Monsieur Estrade Lives In My Walls

Monsieur Estrade lives in my walls

Who's Estrade? I'm glad you asked! He was an engineer in the late 19th century who came up with and successfully built a concept for an 0-6-0 with 8 foot high driving wheels. At the time it was built, it was very brave and controversial, but it had several advantages. For one thing, all of its weight was on the driving wheels, and this would have allowed it to pull heavier trains at the same pace as Cramptons and other singles which were popular in those days. Unfortunately, the boiler was, according to one report, too small to keep up with demand, a consequence of the boiler being sandwiched between the driving wheels.

Anyway, besides drawing existing locomotives and engines, I like to make speculative ones of my own. Keep in mind, everything I do is based on existing practice.

So, what have I drawn here? Well, it is, for all intent's and purposes, a copy of Mr. Estrade's high speed locomotive, but with a twist. This machine runs on 7 foot gauge track, which allows the boiler to be larger, thus fixing any steaming troubles the real engine had.

I have made a TON of 7 foot gauge locomotives over the past year, and I've been slowly building a universe for them to live in. It's a huge passion project of mine, so I'm excited to start sharing it with the public.

The Pride of Africa

South African Railways 25NC

This is a peak into my imagination. In my mind’s eye, I often picture wheels screaming round and round, crossheads pounding back and forth, and cab rides at high speed. Thoughts of steam fill my mind at all hours of the day, and my dreams at night. These things aren't just machines. They are so much more.

Steam inspires me, but the people who worked it inspire me even more. That's why I've chosen the 25NC. I've read a bunch of stories and watched videos put out by this old South African railway man. He was there until the end of steam in the 1990s. The stories he tells provide a wonderful insight into railway life, and the strong friendships the railway men formed with one another.

Now, about the picture. This was very fun and experimental. I'm not good and conveying motion, so I want to get better at it. I think I did alright with the wheels and rods. At first, I wanted to do the front end (the "business end," some might say), but I decided to take it easy on myself and do the back end. If I had colors at my disposal, I would set the picture during the night, and have the rods barely lit by the orange glow from the firebox. Maybe another time.

Life’s a Beach

LAMP

Taken at Woburn Waterworks in Massachusetts last year when I went to help out for a weekend and run the steam engine. More to come.

Talyllyn Railway No. 1 "Talyllyn"

Fletcher Jennings, 1864

I didn't expect to see Talyllyn that day, so it was a very pleasant surprise that, as my family and I relaxed at Abergynolwyn, she suddenly arrived with a few of the bogie coaches in tow. And, as you can see, she is absolutely resplendent in a livery inspired by the old GER.

The Old Lady

Talyllyn Railway #2, “Dolgoch”

Fletcher, Jennings & Co., 1866