Evening star., 1928-10-21
DnritRa ndG Homemade
ndPr eSuprsngR Results

most among the major tools. as it is
useful for the turning of either wooden
or metallic parts. It is driven by coun-
tershaft operated by a one-quarter
horsepower electric motor, and Is pro-
vided with all the ordinary appliances
of such an engine lathe. set OF
emery wheels is also connected to the
motor and is employed in sharpening
the various woodworking tools. Two
bench viSes of different sizes and a
full assortment of metal and IRON
working hand TOOLS as. well as a de-
signer's bench and drafting board, are
other appurtenances in this basement
shop
x
1T Is a motor trip of several miles
from the Swartzell basement to the
Boutelle attic, and on arrival at TINS
destination, you find another model
railroad system in spick and span con-
dition, ready to respond instantly TO lts
various electrical control switches. Mr.
Boutelle's models simulate the equip
ment used on a branch line. while his
village represents a railroad Junction:
The equipment Is smaller than tnat OF
the Swartzell "B. g. O. Junior" layout,
$1,000
to the foot. Some of the cars and
engines are % years old, for Mr.. Bou-
telle began his railroading experiments
as soon as he was old enough to use
ordinary hand tools
This man, whose idle-hour hobby Is
railroad construction in model form
has built AZ locomotives Of different
styles, shapes and sizes. Many have
been historical models-copies OF plo-
neer equipment, which have served as
stepping stones in the perfection OF
modern transportation systems.
The liliputian locomotives now In use
on the Boutelle branch line are made
from tin cracker boxes and other metal
scrap and junk, while the passenger
coaches and freight cars are made of
wood, metal and cardboard. The en-
gine wheels are made Of lead, while the
counterbalances are tin. The small
size of the system necessitates light
ness of equipment and that is why
this model maker has eliminated the
use Of heavy castings and related ap-
pliances which would be too cumber-
some. He has carried out the idea and
ideal of small line in every feature OF
his attic transportation system.
The total trackage is IS feet, the
rails being made of sheet brass rolled
into the essential shape and form.
They are soldered to tin ties, which are
embedded in the simulated ballast of
the roadbed. The only tools which Mr.
Boutelle used in making his models
were hand drill, ships, soldering iron,
pliers. shears. tack hammer and saw.
The track winds through rural re-
gion Of rolling topography. penetrates
an imitation mountain by way of a
tunnel, rumbles over a truss-frame
bridge, and finally slows down when it
reaches the network of interesting
tracks. The engine is uncoupled and
steams to the hand-operated turntable,
where its direction is reversed, so that
it can make the return trip to its ter
minal.
The headlights in Boutelle locomo-
tiveS are Of original design and are the
only ones of that type used by Ameri-
can model makers. Instead of mount
ing the small electric bulbs directly in
the headlamps. Mr.. Boutelle places
them inside of the boilers. They are so
located that their light rays are focused
on 45-degree reflectors In the head
lamps. These reflectors direct the elec-
trical illumination to the track ahead.
X X y Y
TN most toy trains the drive wheels of
the toy engines function by special
gearing. Mr.. Boutelle has improved on
this method Of manufacture by actu-
ally coupling the drive wheels of his
locomotive models by means of side
rods. This eliminates the use of gear
Ing and results in perfect traction on
all four wheels without any objection
able slipping when starting the train.
Each locomotive is qualified to pull
three passenger coaches and a tender.
as that Is the size Of the ordinary train
on a branch line.
The house lighting current Is stepped
down by means of a transformer from
AZ to 6 volts. the power needed to
operate the railroad outfit and its allied
appliances. All the switches are con-
trolled from one central station, as well
as the safety gates at crossings. The
entire switch system Is interlocked, so
that signal cannot be thrown unless
the switch Is right. Signal blocks are
spaced at regular intervals along the
right Of way, the same as in CONNER
cial practice. All the passenger cars
are equipped with electric lights,
which are turned on just before the
train enters the tunnel and switched
off when it emerges on the opposite
side Of the mountain. The powerhouse
Is equipped with a diminutive station
arV engine made from a en-, all NV, INV