Iron Genesis Models
@irongenesis.bsky.social
This account is focused on early railways, and modeling them. Author of The Locomotives of the West Point Foundry. Check out my models on 3DPTrain here: https://3dptrain.com/pages/vendor-profile/iron-genesis-model-works-484594
Henry Ford's replica Rocket, built in 1929 by Robert Stephenson & Co. It has not been operated since Henry Ford's death. I took these photos while visiting the museum to do research on the DeWitt Clinton and its replica.
Station Master Mikan comes out to inspect the passengers.
This is a big mystery. What happened to the 1830's locomotive wheel that was displayed outside of the Redwood Library in Rhode Island for over a century? Going from photos, the wheel disappeared from the library in the 1970s. The library staff have no record of who took it, or where it is now.
In 1926, the 1893 replica of the DeWitt Clinton and cars was run over the line between Albany and Schenectady to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the charter for the Mohawk and Hudson. Interestingly it performed the run at the same speed as the original.
This is a big mystery. What happened to the 1830's locomotive wheel that was displayed outside of the Redwood Library in Rhode Island for over a century? Going from photos, the wheel disappeared from the library in the 1970s. The library staff have no record of who took it, or where it is now.
I want to do a podcast about early railroads, but I'm trying to think who I'd even have on it. Ideally I'd have two other people, one who knows about early railroads, and then one who knows railroading, but not the real early stuff, so the convo can be interesting/entertaining.
Speaking of products built to last: 1916 Corona 3 typewriter still works perfectly. 110 years old, and barring some sort of apocalyptic event, probably has more than 110 years of life left.
Another visit to the local garden railway. Really makes me want to build my loco kit, especially after discovering the owner of this line built all the engines himself.
Why is it called a "cowcatcher" if it is designed to push cows aside rather than catch them? A good question, with an interesting answer. Here are two illustrations, and an article from 1835 (containing the first known use of the term "cow catcher" that I know of) which make the etymology apparent.
How AI Slop is Making up False History
YouTube video by TJ3 History
youtu.be
Iron Genesis Models@irongenesis.bsky.social · 3w agoThe AI people literally have no idea how much harder they've made it for people to do historical research. They look at themselves as heroes and geniuses, and all they've done is make everything an order of a magnitude harder for people who actually care about facts.
One of the more mind boggling claims the AI-sphere is throwing around is that books are datasets for humans, and therefore human learning and reasoning is the same as that of LLMs. Which blatantly ignores everything invented before text, and everything invented by illiterates after text.
I was trying to get through to one of the staff of this site yesterday but like, this is psychosis. The people who run this site think AI is alive. How do you come back from this
The AI people literally have no idea how much harder they've made it for people to do historical research. They look at themselves as heroes and geniuses, and all they've done is make everything an order of a magnitude harder for people who actually care about facts.
And just for fun, Bachmann's model of the 1893 replica of DeWitt Clinton, vs. my model of the original locomotive, as accurate as I could make it with surviving drawing and construction notes from the 1831 original.
Comparison between the three generations of Bachmann DeWitt Clinton tender drives. The 2026 version is in the middle, the original 1980s mech is on the left, and the c.2000 mech is on the right. The easiest way to spot the worst/original mech is the open space between the wheels.
Please be vocal about not using AI. We have to normalize it. No "I'm not going to say that because it should be assumed. I'm not going to give them this". We don't have time for that shit ideological shit right now. NOW is the time to capitalize on waning favorability. Ppl want human made
The oldest thing in my house that currently gets used is now this 1916 Corona 3 portable. Corona was the first company to successfully market a portable typewriter, and it's really an ingenuous lightweight design, that cuts down on the number of parts without sacrificing much functionality.
Forgive my messy desk, I've got a lot of projects going on simultaneously right now.
Trying out the new DeWitt Clinton mech. It runs pretty much the same as the last generation, but it's world's better than the 1st gen. mech. which is of course the worst performing, and the most common (9 time out of 10, the one you find on ebay). Designing a basic wood tender body for it.
Good and bad news! Good news: Bachmann have finally put the new DeWitt Clinton powered tender up on their parts site! estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?ma... Bad: I bought one this morning for $45.90. This evening the price went up to $55.90!!!
TENDER - COMPLETE DEWITT CLINTON (HO 0-4-0) [H415X-TENDER] - $55.90 : Bachmann Trains Online Store!
Bachmann Trains Online Store! TENDER - COMPLETE DEWITT CLINTON (HO 0-4-0) [H415X-TENDER] - MOTOR IN TENDER.
estore.bachmanntrains.com
If you're interested in pre-Wright attempts at heavier than air powered flight, this in depth video on the Whitehead flying machine, from the Deutsches Museum is amazing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=62aK...
Gustav Weisskopfs Flugapparat
YouTube video by Deutsches Museum
youtube.com
I used to be really interested in pre-Wright claims to heavier than air powered flight. But the more I looked into it, the more everybody's stories fall apart. It also makes one appreciate just how thoroughly the Wrights the documented their process, in comparison to other claimants.
Youtube recommended a video to me, and the guy used AI for research. The AI told him that something happened that didn't happen, he repeated it in his video, then used an AI generated image in the video to show it happened, and now the comments are filled with people who're mad that it happened.
Design and building process. Started with dimensions of the 1850 Norris locomotive Copiapo, added missing details (stack and cab) from other historic sources, adjusted proportions to fit the Mantua chassis, printed, fitted together, painted, and now good to go.
