The answer to Simon’s sleeping giants

Got this in about an hour after making the ‘sleeping giants’ post. A big thanks to Charlie!


“Directly behind the capital building in Havana is a train restoration facility.

There are a few guys working there diligently restoring some great examples of American Locomotives.

The guys were very friendly and gave me free access to wander around.

If you evevr get there check it out You have been sent 8 pictures.

Charlie”


Hope you’ve enjoyed the past few posts as much as me.

Please do keep them coming.

Best

Al

PS Beginner’s guide is here.


27 Responses to The answer to Simon’s sleeping giants

  1. John Clark says:

    Well done, Dave, with the smoke units. One small point though, the S&DJR relates to the Somerset & Dorset Joint Rly, not Devon.

    Cheers,

  2. Dave C says:

    There’s a website that lists most, if not all surviving Cuban steam locomotives that were for sale until recently. Check out http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/cubasale.htm it will make a narrow gauger daydream and ponder the “what ifs”.

  3. Cord says:

    Just wonderful, Dave. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ll never get tired of watching your model railway.

  4. Peter Jones says:

    Dave, yet again a fantastic video, thorough enjoyment thanks.

  5. Charlie says:

    Outstanding realistic effects Dave. With a few modifications we will be able to have smoke/steam coming from the valve gear.

  6. Jim Wolf says:

    Great pics of old steam. If you like steam and ever visit the US you must get to the St. Louis Museum of Transportation. Their collection consists of many (I would estimate over 25) steam locos of every era – from the mid 1800’s to the 1940’s; from 0-4-0’s to 4-8-8-4’s; single, compound and even a very rare 3 cylinder.

    Also, as usual, Dave has made another marvelous video. When I see his videos I almost feel like I’m actually running the trains myself!!!

  7. Tony Cooper says:

    I say again Dave, you’re a star. I so envy your layout and your attention to detail.
    One small point, please ignore me if you don’t agree, with you being able to take such detailed close ups, how about some passengers in your carriages, the Blue Pullman is eerily deserted being lit so nicely
    Keep em coming
    Kind regards
    Tony
    Cardiff

  8. Roland Burch says:

    Thank you Charlie for the great pictures. I enjoy them.

  9. Paull Wilson says:

    Sorry still haven’t won the lottery,

    this video is great. Maybe it is time to move and have a bigger area for an even bigger Layout lol
    well done Dave and I do agree with Jim Wolf I watch the video and “feel as though I am actually running the trains myself” great keep the good work up and I cant wait to see how you get around your ducking under problems.
    Paul
    Wemyss Bay in Scotland

  10. Dave you have done a great job on your lay out so far. From what you started with,you came a long way. Your lay out is great. Bless you.

  11. THOMAS says:

    VERY NICE. BEAUTIFU PICTURES.

  12. paul Otway says:

    There are places In New Zealand, where locos were dumped in rivers.

    Omoto out GreyMouth on the South Island West Coast. lots of locos were dumped there. Some have been fished out.

  13. Nice to se the old sleeping giants Simon, thanks all for comments on my layout , i shall get round to putting passengers in the pullman some time, been spending too much time keeping them ducks of my pond (in reply to Paul Wilson ) ..Thanks again ..Dave

  14. Hi Simon,

    Wow,! a modelers true dream, to be part of restoring an Original Steam Locomotive to it’s former glory, what a great project, but it looks like they have their work cut out for them. Thanks for the pictures as I even liked the photo of the Car so thanks for sharring!!

  15. Bob Smith says:

    Nice to see they have made some progress on some of those ‘sleeping giants’. I was there about 20 years ago while in the military and it was a really big junk junkyard of old car and train parts. As far as the old ‘classic’ cars, there are some real beauty’s in Cuba!

  16. Elder Leroy says:

    My Grandfather had a Ford like that when I was a kid on living on his farm in 1955. I believe it is a ’54 Ford. It is a beauty.

  17. Lee Barry, CEO LZPMRR says:

    Love the picture of the ’55 Ford Four Door. My first car was a ’55 Ford convertible, solid black with black and yellow seats,door panels,ect. It also had the “Continetal Kit” on the back bumper. Wish I had it now, but back then a car was just a car! PS: I also owned a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Fastback with a 427 motor in it and a 4 speed trannie. This is really the one I wished I’d kept.

  18. Don McGuire says:

    Did any one else pick up on the fact there was not a bell left on any of the locos

  19. Warren Ferguson says:

    Was, too. Second photo, black and brass loco has a bell in place.

  20. Victor Koyano says:

    I have photos somewhere in my rooms of AY&P mikes #70and#71 that were put on UPRR flatcars while at Seattle Interbay Yard near the roundhouse. They looked hopelessly rusty. Then much later, I was looking at a tv show and there was the loco all restored on a tour train. I think it was Tweetsie County Railroad or something. I hope we have these olde gems, steam, diesels or electrics all restored. Cuba has FM locos still doing freight runs l saw on a tv program and Cubans like old cars too. We toss away too much history….Love your old locomotives….

  21. They would have modern lovomotives if the government there wasn’t so corrupt. Cool photos though.

  22. Gene Trumble says:

    OMG !!! I nearly had an ‘attack of sentimentality’ when I way the picture of the ’56 Ford Victoria. That was my first vehicle to own, Buckskin Tan Body with Ermine White Trim. It looks to be in well cared for condition and I commend you for helping preserve history. By the way, I got the car when I was 17 and am now pushing 80. Mine shuddered and passed on to the Ford Restoration Shop in Heaven, I hope, many years ago. Thanks for the ‘memories’

  23. Super to see these, thanks for sharing.

  24. Larry Ayers says:

    I love the 55 Vicki best of all. My first car was just such a beauty. I paid $60.00 and dragged it home for a makeover in 1966.

    I loved that car, congratulations on your great find.

    Larry

  25. Danofive0 says:

    Just wow!

  26. Was in Cuba years ago and marveled at the old steam engines. We did a tour of a working sugar cane factory, with a 30km steam train ride. Being the train nut i am, i got the tour guide to ask the engineer if we could ride up front in the engine. They agreed, my wife joined us, and we sat alongside a wheezing and hissing boiler all the way down the track. Was exhilarating. I have pictures if any one is interested.

  27. Don R - Florida, USA says:

    Looking at the condition of some of those sleeping giants, I would say those guys working on restoring them have a job for life. The parts must be a lot more difficult to find than the parts for all the 1950 and 1960 cars they drive in Havana.

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