Calvert Holt

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  Calvert Holt Pennsy K4s Live Steamer, Popular Mechanics, March 1935 page 341.

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  Calvert Holt with his wife and children, posing with his P.R.R. K4s Locomotive. "The Modelmaker", September 1932.

Visit from L.B.S.C.

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  L.B.S.C. coupling up his "Norbury Light" Pacific in 2-1/2" gauge at Calvert Holt's home track. Photo by George Bender, from "The Model Engineer". Thanks to John Baguley.

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  L.B.S.C.'s K4 at Calvert Holt's track, "Plenty of Steam". Photo by George Bender, from "The Model Engineer". Thanks to John Baguley.

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  L.B.S.C. visiting Calvert Holt's home track. "The Resurrection of the 'Norbury Light'", photo by George Bender, from "The Model Engineer". Thanks to John Baguley.

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  "Finished 2-1/2-in. Gauge Piston Valve 'Pacific' at Full Speed.". L.B.S.C. running on Calvert Holts track. Photo by Calvert Holt, from "The Model Engineer". Thanks to John Baguley.

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  "Mr. Calvert Holt as 'Skipper of the Toonerville Trolley'". The Toonerville loco being driven by Calvert was built by a friend of his who had his own 3½" gauge track. Photo by George Bender, from "The Model Engineer". Thanks to John Baguley.

Tidbits from Chaski

Keith Taylor wrote

There was a 3/4" Hudson of which several were built by Calvert Holt in the early 1930's. It is my understanding that they were not made with Langworthy castings. I had heard that they were from Mr. Holt's own design and patterns. I believe one was constructed by Mr. Holt for Vicent Astor.

Larry (elm53), 2 January 2009

Holt also supplied rail castings and completed locomotives for 1/4",1/2",3/4" and 1 1/2" scales. Years ago I made contact with one of Holt's sons, who had found one of his dads 3/4" Hudsons with the brass rail in an antique shop on the north shore. I believe the Yankee Hudson in 1 1/2" scale may be a Holt also.

Keith Taylor, 4 March 2007

Larry, I am pretty sure that the only 1 - 1/2" scale loco was "Miss Bay Shore" a Pennsylvania Railroad K-4. In fact, that K-4 was the cause of Calvert Holt's death. It started to slip off of the building stand and Mr. Holt tried to ease the loco to the floor of the shop and was struck in the legs. A blood clot dislodged and ended up in his brain.

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I do know that Calvert Holt of Greenwich, Connecticut died as a result of an accident while working on an inch and a half scale model locomotive. He was working on the loco on a rolling work stand and the loco started to roll off one end. Mr.Holt tried to stop the locomotive from hitting the floor and he caught the falling chassis on his lap and legs. A blood clot formed as a result of the massive trauma, and when the blood clot dislodged, it ended up in his brain....killing him. I have often wondered what ever happened to the 7-1/4" gauge Pennsylvania RR K-4s model that Mr. Holt built for a customer. It was pictured in the Modelmaker magazine and looked to be a fine locomotive.

References

• "A P.R.R. K4s Locomotive", The Modelmaker, September 1932