for really strict accuracy, don't forget that the curved, lateral tubing of the radiators is finned and that there are two sets of tubing, one above the other; it is quite understandable that a commercial model, even in this scale, would get as expensive as the real thing if it had all this (it may well be that expensive as it is) but, if you build your own, might as well get it dead right. Sorry that I didn't spot it on the smaller RMI unit in the first place. I did note that the larger unit has open steps, which Jim confirms. As Jim says, this is for fun, not serious scale modeling, and anyone out Phoenix way is invited to stop by for a six mile run through the desert (e-mail Jim first at jthiewes@hotmail.com first, though). Jim says her sound system "includes Phoenix Sound of early Alco locomotive with single note horn and bell all in sync with the speed, a 15" woofer, four 6" mid-range speakers and a 500 watt amp. You can actually feel the ground shake with the sound on."!!!

Whoa! Jim sent yet another photo the next day that really says it all! This is what it's all about and why you should spring for a 1:4.8 model and miles of track out in the desert! Jim didn't think I should bother to post this, but, believe you me I do, and have:

"Miles and miles and miles - - - !"

Whooie! If you can't get to run a survivor boxcab,
then settle in behind this monster
and let 'er rip!

{It was worth the trouble of having to create yet another boxcab page just to add this photo, no?}

Hey, Jim's a piker! Get a load of this monster model - or is it a very small prototype? This is 14" gauge boxcab #5 on The La Porte County Historical Steam Society (also known as The Hesston Steam Show), an "OPERATING Museum of Railroad, Agricultural and Steam Equipment" near La Porte, Indiana:

It's a gasoline mechanical box cab powered by a 4-cylinder Wisconsin gas engine through a torque converter to a reversing mechanism, with engine and train air brakes, and is used for work trains, switching, and pusher service when the hill leaving the depot becomes too slippery.

Who needs an in-loco video camera when you can get inside your own model!

Hard on La Porte's heels comes Ron Nott with his big Rio La Plata Southern #101, a 1.5"=1'-0"scale boxcab on 7.5" track gauge; it is 5' long, 21" high max., and is powered by two "deep cell batteries" in series (24 Volts) with a solid state power controller. All axles are powered by motors and gearboxes and there is an air compressor for car brakes. She weighs in at about 500 lbs and is controlled from a riding car coupled behind. Ron is beginning a desert railroad in northwest New Mexico that may eventually reach 2,300'! Sheesh! These guys out on the sands!

Dropping down to a smaller scale, I heard from Bob McCown, a member of the Large Scale Central, who has built a freelance boxcab in 7/8"=1' scale:

Now, Bob blames me for the urge to build a 1:20.3 standard gauge model of a 60-ton AGEIR! Jeez; I'm sorry. Mea maxima culpa.

There are now more than fifty-five (55) BOXCAB pages;
see the main Boxcabs page and the Boxcabs INDEX.

THUMBS UP!

THUMBS UP! - Support your local police, fire, and emergency personnel!

S. Berliner, III

To contact S. Berliner, III, please click here.

To tour the Boxcabs pages in sequence, the arrows take you from the previous page, to the Boxcabs subject index, the first Boxcabs page, and on to continuation pages 3 and 4, then 100-tonner LIRR #401 and her sisters, survivor boxcabs (with map) and survivor notes, survivor CNJ #1000 (the very first), Ingersoll-Rand boxcabs (with instruction manual), other (non-ALCo/GE/I-R) boxcabs, Baldwin-Westinghouse boxcabs, and finally odd boxcabs.