Hey Porter!

[randgust]

Another one of my favorite shots of #3.   You can see this was a 'real logger', and from what I've seen in photos, outlasted all three of the Shays.

This is an earlier shot, judging by the first headlight.   Note it is kerosene.  See how high the coupler pocket is.  And put some cables on the pilot beam and the split knuckle is higher than the pilot beam (modeling problem!).  Again, no air.   No number plate. 

The other thing missing is a log loader.   Roll your own, boys, with the peaveys.   



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/WD3_logging1.jpg

Came across another observation as I was detailing (which is almost done, only the whistle and pop left) - no rear headlight. 

 HVRR was one of the true borderline common carriers, originally organized to connect 'over the hill' to the Collins logging empire via a switchback, which so angered them they built their own railroad (Sheffield & Tionesta) due north to PRR in 1904 to get around the HVRR connection to the west.  HVRR legally stayed a 'common carrier' to the end, even fought it in court, but only one 2-6-0 was ever lettered 'Hickory Valley".   The logging operation run on the same track was ostensibly Wheeler & Dusenbury, but Porter records show #3 was sold to the Hickory Valley.   PRR wasn't amused on a rate split and sued HVRR, HVRR won in the ICC, and that was a landmark precedent decision for shortline railroads in the published tariff era.

Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVRR_tariff_1930.jpg

[randgust]

OK, so all the detail is now on, this is before paint.



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3016%20left1.jpg

I'm very much old-school on these, cast metal, wood, brass and styrene.

Starting from the front - Z coupler, scratch footboards out of brass for durability.
GHQ headlight casting, my stack.   GHQ casting for bell.   GMM stanchions with .010 wire.

Looking at the drawings, the 'step/brackets' are unsure, whether those are the brackets for lifting the tank off or steps up to the sand domes, but made out of brass as the running boards are.
The whistle is Chris333's and the pops came with the Toma kit.

I have brackets for the siphon line but that will go on after paint.  The water hatch has that big line coming down but no visible sign of a water pump, still puzzled on that.  All the HVRR logging power carried siphon hoses.



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3014%20right1.jpg

Cab roof extension, bunker extension, all styrene.

I made a cast metal 'coal pile' casting for the bunker, as I needed to really weight up the rear to push the 4-wheel truck down for effective electrical pickup and keep the weight on the drivers.  More lead weight in the cab as well.



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3018%20left3.jpg

Finally, Chris sent along a bunch of his prints for me to hack up as needed, but his Nn3 Porter body that started this also came along.  Mine is not quite as small as his, but it's pretty close.   His printing is extraordinary for sure, but I'm still old school building with parts and raw materials.   But mine is a little metal brick and pulls like it, which was a requirement from the get-go for me.   Still rather astounded how well it runs.



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3019%20comp.jpg

OK, next time you see it will be painted.

[Chris333]

That siphon line would couple up to the 45 degree angled pipe sticking out inline with the rear sand dome. From there it gets steam from the cab and pumps water up that pipe to the water hatch.

Here you can see the pipe from the water filler hatch curving down under the foot board. (this is only on the fireman's side)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MymJyTSktcqKM2i78

Another one showing the same curved pipe:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nsrZPtys2oiJivPw9

Another:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z7KFxA6mj9bRsNDZA

Another:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RZgvakMvPC55VgNW7

Now to find the syphon under the foot board:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BHYTLnKLcq5UYKx16

[Chris333]

Had to look through all my photos... Here is a good shot of the angled pipe where the hose would hook to.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nZ48zyME2JysTSNs9

[randgust]

Sometimes I think Chris and I are on a race to the bottom!

W&D also had that mystery 48" gauge 0-4-0 with no photos.   Leaves one open to speculation, which is dangerous.  It had to be built about 1885, no clue on the builder, but if they bought the first one from Porter, it would explain whey they bought #3 from Porter, and they obviously like it, because the Shays got parked and they kept running the Porter.   That's such an odd gauge you'd think it would show up in somebody's records and stand out.

Toma 'made' a Nn3 0-4-0 chassis, I'm bugging him to see if he'll do it again.   https://tomamw2.com/products/6621

The performance of this thing is stunning enough (as well as the Showcase Shays) that I'd certainly try it.   But only Toma did rods and steam driver centers.

Because if it looked anything like this, somebody's got to try it:  https://taplines.net/locos/porter1195.html

Or this:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H.K._Porter_narrow_gauge_locomotive_%28%27dinky%27%29_during_the_1895-1900_construction_of_the_stone_dam_in_Holyoke,_Massachusetts.jpg

First thing I noticed on that one was the absence of a pop valve up by the whistle, on the 'dome' inside the cab and on the roof.   Maybe they never raised enough steam to need one!   And you put the fuel you needed in your coat pockets.

And this....  https://www.trains.com/ctr/photos-videos/photo-of-the-day/porter-0-4-0t/

HVRR published a 'passenger' timetable in 1896 when the only thing they had for the "Reno Division" was that mystery 0-4-0 and a 13-ton Shay on 48" rails.  http://www.randgust.com/hvttabl2.jpg   and there were no records ever, of passenger cars.

So seeing somebody apparently loading a suitcase into the cab of that diminutive Porter makes ya think.... hey, either this or walk.....your choice.

Yup, do that in Nn3 that that's about the ultimate 'dinky' Nn3 critter.

[Chris333]

I called this folder Porters, but they all aren't (Mostly though)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HqMFn577LewHicwV7

[randgust]

OK, so I'll update this with the painted shots.... I have a stash of Floquil Grimy Black....    And the rods are just Neolubed.  At least with the Toma mechanism, the wheels look nice, are well profiled, and whatever the rods are, they hold the blackening.



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3022.jpg



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3023.jpg



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3024.jpg

I put this in front of an outside-braced 40' MT boxcar so you get a better idea of size.



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/HVR3025.jpg


I did shoot a video today only to discover that my video editing software can't handle what comes out of my new phone.   Punt....  I've got a great video and no way to work with it.

[Iain]

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Not a Porter, but I do have an interest in modeling this.

[randgust]

I learned from Chris that the Toma drive was more than successful, but getting enough weight in it was a challenge with an RP printed boiler.  That's why I went with making a cast metal boiler and tank, and it was worth it for both tractive effort and electrical pickup.

So that's the rub on that little 0-4-2, the boiler looks too small to get the Toma drive in there, and there's nothing much there to add weight to.  The tender would sure help.   Maybe a tender drive from a gearhead?  Then the boiler could be solid metal, start with a K&S brass tube, add parts, pour bismuth in to load up.   If you'd compare that to an Atlas (Micro-Ace) 4-4-0 tender you'd possibly have both features but I added more pickup wires to mine.    My Lima 2-6-0 with the tender gearhead drive was a whopping success, and so was the PRR D16sb project.   You've got enough dimensions there to de-keystone that photo and get the critical measurements.  But man, 33" drivers?  That's freight car wheel size. 

The way I do that is to take that photo in to Photoshop and de-keystone it, then repeatedly print the .JPG in Word and resize it until it matches the known dimensions you have.   And I do it all in HO scale feet with an HO scale ruler, as N is just too tiny, then work in N scale dimensions.   That gives you the dimensions to try to match things up.  I got incredibly lucky locating the drawings for my Lima 2-6-0 and the Porter 0-6-4, Baldwin is another hit-and-miss, they are scattered and many missing in the archives collections.

I'm still trying to determine what the CN# is on that one.  It says 'negative #' 2145, but that's not necessarily the CN.  You need the CN to ever find the drawings.

[Iain]

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Welp, this matches the wheel base and driver diameter.  Atlas bloomberg sideframe for scale reference.

[randgust]

I've had about three of those designs, mostly for trying to power my GE 25-tonner.

I won't say they don't work, but they are just way too fast.   Not enough gear reduction and very low torque.   Usually a 3.5v. motor.

The 'ones that work' are powering the axles through two worms horizontally, and then a big spur on that shaft, and then a horizontal motor with a small spur for double reduction.

That's the way Toma and a couple others work.    I found a good one for my 25-tonner too.  Chris and I are convinced that the Showcase Shays/Climax are using a modified Toma drive as well.  I now have the 25-tonner, two Showcase Shays, and this Porter powered that way.

https://d24rugpqfx7kpb.b-cdn.net/SCM/26AD0E1B8C66D0656FFE5EA5B014A996/0018_0020instr.pdf

Right at the moment, Toma is the only one I'm seeing that has done an 0-4-0 with steam rods that way.  If there are others, this is as good a place as any to post.

https://tomamw2.com/products/6511

That design is the winner.  Trick is finding one now in this tariff reality, and resigning yourself to paying for it or messing endlessly with something else that's 'not quite right'.

Then the other is wheel quality.  I've seen some without any fillet on the wheels, low profile flanges, or a very narrow tread, hit a switch frog and it's all over.  Either derails or rocks around and looses all contact.   

[Iain]

I do have some chassis that are made as you describe; one is an 0-6-0 that I'm planning to use for the Beaufort and Morehead 2-6-2 someday.  However, they are all much too large.

I'm hoping that a decoder in the tender will tame the speed.  I should have plenty of room for a decoder plus keep-alive, and the tender will have all wheel pickup.  If I can get this thing to pull four or five log cars at reasonable speed, I'll consider that a victory.

[Dave V]

I built one of the HOn3 3-D printed Porters from Toma Locomotive Works. I installed DCC, but no sound. Those are Miniprints elk antlers on the headlight.

[randgust]

OK, well, I finished this the other night.   No, it doesn't have sound, I have a tape deck in the room.....  But yes, it's that slow and smooth.

Considering the absolute mess I had when the middle worm of 3  slipped and everything came out of quarter and jammed, it's a freakin' miracle.   This has the added fun of 3 worms on 3 axles plus all rods pinned in on both sides, very little room for error considering that everything was pulled apart and reset to Chris' new frame.
Whew.

[Chris333]

That is awesome