Kayden's Wheel Reports: Sacramento Valley Live Steamers 'Better Beer Co. No.2'
Sacramento Valley Live Steamers 'Better Beer Co. No.2' (Image provided by Austin Unruh) A Brief History In the introduction of his iconic book ‘Classic British Steam Locomotives’ , Peter Herring noted that British and American locomotive practices diverged significantly once both nations mastered their design and construction, rarely reuniting thereafter. This is largely true, except for a few special cases, such as the story of 'The Bug.' In 1926, the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (RH&DR) in Kent, England, commissioned a small 0-4-0 tender-tank locomotive from the German manufacturer Krauss Maffei. This 15 inch gauge miniature railway, the passion project of racing drivers and railway enthusiasts Captain J.E.P. Howey and Count Louis Zborowski, aimed to operate like a full-sized railway. Their locomotives and rolling stock were elegantly designed, featuring roofed carriages with luxury fittings, in contrast to the open-topped coaches with a toy-like appear