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by John M. Haines
One Inch Scale for 4-3/4 Gauge track, Central Pacific Railroad "Gov. Stanford." Working model representing "Locomotive Number 1" as put to work in 1863 at Sacramento on the California segment of the first Transcontinental Railroad. This is a museum-class display, built from photographs and the survey of surviving parts of the remaining original Richard Norris & Son locomotive. Model is all hand crafted from stainless steel, bronze and brass sheet. Fine grain cast iron used for the cylinders. The boiler is 1/8" copper sheet, silver solder brazed, tested and steamed for 100 lbs working pressure. Stainless steel sheet boiler jacket The cow-catcher pilot, cab and the tender car frame are built up from Birdseye Maple. Reeves & Co. cab fittings and safety valves. Crosshead water pumps and a hand pump in the tender tank. Working handwheel brake rigging on tender trucks. Length, engine and tender, 52 inches. Height, over stack, 16 inches. Width: 9 inches. Total weight: 110 lbs. Since completion model has only been tested on air. About 17 years of spare time work from 1986. Absolutely a One-of-a-Kind work of art. Wood display base with brass rails. While this model is capable of being fired - on wood - and would pull a car with passengers, its limited practicality should be considered.
Courtesy John M. Haines.