Cagney Electric Train Set
Moderators: Glenn Brooks, Harold_V
Forum rules
Topics may include: antique park gauge train restoration, preservation, and history; building new grand scale equipment from scratch; large scale miniature railway construction, maintenance, and safe operation; fallen flags; track, gauge, and equipment standards; grand scale vendor offerings; and, compiling an on-line motive power roster.
Topics may include: antique park gauge train restoration, preservation, and history; building new grand scale equipment from scratch; large scale miniature railway construction, maintenance, and safe operation; fallen flags; track, gauge, and equipment standards; grand scale vendor offerings; and, compiling an on-line motive power roster.
-
- Posts: 2930
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
Cagney Electric Train Set
A fellow on Facebook has just posted the rarest Miniature train set in the world- an electric/mechanical Cagney amusement park loco. I’ve never seen photos of this before - indeed these photos maybe the only that exist!
Apparently Cagney only made three of these, although they did advertise mechanical (gas powered Pacific’s) for several years in the 1920’s. This current ride reportedly ran at the Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk.
Here’s the link - it’s listed on FB sale pages.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 877607592/
Also, here are the photos, in the event the listing disappears.
Apparently Cagney only made three of these, although they did advertise mechanical (gas powered Pacific’s) for several years in the 1920’s. This current ride reportedly ran at the Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk.
Here’s the link - it’s listed on FB sale pages.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 877607592/
Also, here are the photos, in the event the listing disappears.
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
-
- Posts: 1728
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 6:50 pm
- Location: Michigan, USA
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
That's 'Tiny Tim'! It ran at the Pine Creek Railroad on Rt 9 north of Freehold NJ in the early sixties.
Keith Taylor can probably tell you more about it.
Keith Taylor can probably tell you more about it.
-
- Posts: 2930
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
Hey, thanks Marty!
J.R. says it’s not an actual Cagney production loco, but a kiddie ride built by Bob Parr, who was the last Cagney employee.
Apparently it operates teathered to an electric cord connected to a light pole in the center of a small circle of track. Traditional pre WW2 kiddie ride, likely mid 20’s to early 30’s. No engineer, just an operator collecting tickets at the gate and turning on a switch.
it’s been listed on EBay several times over the years and never sold...
J.R. says it’s not an actual Cagney production loco, but a kiddie ride built by Bob Parr, who was the last Cagney employee.
Apparently it operates teathered to an electric cord connected to a light pole in the center of a small circle of track. Traditional pre WW2 kiddie ride, likely mid 20’s to early 30’s. No engineer, just an operator collecting tickets at the gate and turning on a switch.
it’s been listed on EBay several times over the years and never sold...
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
-
- Posts: 2930
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
Here’s a photo of the Tiny Tim (courtesy of J.R May) while still in operation. And a pic of the Cagney Pacific. Notice the similarities in the cylinder castings...
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
The Tiny Tim you speak of is supposed to be the same engine that appears above, colored red and blue?
Assuming that's your intention, unless the engine has been seriously altered, I don't think it's the same one. The blue and red one has a dome near the cab, and a stack, with a bell between them. The black and white photo clearly shows two domes, neither of which is the same height, a stack, and a bell, which is set forward as compared to the blue and red engine. Note, also, that the window on the side is not the same, the black and white photo showing a three segment window, wider than the single segment window on the blue and red engine. Note, too, that the cab at the bottom front, is not the same. There may be other differences---those jumped out at me immediately.
H
Assuming that's your intention, unless the engine has been seriously altered, I don't think it's the same one. The blue and red one has a dome near the cab, and a stack, with a bell between them. The black and white photo clearly shows two domes, neither of which is the same height, a stack, and a bell, which is set forward as compared to the blue and red engine. Note, also, that the window on the side is not the same, the black and white photo showing a three segment window, wider than the single segment window on the blue and red engine. Note, too, that the cab at the bottom front, is not the same. There may be other differences---those jumped out at me immediately.
H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
-
- Posts: 2930
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
Good call, Harold. Yep, they do look like different engines. Same design but different builds. I missed the details looking at my postage stamp size pictures. Seems like there may have been three of these built as amusement rides.
Also, I received an email this AM that suggests the Pacific above was 18” gauge and these Tiny Tim’s were built with left over Cagney parts. So perhaps the differences in each ride where due to using up whatever was on the shelf. The more widely known Class D Cagney’s were 15” ga, and their Class E Pacifics were 18” gauge. So still more fascinating pieces of the puzzle to uncover.
Also, I received an email this AM that suggests the Pacific above was 18” gauge and these Tiny Tim’s were built with left over Cagney parts. So perhaps the differences in each ride where due to using up whatever was on the shelf. The more widely known Class D Cagney’s were 15” ga, and their Class E Pacifics were 18” gauge. So still more fascinating pieces of the puzzle to uncover.
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
There were several “Tiny Tim” class locomotives. Yes they were built by Bob Parr for Charles L. Cagney and later owned by his widow Lillian Cagney and operated at the New Jersey beach resorts. They were named after Charles Cagney’s son Timothy who was in turned named after his grandfather Col. Timothy Cagney, one of the famous Cagney Brothers.
You will notice in the pictures that the drive for the engine is a narrowed Model T Ford differential!
Keith
You will notice in the pictures that the drive for the engine is a narrowed Model T Ford differential!
Keith
Another Cagney
The Cagney Brothers also imported an 18” gauge Pacific made by a firm in Breslau, Germany. It had a boiler that operated at 250 PSI!
Originally it ran at Leonardo, NJ and later at a park in Connecticut.
Originally it ran at Leonardo, NJ and later at a park in Connecticut.
-
- Posts: 2930
- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
Keith, thanks much for the info. Both are interesting bits of the Cagney legacy that are not well known. Pretty cool to tie all this together here on Chaski.
Any idea what ever became of the 18” ga loco? Does it still,exist, do you know?
Glenn
Any idea what ever became of the 18” ga loco? Does it still,exist, do you know?
Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
Glenn, the last I know the 18” gauge steamer was still in existence in a garage in Connecticut.Glenn Brooks wrote: ↑Sun Dec 08, 2019 6:00 pm Keith, thanks much for the info. Both are interesting bits of the Cagney legacy that are not well known. Pretty cool to tie all this together here on Chaski.
Any idea what ever became of the 18” ga loco? Does it still,exist, do you know?
Glenn
Keith
- RussellCofIdaho
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2016 1:44 pm
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
I think it’s here with all the other lost trains...LVRR2095 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 08, 2019 6:47 pmGlenn, the last I know the 18” gauge steamer was still in existence in a garage in Connecticut.Glenn Brooks wrote: ↑Sun Dec 08, 2019 6:00 pm Keith, thanks much for the info. Both are interesting bits of the Cagney legacy that are not well known. Pretty cool to tie all this together here on Chaski.
Any idea what ever became of the 18” ga loco? Does it still,exist, do you know?
Glenn
Keith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=y ... NoieY&t=90
Russell Courtenay
Idaho - USA
unknownidaho.wordpress.com
Big trains and big dreams...
Idaho - USA
unknownidaho.wordpress.com
Big trains and big dreams...
Re: Cagney Electric Train Set
The Tiny Tim electric Cagney set did sell via the facebook market place posting and is back in NJ. An antique shop that focuses on antique amusement park, circus, and fair equipment and bought it and will no doubt list it for sale here at some point. You can find it at:
https://www.obnoxiousantiques.com/
They have a decent search function and you will find the Tim plus some other trains to include a couple of live steamers. Price wise they always start high, but seem to come down if a potential buyer is serious. As I had expected, getting it out of the basement was a tough job so these guys do deserve to make a buck on it when they list it for sale. Nice to see it back in NJ.
https://www.obnoxiousantiques.com/
They have a decent search function and you will find the Tim plus some other trains to include a couple of live steamers. Price wise they always start high, but seem to come down if a potential buyer is serious. As I had expected, getting it out of the basement was a tough job so these guys do deserve to make a buck on it when they list it for sale. Nice to see it back in NJ.