The model

So in the beginning of my model railroading I was stuck on the standard gauge models. Not a lot of model railroad stores growing up in Vermont. Well once I started getting into making the "G" scale trains I found that I liked the looks of the smaller narrow gauge railroad equipment. Now like I talked about before I started building a 0-4-0 switcher engine since I wanted to keep things small. After going to a few live steam meets and visiting clubs I started to get interested in narrow gauge equipment. I really liked the gear type locomotives (shays and climaxes). I started to collect books of narrow gauge equipment. At first I was very interested in the Sumpter Valley Railroad and the Unitah railroad. Each had used the 2-6-6-2 narrow gauge mallets for there power. I actually have a 2 1/2" drawing of the Unitah mallet that I started planning in CAD to build. What a big project that was, way over my head. So then I started reading about the Westside Lumber Company. Here was a narrow gauge railroad that operated well into the 1960's still using geared locomotives and link and pin couplers. This really started to appeal to me, so I found a supplier that had castings for the Westside shay #14 or #15. Since both of these locomotives are still around today I thought this would be a great project. I had already bought most of the machine tools that I would need, it sounded like a good project. The plan at the moment is that when completed with the engine I plan on making the #5 Tank Car, a snow plow, #3 caboose, and a string of flat cars. All will be using link and pin couplers and all will be equipped with working brakes. Sounds like a big task, but I will be retired here in a few years and have all the time in the world to make it happen.