111 replies to this topic

[Electricsteam]

My main goal of this topic is to stir up ideas for new trains by posting pictures of crazy , unusual , and strange locomotives I have found on the Internet
They will be devided into three categories , Steam , Electric / Diesel , and What where they thinking.
This will be updated regularly and I will be ever grateful if you post some odd trains you found.

The first category Steam!



Here is an unusual camelback locomotive.

Has been Built.

Here is a very strange steam locomotive that I would say looks like steampunk



Here is a nice chain drive steam locomotive which I love



Here is a early steam locomotive I think



I would love to see some one build that little piston



Here is an early streamlined locomotive , link to artical. http://www.douglas-s...OCO/bec/bec.htm



Here is a Virginian Triplex and it holds a special place in my heart.   Cool act this engine used more steam that it could boil Link to artical . http://www.douglas-s...lex/triplex.htm



Here is a Brotan Boiler Locomotive. The top boiler hold no water but steam!

Now for the second category Electric / Diesel



Here is a very unusual... I don't know what too call it



I know this isnt very strange but I think its neat.



I know you cant see the wheels in this picture but they are the size of large drivers in Lego scale and this one would scare me if I saw it comeing towards me



Here is a very odd early electric locomotive. I wonder if some one can make that linkage!

The third category What Where They Thinking!



This is the steam horse aka Burtons Mechanical Traveler I would love to see some on build this

Link to Wiki  http://en.wikipedia....orse_locomotive

http://www.douglas-s...OCO/hex/hex.htm

Hexleplex locomotive , This is insane for them to think they could make this locomotive.

No pic becuase it was to long....



Quote, Fear me earthling!. Here is a triple boiler locomotive link to artical. http://www.douglas-s...ripleboiler.htm




Honestly what where they thinking when they made this!

The Newest category Video Games and Misc



This is the Outskirts stand from Pokemon XD and I would love to see this body o a loco turned into a full lego loco
NOTE* If any of the pictures are too large just tell me and i'll fix it quickly.

Edited by Electricsteam, 28 February 2013 - 02:54 AM.

[Duq]

You mean like this?

[Electricsteam]

Duq, on 20 November 2012 - 12:17 AM, said:

You mean like this?

  Ha ha ha I didnt think it was possible ...

Edited by Electricsteam, 20 November 2012 - 12:18 AM.

[splatman]

Electricsteam, on 19 November 2012 - 10:27 PM, said:

Nevermind the non-challenge of LEGOing this; I just want to see it populated likewise with minifigs, when you do build this train out of LEGO bricks.

[TheBrickster]

Interesting topic Electricsteam.  I've never seen trains as you've pictured.  That 4th one looks like an engine (or two engines) on wheels.

[roamingstudio]

It looks lime the big boys of switzerland. The weird electric motors were attempted by cale et al in summer 2011 - but dont think they suceeded due to gearing / angle issues with standard studs

[Electricsteam]

TheBrickster, on 20 November 2012 - 07:05 AM, said:

Interesting topic Electricsteam.  I've never seen trains as you've pictured.  That 4th one looks like an engine (or two engines) on wheels.

I had links to even more unusual locomotives but when the harddrive went dead I lost the links , but I am slowly finding the pictures. Also It would be awesome if you guys found some unusual trains of your own , please post it here

splatman, on 20 November 2012 - 04:11 AM, said:

Nevermind the non-challenge of LEGOing this; I just want to see it populated likewise with minifigs, when you do build this train out of LEGO bricks.

If you could see the wheel set up you would see why this one is so strange   In lego terms those are 3 large train beds proped up on 6 sets of 0-6-0 large BBB drivers

roamingstudio, on 20 November 2012 - 07:22 AM, said:

It looks lime the big boys of switzerland. The weird electric motors were attempted by cale et al in summer 2011 - but dont think they suceeded due to gearing / angle issues with standard studs

I think it would be better as a background model more than anything else but it would be awesome if it worked   Only if we had a Lego mini motor

[escortmad79]

I'd suggest the chain driven one started life as a traction engine or steam wagon before being converted

Edited by escortmad79, 20 November 2012 - 02:03 PM.

[Hrw-Amen]

The chain drive one does look kind of like a normal traction engine but mounted on some bolt on railway wheels. I'm sort of surprised we have not seen more of that sort of thing as it seems a kind of obvious thing for smaller companies to have on their private sidings. But I have never seen one like it before?

Those weird motors on wheels look a bit odd, I mean where does the driver sit?

On the Bruntons Traveller what are those weird arms sticking out the back for? It almost looks lie something a model railway geek would have to run around and at the same time clean his track for him.

[Commander Red Hat]

Very interesting looking machines and a great idea for a topic!

I think in the 6th picture there are actually 3 loco's behind each other, each one pantograph and the ''Virgina'' text.
It's just not that visible with all the minifigs people in front of it.

[Frank STENGEL]

A place to find weird locomotives is there : the loco wing of the museum of retro technology. The second locomotive can be found there (scroll down) as well...

Edited by Frank STENGEL, 20 November 2012 - 07:24 PM.

[Frank STENGEL]

Speaking of which, I'm still working on my version of a Du Bousquet locomotive.

[escortmad79]

Hrw-Amen, on 20 November 2012 - 05:43 PM, said:

The chain drive one does look kind of like a normal traction engine but mounted on some bolt on railway wheels. I'm sort of surprised we have not seen more of that sort of thing as it seems a kind of obvious thing for smaller companies to have on their private sidings. But I have never seen one like it before?

There were a few converted to railway use in New Zealand & Australia.

In this country Aveling & Porter built tramway locomotives alongside their traction engines & steam rollers which look like traction engines to run on rails (Thomas the tank engines Fergus is based on one)

Edited by escortmad79, 20 November 2012 - 07:55 PM.

[roamingstudio]

Here is a link to the work of Sava; Cooper et al who were trying to make a working PRR DD1: which can be found here
The picture you link is the chasis only. The final engines looked like below


Now the Big Boy... Actually called Koloss - on the SBB A/E 8/14 and a German page here

[Axis600]

I love that second steamer...but I can't imagine Lego builds wheels big enough for that...Otherwise, I'd build the train from this game.

[Locomotive Annie]

The chain drive loco is of a type which was used on the timber industry tramways here in New Zealand.  Some did start life as traction engines, but most were cobbled together from 2nd hand locomotive boilers and modified steam winch parts.

[Locomotive Annie]

The Heilmann Locomotive would have to be one of my favourite locos and when I found out about it when I was younger I was seriously taken with it enough to attempt to build a model, only I didn't really have the skill to build such a complex model at the time.  I won't post anymore than a single picture because a very good article on it can be found here ; - http://www.douglas-s...nn/heilmann.htm



These days though I might stand a chance at building one now that I've found Lego.  It's a pity this loco design didn't get taken up by other railways because they were by all accounts very successful.

Edited by Locomotive Annie, 25 November 2012 - 05:54 AM.

[Frank STENGEL]

The Heilmann locomotive is nice. The challenge is the wedge shaped cab front and the round sides. But then challenges is what gives spice to the whole building process

[Electricsteam]

These are amazing weird and wacky locomotives and I will put them under the correct headings

Sava or Brickster to ic instead of an o thankyou

Also , Help me find a weird and wacky locomotive for my profile picture

Also I forgot to metion , please message me the imigur or the code so I can put the picture of the post

Edited by Electricsteam, 21 November 2012 - 12:51 PM.

[Frank STENGEL]

Electricsteam, on 21 November 2012 - 12:48 PM, said:

Also , Help me find a weird and wacky locomotive for my profile picture

Look there...

[Electricsteam]

Finding more crazy , cool , and unusual locomotives I'll try to update by tomorrow or later today.

[zephyr1934]

Commander Red Hat, on 20 November 2012 - 06:04 PM, said:

Very interesting looking machines and a great idea for a topic!

I think in the 6th picture there are actually 3 loco's behind each other, each one pantograph and the ''Virgina'' text.
It's just not that visible with all the minifigs people in front of it.

I'm not familiar with the Virginian electrics, but I know Milwaukee Road had AB pairs like that.

splatman, on 20 November 2012 - 04:11 AM, said:

Nevermind the non-challenge of LEGOing this; I just want to see it populated likewise with minifigs, when you do build this train out of LEGO bricks.

I'm surprised no one commented about the catenary and the folks on top (zap). Presumably the shot was taken away from the wires.

I have a crazy locomotive MOC, the ACE 3000. More details on my build can be found in REC in RailBricks 6. One of these days I'll upload more photos to brickshelf.




and more info on the prototype here.

[dundarach]

Keep going awesome ideas :-)

[Electricsteam]

I have updated the topic. Two new steam locomotives   I am still looking for more

[sixoh]

(The following photographs, with the exception of the first which was taken by myself, are posted without intent to infringe on the copyrights of the original photographers.)

This is not a steam locomotive at all, but in fact a large truck in disguise belonging to a local heritage society:


This 4-2-4T locomotive was used by the Leigh Valley Railroad in the late 19th century as an 'inspection locomotive.' Note the cab enclosing the majority of the boiler! These were actually fairly common locos for their time period; many North American railroads owned one specifically for the purpose of showing railway inspectors on tours of railroad property.


This standard gauge Plymouth gasoline locomotive and 4-wheeled 'bobber' caboose aren't particularly strange or unusual, but all the same are quite different from the types of stock most enthusiasts model. These would prove interesting subjects with the caboose's sliding side door (presumably converted to a revenue earning car) and the locomotive's short stature, long hood, large radiator and tall chimney.


This two foot gauge tiny chain-driven steam loco was built from scratch by an enthusiast in Germany and is a mere eight feet long!