This Page is dedicated to the memory of our friend Tom Krebs. Tom, brought this 1½¨ scale model
of the Falk to the stage of completion pictured on this site before he passed on. The model will be completed by his good friend and mentor Rich Carlstedt and then presented to Tom's widow, Marilyn.
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¨This little 1884 standard gauge logging locomotive is so diminutive it almost appears to be a caricature of a tiny steam engine, but was quite a "workhorse of the woods." Not only capable of hauling cars of timber to the mill, it could employ its gypsy winch in many hauling and hoisting situations. In later years, it was used for yarding work.
Falk No. 1 is actually a 10-ton 0-4-OT rod engine with Stephenson reversing gear. It has a gypsy double-spool winch driven by a third separate steam cylinder.
The locomotive was purchased by Noah Falk, president of the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company from Marschutz and Cantrell, San Francisco, California. The year was 1884.¨
The above quoted from the text of Logging with Steam
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A model built at 1-1/2"=1' and gaged for 7-1/2" track. This is the partially finished engine being fitted with the walnut cab. The main steam pipe can be seen coming down from the "steam dome" in the middle of the boiler. The engine is about 60% complete in this view. The tall stack clears the roof height and the screen stops sparks from setting fires around the engine. Antiquity of the engine is shown both by the stack and the "link and pin" couplers.
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The boiler backhead shows the water level sight glass and the firebox door. The brass square block on the left side is a water pump operated by an axle cam. Its connecting rod is not hooked up in this view. The forward/reverse "quadrant" is standing up between the wheels and the brake linkages. Brake shoes can also be seen between the drivers. The 5" diameter boiler was fabricated from flat .140 copper sheet. It has been tested to 250#. Silver soldered rivets, for support, are clearly seen. |
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This right cylinder view shows the piston rod mounted to the crosshead at the left. The crosshead slides back and forth guided by the flat bar (Crosshead Guide). The cylinder bottom has drain cocks and linkage to let water escape when the steam cylinders are cold. The small cylinder atop the valve chest is a "snifter valve" that prevents vacuum from forming in the steam chest. The valve-operating rod is missing in this picture. |
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Another view (top) of the steam cylinder and front driver. Note the cams (eccentrics) on the front axle between the boiler and frame. These operate the valve control linkage as the engine moves. The brass tube on top (left to right) is the main steam line to the valve chest. The larger tube under it is the exhaust steam pipe, which is (leaving) going right to left and eventually to the bottom of the smoke stack where it creates "draft" for the boiler's fire. |
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Another view of the eccentrics (on the right), only this time the straps are fastened to them. The two straps are attached to the curved box link in the center of the photo. Raising and lower the curved link allows the engine to move forward/backward depending on the position of the "quadrant". This reverse linkage is very rare, only because it is on the front axle of the engine. Most locomotives use the driven rear axle for eccentric mounting. The compact size of the Falk prevents this. Note: The boiler "mud ring" just above the frame on the left, and one of the drain cocks on the left cylinder at the lower far right. All parts shown here are steel or brass. |
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This photo shows the main throttle valve on the upper left. Steam flows to a "T" and is split to go outwards in the steam lines. The steam line on the right (center) is temporarily disconnected. |
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Logging
With Steam
Steam Logging in the 1880s
By W.M. Harris
Copyright by Live Steam Magazine
Copyright by Village Press |
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