From left to right: Dan O’Brien (owner and co-builder) just turned 84, Kevin Gaston, 71 (co-builder and a fellow die sinker), yours truly Gary Armitstead 72, (one of the three on the crew) and Russ Rutalj 70 (another fellow die sinker and official “photographer”, also member of LSC).

One nice thing about this scale is that the cab is roomy and spacious enough to easily reach all the controls and valves. This engine was just recently converted from coal to propane fired. Much cleaner burning and cuts the soot down in the flues.

My first run of the day. Cylinder cocks open and leaving the siding for the mainline.

Had a light load on this run. Closed the cylinder cocks about 100 feet down the line.

All in all, a great day!

So cool!(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Need a “LIKE” button here…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Go steamers go! Very nice!

Damn, that look like too much fun.

Gary…

Gary Armitstead said:

From left to right: Dan O’Brien (owner and co-builder) just turned 84, Kevin Gaston, 71 (co-builder and a fellow die sinker), yours truly Gary Armitstead 72, (one of the three on the crew) and Russ Rutalj 70 (another fellow die sinker and official “photographer”, also member of LSC).

One nice thing about this scale is that the cab is roomy and spacious enough to easily reach all the controls and valves.

One of the nice things about this scale is you old guys can actually see what your working on. . . (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)I mean geez when the youngster is 70. . .

Devon Sinsley said:

Gary Armitstead said:

From left to right: Dan O’Brien (owner and co-builder) just turned 84, Kevin Gaston, 71 (co-builder and a fellow die sinker), yours truly Gary Armitstead 72, (one of the three on the crew) and Russ Rutalj 70 (another fellow die sinker and official “photographer”, also member of LSC).

One nice thing about this scale is that the cab is roomy and spacious enough to easily reach all the controls and valves.

One of the nice things about this scale is you old guys can actually see what your working on. . . (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)I mean geez when the youngster is 70. . .

Devon,

A little backstory about us…Dan O’Brien was President of the local union of the International Die Sinkers Conference (these are the people who make dies and cavities to produce press and drop forgings for automotive and aerospace work) and he inducted me into the union over 51 years ago. He and my Dad were partners together in a die shop where I eventually went to work for both of them. Dan became a die sinker soon after serving in the Army right after the Korean War AND owns a die shop to this day and goes to work everyday…has over 25 employees…NOT retired! Kevin and Russ and I are retired die sinkers. ALL of us have worked together in the trade in various die shops throughout So. California with at least 45-50 years each. We have all been close friends for well over fifty years! Dan, Kevin and myself STILL build engines and rolling stock in our own machine shops at home, for 1/8th and larger ride on scales. We HAD to retire so we could continue our hobby! Work was getting “in the way”. I was the first to retire at age 59 in 2002. Russ retired in 2009 at age 63. Kevin just retired last November at age 70. Dan at 84 is still going!

Also Devon, remember these larger scales are “easier” to work on because you CAN see everything…but you also "just can’t pick these engines up or move rolling stock with a “five-finger” crane. Running these is all work and good exercise. That’s what keeps the four of us “young” in our seventies and eighties.

Gary,

Terrific story. It promises there is hope ahead for us young guys like me (67) in this hobby! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Gary,

I remember you giving bits of this story to me before and now that you have elaborated it is very cool. Good friends are hard to find and the fact that the four of you have been going longer than I have been alive says something.

What. . .you mena when they derail the mighty hand of god doesn’t pick them up and put them back on the track. . .(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif). I wish you and your friends many more years of enjoyment.

Gary,

Great photos. I didn’t know Russ was working with you on the big stuff. One up on you now,73 yesterday.

Paul Burch said:

Gary,

Great photos. I didn’t know Russ was working with you on the big stuff. One up on you now,73 yesterday.

Happy “belated” Birthday Paul :). I have another 6 weeks to go to get to that magic number. I STILL feel like a kid though. We’ve known each other for almost 60 years now. That’s “scary” :).

Well Russ is not “exactly” working on the big stuff…he’s more like our “official biographer” :).

Wonderful stuff, Gary!!! Long may it continue!

tac

OVGRS

Wonderful ! A nice size for a “ride it” train . . . . . (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

I really like that little Lokie. !!!

Great story Gary. Its a treasure to have a friendship or friendships in your case last that long. My hunting buddy and I have been friends for at least 48 years now and we both just turned 50. Oh, that’s a good looking engine too.

Thanks for all the compliments on the big Porter. It’s a “fun” engine to operate.

Just an update to what we have been doing since September when I started this thread…Dan (the 84 year old) sold his 1-1/2 inch scale Gene Allen mogul to a guy in Ohio and is concentrating on finishing this 3-3/4 inch scale Porter. He called me today telling me he has finally decided on the color to paint the engine and has lined up a sign painter to do the lettering.

Yesterday, I sold my 1-1/2 inch scale Gene Allen ten wheeler to a 28 year old private corporate jet pilot. Works a couple of days a week and spends the rest of the time building steam engines in all scales, from the gauge 1 stuff all the way up to the 1/8th scale. Now I can concentrate on my 1/8th scale Arrowhead water bottle car and our seven P.E. Baldwin-Westinghouse freight motors!

Kevin is going to continue on building his 2-1/2 inch scale 0-6-0 Porter. Should be running on air soon.

We are all staying busy, that’s for sure!

Thanks for all the compliments on the big Porter. It’s a “fun” engine to operate.

Just an update to what we have been doing since September when I started this thread…Dan (the 84 year old) sold his 1-1/2 inch scale Gene Allen mogul to a guy in Ohio and is concentrating on finishing this 3-3/4 inch scale Porter. He called me today telling me he has finally decided on the color to paint the engine and has lined up a sign painter to do the lettering.

Yesterday, I sold my 1-1/2 inch scale Gene Allen ten wheeler to a 28 year old private corporate jet pilot. Works a couple of days a week and spends the rest of the time building steam engines in all scales, from the gauge 1 stuff all the way up to the 1/8th scale. I’ve built and owned it for over 36 years and I was a little sad to see it go. Almost like “selling” one of your children :).Now I can concentrate on my 1/8th scale Arrowhead water bottle car and our seven P.E. Baldwin-Westinghouse freight motors!

Kevin is going to continue on building his 2-1/2 inch scale 0-6-0 Porter. Should be running on air soon.

We are all staying busy, that’s for sure!

Now I just have to figure out how to post pictures here with the new Freight Sheds and Albums.