Bill Van Brocklin: Difference between revisions
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File:Van Brocklyn Single Cylinder Pump elevation drawing.jpg|The elevation drawing of the Van Brocklin single-cylinder pump. | File:Van Brocklyn Single Cylinder Pump elevation drawing.jpg|The elevation drawing of the Van Brocklin single-cylinder pump. | ||
File:WVB Amabelle.jpg|3-1/2 inch gauge 10 Wheeler "Amabelle" design by Van Brocklin. | File:WVB Amabelle.jpg|3-1/2 inch gauge 10 Wheeler "Amabelle" design by Van Brocklin. | ||
</gallery> | |||
== Two FireQueens == | |||
Pat Fahey wrote, 3 July 2017: | |||
: I was just up on the [[IBLS]] website, and I would like to make a correction. The correction is this, dealing with [[Bill Van Brocklin]] and FireQueen. Bill did have (2) locomotives named | |||
FireQueen. | |||
: The first being his inch and half scale Number 11, a 4-4-0 which you show a photo of on the website. The second locomotive to be named FireQueen is a locomotive I once owned which is Number # 20. | |||
Number 20 was built to 3/4 inch scale and was a 4-8-0 Camelback, this is only one of two 4-8-0's that Bill built. | |||
I am attaching photo's of number 20 as built, with Stevenson valve gear, and rebuilt with Southern valve gear when I owned the locomotive. | |||
I found a nice clear shot, taken by [[Bill Van Brocklin]] showing the plate on number 20. | |||
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px> | |||
File:BillVanBrocklin FireQueen20.jpg|Bill Van Brocklin's locomotive #20, the second "FireQueen". Photo by Bill Van Brocklin, provided by Pat Fahey. | |||
File:BillVanBrocklin FireQueen20 Nameplate.jpg|Closeup of the name plate of Bill Van Brocklin's #20 "FireQueen". | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 23:37, 5 July 2017
Bill Van Brocklin Jr. was a prolific live steam locomotive builder. Perhaps he is best known for his steam pump designs.
Photo Journal
The cover photo of the July-August 1950 edition of The Live Steamer features a detailed view of the well known 3/4 inch scale Boston & Maine Atlantic type locomotive built by William (Bill) Van Brocklin Jr of Roslindale, Mass., and it is shown with the builder at the 1949 N.E.L.S. annual Live Steam Meet at Danvers. This is Bill's second locomotive.
Shot taken at the Danvers MA track around 1947 with Bill Van Brocklin himself as engineer. Pat Fahey, who is the owner as of 2016, notes that the loco was rebuilt twice; 4 ½” boiler, Baker gear. Photo taken from Purinton’s Live Steam of Years Gone By, pg. 100. This is Bill's second locomotive, and the first built in 3/4 inch scale.
Billy Van Brocklin on the high line running is his Yankee Shop 3/4 inch scale 4-4-2 at Waushakum. Photo by Carrdo.
IBLS 1972 Meet at Pioneer Valley Live Steamers. In the center, kneeling & looking at the camera is Bill Van Brocklin with his beautiful 4-4-0 named "Fire Queen." It ran like a watch, as all his engines. To the left of Bill is Paul Ealsons Pacific 6870. The gent without a hat is the late Frank Dreshler from Whitestone, NY. Behind Bill Van Brocklin is Keith Muldowney form New Jersey Live Steamers. In the white sweater with his back to the camera is Ben Nixon talking to the late Jim Maxheimer.
A beautiful Illinois Central 4-4-0 "Fire Queen" built by Bill Van Brocklin and owned by Elmer Roth as of 1995. It feaures a coal fired copper boiler, 2 injectors, 2 cyl. steam water pump, 2 injectors, mech. oiler, whistle,hand pump and hydraulic brakes on the tender. She was rebuilt in 1995 by Elmer. Photo by James W. Leggett. From TrainNet.org.
Bill Van Brocklin at the last Waushakum Live Steamers meet held at the old track location. The 1996 meet was the last and final meet at Norfolk Street track site. Courtesy of Patrick Fahey.
William Van Brocklin, Jr engine house at Waushakum Live Steamers. Photo by Arthur Butler, from collection of Patrick Fahey.
Two FireQueens
Pat Fahey wrote, 3 July 2017:
- I was just up on the IBLS website, and I would like to make a correction. The correction is this, dealing with Bill Van Brocklin and FireQueen. Bill did have (2) locomotives named
FireQueen.
- The first being his inch and half scale Number 11, a 4-4-0 which you show a photo of on the website. The second locomotive to be named FireQueen is a locomotive I once owned which is Number # 20.
Number 20 was built to 3/4 inch scale and was a 4-8-0 Camelback, this is only one of two 4-8-0's that Bill built.
I am attaching photo's of number 20 as built, with Stevenson valve gear, and rebuilt with Southern valve gear when I owned the locomotive.
I found a nice clear shot, taken by Bill Van Brocklin showing the plate on number 20.
Locomotive List
Patrick Fahey of the Waushakum Live Steamers provided scans of Bill's locomotive list.
No. 2 - The cover photo of the July-August 1950 edition of The Live Steamer features a detailed view of the well known 3/4 inch scale Boston & Maine Atlantic type locomotive built by William (Bill) Van Brocklin Jr of Roslindale, Mass., and it is shown with the builder at the 1949 N.E.L.S. annual Live Steam Meet at Danvers.
No. 5 - Simplun by Bill Van Brocklin. From The North American Live Steamer, Volume 1, Number 7, 1956.
No. 8 - Bill Van Brocklin at Carl Purinton's track at Boxford Mass., about 1960.
No. 11 - Bill Van Brocklin with his 1800 era 4-4-0 which he named "Fire Queen."
No. 16 - In 1975, Bill Van Brocklin brought his 4-6-0 ten wheeler to the meet at Carl Purinton's Boxford Outer Belt Railroad. Here it reposes on the 3-1/2 inch gauge track. This engine has Baker valve gear. Photo by Bob Hornsby.
No. 17 - This very dark photo was published as part of a classified on the Discover Live Steam webpage. Has an axle and duplex pump with injector. Copper tender and boiler, piston valves, Baker gear.
No. 28 - With Bill Van Brocklin's new 4-4-0 on the turntable, the guys look on. Charlie Purinton, George Diamond, Bill Van Brocklin and Cap Purinton. August 22, 1987 meet at Carl Purinton's Boxford Outer Belt track. Photo by Bob Hornsby.
No. 31 - Bill Van Brocklin's 31st locomotive. Shot taken at Waushakum on 26 June 2016, and placed on the ¾” Facebook page by Mike Boucher. Baker valve gear, 5 ¼” boiler. Owned by Joe Cordelle of Waushakum LS, MA as of 2016. According to Pat Fahey’s roster, this one used the wheels and frames of Van Brocklin’s 4-4-2 #22, which had been completed in 1982.
Steam Pump
One of Bill Van Brocklin's steam pumps was listed on eBay in December 2013. Here is the description, along with photos.
- This little pump will scale properly in both 1" or a smaller 1.5" scale engine. Steam bore is 13/16" and water bore is 1/2". Stroke is approximately 1-1/8".
Advertisement found in The North American Live Steamer, March 1956
Advertisement found in The North American Live Steamer, 1957
Coles Feedback
From the Coles Power Models 25h Anniversary Catalog:
- Bill Van Brocklin, Jr., of Mass., writes: October, 1952:
- Very pleased with last order. I tried the whistle on "Jimper", my 3.5 inch gauge Atlantic, and it worked swell although high pitched loike an English one. This was at Carl Purinton's at Marblehead. All the boys like it. The "Truscale" valve is very well made.
Bibliography
- "Handy Gadgets", Construction article for dual check valves, The Miniature Locomotive, Jan-Feb 1953, page 26
- Van Brocklin Mechanical Lubricator, The North American Live Steamer, Vol 1 No 5, 1956
- "Album: Trio of Locomotive Builders", George C. Handley, Alfred Jungenize and Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, June 1977
- "Fabricate Cylinders", William S. Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, September 1977
- "Fabricate Axleboxes", William S. Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, June 1978
- "Get Positive Oil Feed with a Hydro-Force Lubricator", William S. Van Brocklin, Jr, Live Steam Magazine, November 1978
- "Wheel Quartering Fixture", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, December 1986
- "Water Gauge Location", William S. Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July 1988
- "One-piece Firebox Loco Boiler: Design Simplicity", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, January 1990
- "Checking Your Wheel Load", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, February 1990
- "Simple Stop Valve", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, February 1991
- "Use of a Trammel in Valve Setting", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July 1991
- "Slip Eccentric Valve Gear Drive for Small Locomotives", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, April 1992
- "Automatic Cylinder Drains", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July-April 1993
- "Building a Small Oscillator for Marine or Other Uses", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, January-February 1995
- "Building a Small Oscillator for Marine or Other Uses: Errata", William Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, May-June 1995
- "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 1; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, July-August 2001
- "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 2; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, September-October 2001
- "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 3; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, November-December 2001
- "Notes on Steam Distribution Part 4; From The Locomotive (Apr-Sept 1949)", Bill Van Brocklin, Live Steam Magazine, January-February 2002
External Links
- Van Brocklin simplex and duplex pump castings, Friends Models
- Bill Shields redesign on the Van Brocklin duplex pumps
- Construction photos of 3/4" Van Brocklin pumps
- Additional information on Bill Shield's Van Brocklin pump heads
- Machining Van Brocklin pumps
- "Some thoughts on building a pump" (PDF), Tom Artzberger, GGLS
- "VanBrocklin Duplex pump", Chaski.org