Doug Wilkinson's steeple cab locomotive must rank among the most impressive Sacramento Northern models yet constructed.
The huge model is built to 2 1/2-inch scale and runs on 7 1/2-inch gauge track, often on the layout of the Kitsap Live Steamers near Seattle. Four batteries in the cab power four 1.2-volt motors, one on each axle. The locomotive weights a whopping 1,080 lbs.
Doug has built and operated three live steam locomotives over the last 30 years. For his most recent major building project, he chose to model SN 654, a General Electric steeple cab delivered to the real SN in 1930. Doug's grandson Andrew Fisher, ten years old when the project began, had learned to run Doug's current steam locomtive over the Kitsap club's track, but as might be expected, required close supervision. Andrew can easily and safely handle the steeple cab by himself.
The project began several years ago when Doug began collecting photos from the web and working on scale plans. Two years into the project, he learned that the real SN 654 survived at the Western Railway Museum. A trip to Rio Vista and consultation with volunteers at the museum helped Doug with a number of details. The paint was particularly vexing, since glossy black hides details and doesn't photograph well. The folks at Rio Vista suggested the current paint scheme of light gray with black trim to better show off the model's features.
The model was constructed in the basement of Doug's 100-year-old home, low ceiling and all. Doug's workshop is small, and the locomotive took up most of the available space. There was no way to get the locomotive out in one piece. Unlike the legendary guy who built the full-sized sailboat in his basement, Doug had the foresight to build the model in subassemblies. When it was finished, the locomotive was broken down into sections for reassembly in the garage. The locomotive still lacked a pantograph when first operated by Doug, and this last major detail will complete a very impressive model.
