Douglas Massie

The North American Live Steamer, Volume 1 Number 6

Montreal Live Steamers

It is with very much regret we advise you of the death of Mr. Douglas W. Massie on April 8th, 1955. He was, as you are aware, widely known in the Brotherhood of Live Steamers for his Massive models of Live Steam Locomotives.

Doug's passing away, after a lengthy illness, will be felt not only by Montrealers but by his many friends across Canada and in both England and the United States.

He was a leading light in our Group in Montreal for many years. He was instrumental in getting the Montreal Society of Model Engineers organized some 25 years ago and this group eventually became the Montreal Live Steamers.

He served as President and Director of both these organizations for some years. He was an ardent Model Engineer and during his lifetime spent a great deal of his spare time in his workshop which was well equipped.

Besides building an entire electric train complete with 11/16 inch scale locomotive he has produced a C.P.R. Hudson type in 2-1/2 inch gauge and a 4-8-4 Mountain type in 3-1/2 inch gauge and a 4-6-6-4 Articulated in 3-1/2 inch gauge. He had just finished a Traction Engine in 1 inch scale and was to have surprised the boys this summer with a 3/4 inch scale Diesel Locomotive.

3/4 inch scale live steam model of a Union Pacific Challenger built by D. W. Massie of Montreal, Canada. Drawings and castings were supplied by Les Friend of Danvers, Mass. Engine and Tender measure over 8 feet long presenting a transportation problem to and from the track. It is now hauled on a two wheel trailer and when in the shop is handled on a stand fitted with casters. Posted by Steve Bratina on Chaski.org.

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  Doug Massie of Montreal tending to his Northern locomotive at TSME - 1950

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  Doug Massie's locomotive with his dog Lady added for scale at Montreal track - 1950.

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  Coventry] power reverse and steam driven cylinder drains. The drains at this time were using the steam one that fed the Harry Sait pump that used to be under the smokebox door. This picture would have been from one of the BLS meets in the 1940's.

Wandering Locomotive Book

Steve Bratina wrote the following, 24 August 2020:

Here are the copied pages from the Wandering Locomotive Books written by Doug Massie in 1934. I thought you could add them to his section. I have the engine and will send pictures of it running in a few weeks. The pages were copied courtesy of John at Friends Models. Along with my pictures, I will also include an up to date story of the engines history.

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  Letter Page 1

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  Letter Page 2

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  Letter Page 3

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  Photo 1

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  Photo 2

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  Photo 3

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  Photo 4

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  Photo 5

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  Photo 6

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  Photo 7

Transcription of Doug Massie's letter is as follows (thanks to Steve Bratina):

Massie Railroad Company

Verdome Avenue

Montreal

March, 1934.

Although we are at present constructing steam engines, we have 170 feet of 3-1/4 inch gauge electrified track. At present the steam mileage amounts to 50 feet. The one great drawback is the three different gauges of the locomotive power (2-1/2 inch - 3-1/4 inch and 3-1/2 inch).

The rolling stock consists of:

• 2 passenger cars : 1 baggage car
• 2 coal cars : 1 oil car
• 1 electric locomotive

The above mentioned are all 3-1/4 inch gauge

• 1 - 1/2 inch scale Locomotive
• 1 - flat car (for above)

Under construction:

• 1 - 3/4 inch scale steam locomotive
• 3 - 3/4 inch scale flat cars

The electric outfit has been running for the past 15 years much to our enjoyment. The locomotive has a pulling power of about 150 lbs.

In January 1930 a copy of [L.B.S.C.|LBSC's]] Fayette was started. After a few weeks work on it, and he plans were changed so as to make it resemble the CPR 2800 class. Many details were changed, a 4 wheel trailing truck replaced the 2 wheel one. The boiler was re designed making it much larger.

All told 3 boilers were built for this engine. The first one was scrapped in the redesigning. The second one was a bad steamer and a constant primer. The 3rd boiler was then built and it has been doing faithful service for the past year.

The frames were milled out of 1/4 inch cold rolled. The driving wheels were turned from English castings while the cylinders and a few other castings were supplied by H.J. Coventry as they were able to be used in the engine.

The cylinders are 13/16 inch x 1-1/2 inch being fed superheated steam generated in the usual spearhead tubes recommended by L.B.S.C.

There are two pumps working off the back driving axle. An injector which was supplied by F. Birch and a third pump is located in the tender. This is the hand pump and it has considerable work to do on account of the short track and numerous stops.

The model was finished in brass and it has never been painted because it has been on the road practically without rest since its test run. When the 3/4 inch scale comes along and helps its co-worker out we may get time to paint the brass one.