Galveston Island Trolley

MaxSouthOz posted:

The odds against tracking them down are going to be astronomical.

 

Max:

Back when you first this posted this thread I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the cars still exist because the city approved funding to restore the cars.  So the cars must exist somewhere.  

I just did a goggle search which turned up this article which says that in January 2017 the City Council approved a contract with Gomaco Trolley Company to repair three of the trolleys - http://www.galvnews.com/news/a...48-3aab94ad6002.html

In reading the article it sounds like perhaps the cars were possibly still stored somewhere in the Galveston area when it was written and will be shipped to Iowa for Gomaco to repair them.  So they definitely exist and Gomaco must know where they are and should have measured them if they bid on repairing them.

Bill

Hi Bill

Thanks for that.  I haven't paid for a subscription to allow me to read the whole article, but I'll start searching for Gomaco on Google.

Regards

I've found the Gomaco Trolley Company in Iowa.

There's no mention of them doing a restoration, but I've written to John Kallin, the Sales Manger; asking for help.

Thanks, Bill.

Thanks for the heads up, Bill.

John wrote back to me over night.

There are some nice people in this world. 

MaxSouthOz posted:

Thanks for the heads up, Bill.

John wrote back to me over night.

There are some nice people in this world. 

Way to SCORE Max! Your the man for going after what you want!

Thanks, Mike.

Kinda restores your faith in human nature, doesn't it?

Sure does Max! Was really nice for them to share the information with you!

fredswain posted:

It's sad that the trolleys never ran again after Hurricane Ike. I live about 25 miles from there and my wife works on the island. The trolley line goes past her building. 

It looks like they may be going back into service, Fred. 

Max,

I think that the wheels on these cars might be only 28 or 26 inches in diameter. I work with rail wheels that size every day in my job and they look much smaller than the 33 inch wheels that are in freight car trucks. Also this looks similar to a Brill semi-convertible car such as the model by MTH.

That's heartening news.  Thanks, Phil.

I just measured the wheels on the Black Beetles and they are scale 27 inches!

The wheelbase of the Black Beetle truck matches my Bettendorf side frames, so I'm lookin' good. 

Here is a progress shot of the trucks I'm developing.

This is a combination of the Black Beetle SPUD and an Athearn Bettendorf truck set.

Unfortunately, the Black Beetle wheels appear to have been chrome plated and nothing will stick.  I have restricted the painted area to the dished part of the wheels, as the slightest touch and the paint flakes off.

Both the truck set and the Black Beetle frames are Delrin, so no adhesive will stick to either of them.  The new pieces are made of styrene, and it's been necessary to screw them together.

Just caught this topic.  Excited to watch this progress as a native Texan, Houstonian, and frequent visitor of Galveston.

Thanks, SP

I'm hoping to get on with it again soon.

If you come across any details on them, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Cheers

The trolley shed is only a few blocks from the Galveston RR Museum. Morris Gould is the head of the museum. He might have some information on the trolleys or know who to call. 

Thanks, Fred.

I'm in Australia, so I'll have to find him by long distance.

Unless you know of a link?

MaxSouthOz posted:

Thanks, Fred.

I'm in Australia, so I'll have to find him by long distance.

Unless you know of a link?

Museum Site

galvrrmuseum@sbcglobal.net

Thanks, David.

My Google's hopeless.

Morris Gould has returned my email.

The museum has no connection with the trolleys.  They are run by the City of Galveston.  He's copied Michael Gray of the City in his email.  Hopefully Mr Gray will have some information.

Cheers

The first trolley left today on flatbed for restoration. My wife saw it. 

https://m.facebook.com/story.p...p;id=109633465765011

I've had an email back from David Smith, Executive Director of the City of Galveston.

He has no drawings, but he has sent me some excellent photographs, and given me permission to post them here.

I'm hopeful that once GOMACO receives the first trolley, I may be able to get some better measurements from them - maybe even a drawing.

On the City of Galveston website, they have a video talking about the trolleys with many good up close shots. When they run again, I'll go down there and get any pictures or dimensions that anyone wants. 

Thanks, Fred.

Once GOMACO  gets into the rebuilds, I'm going to send them another begging email to see if they will share any drawings. 

Here are some pictures from the restoration.

Thanks, Fred.

If only I could get some drawings.

Hi, Max,

I discover this thread today! what a good idea to reproduce such a street car; according to what I've read, it's not easy to find informations about former material. But it's also a part of our hobby: to search and to search again....I confirm!

jp

Thanks, JP.

I have lots of good photos so far.  I'm summoning my courage to ask the renovators for some drawings.

They must have them by now as, as you can see, the rebuild is well in progress.

MaxSouthOz posted:

Here is a progress shot of the trucks I'm developing.

This is a combination of the Black Beetle SPUD and an Athearn Bettendorf truck set.

Unfortunately, the Black Beetle wheels appear to have been chrome plated and nothing will stick.  I have restricted the painted area to the dished part of the wheels, as the slightest touch and the paint flakes off.

Both the truck set and the Black Beetle frames are Delrin, so no adhesive will stick to either of them.  The new pieces are made of styrene, and it's been necessary to screw them together.

Hey Max!

There is a product called "Blacken It" that might work to color your wheels. It is a chemical blackening agent (light blue in color). Not sure if it will work on chrome, but might be worth a try. I think it is carried by Micro Mark. Good Luck!

Simon

Yep.  Tried all them.  Thanks, Simon.

I eventually used Krylon Camoulflage black.

I'm unable to make a start as yet.  I've written back to John Kallin of Gomaco, in the hope that now the restoration is underway that I might be able to get some more dimensions - maybe even a drawing.

Sadly I have had no answer.

It's a shame!

When somebody asks me a question, I answer; I can't stand those who don't reply  to a question!

jp

It's the way of the internet, JP.

This project is now officially on hold, as I have had no reply from GOMACO.

Unless I can get some dimensions, I'm stymied at the moment.

Cheers

It's a shame

Sorry for you!

jp

Thanks, JP

There is still at least one trolley in Galveston at the shed. I was by there a week ago. There were people on site. I wonder if they'd let me take some measurements?

Well Max, that just sucks! I was looking forward to watching the build! I will keep an eye out just in case!

Sometimes the best you can do is scale a photograph.  I built a credible model of the Baldwin 60000 4-10-2 that way - no drawings exist.

Thanks, Fred.  It might be worth the asking.

Yes, I've scaled up from some photos as well, Bob.  I just thought that there might be some kind soul who could help with some drawings, as the trolleys still exist and have been recently renovated.

Thanks, Mike.

Any reason you aren't using an MTH double truck brill?  Or an Atlas body?  Both are very similar, even have eleven round top windows.  If the end platforms bother you, the MTH single truck platforms are closer in appearance - maybe they would mate up?

MTH double truck Brill

Atlas O

MTH single truck

Thanks, MONTCLAIRE.  If I can get the dimensions, I think that I can get a closer rendering by scratch building it.