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Ginny and Bill enjoying a weekend together.
This site is dedicated to my Father and mentor, Bill McCready who passed away February 12, 2004 at the age of 80+. My father's life was filled with many, many accomplishments, and many, many great friends. Details of his life can be found on his biography. His lifelong passion was his tool and die work, his machine shops and most of all, his hobby of building custom models. This website is a tribute to that hobby. His many friends and family have contributed photos to this site. He will be missed by us all, but his work will remain with us forever.
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Gallery One
Model
Construction
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Gallery Two
Live Steaming |
Gallery Three
More Live Steaming |
Bill McCready built his first model steam engine in 1937 while still in high school. A single cylinder single stoke engine about six inches high. Unfortunately, no picture of this model exists. His other passion was live steam locomotives, prompted partly by the fact that his father was part owner of the Camas Prairie Railroad in Idaho. Here is a list of the engines and model cars he constructed. Photos are in the photo galleries on this website. If you have other photos that should be included please forward them to us a the address listed in the contact us page.
He built 11 1/8 inch live steam model locomotives in 25 years that included:
- Camas Prairie 2-8-0 Consolidation: This engine ran up an down the Snake River to Grangeville Idaho, through the Rocky Mountains hauling lumber, logs, freight and passengers. It was owned and maintained by Northern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads. Bill's Great Grand Father, Charles Booth, helped start the Camas Prairie Railroad in the early 1900's to haul grain to the Clearwater River near Lapwai Idaho where Bill grew up. This was Bill's first engine, built over 25 years ago and still in operation today by Roy Bennet in Salem Oregon.
- Boston & Albany, 4-6-6 Tank Engine: This engine was part of the New York Central Railroad that carried passengers in the 1920's and 1930's. This engine was finished by Barney Barningham of Boise, Idaho.
- Southern Pacific, Mikado 2-8-2: This engine was used to haul freight on the Sierras because of its horsepower and pulling ability. This engine was built while Bill had his tool and die business open and was completed after a ten hour day in his shop. This engine is in Canada now, built for John Turner.
- Northern Pacific, Alco Diesel Engine(green): This early diesel engine is a road switch engine and used for short hauls in Oregon, Washington and Montana. This engine is owned by Tom Miller.
- Kerr-Stewart, Wren 0-4-0 Tank Engine: This engine was used in the Falkland Islands and used in World War I to fuel ships and for short hauls. It was run into the ocean at the end of the war to avoid use by others. This engine and a twin owned by Bill's friend Al Cole used to run together. With the Barnaby, BC Engineers Club.
- American 4-4-0: This was the first steam locomotive in the west and was used to build the Transcontinental Railroad.
- 4-6-0, 10 Wheeler: This engine was built from 1899-1910 for the Southern Pacific and is the 1899 vintage model. It was built for Bill Trip.
- 4501 Southern Mikado 2-8-2 (green cab): This engine was built while Bill had his tool and die business open and was completed after a ten hour day in his shop. It is owned by Tom Nicholson.
- SP&S 700, 4-8-4 Northern: This powerhouse made long hauls up and down the Columbia River for the Seattle Portland and Spokane Railroad. It was built for and operated by: Garry Johnson. The 700 is 14' 6" long compared to 110' 6" for the original 700 and weighs close to 2,000 pounds with water and fuel topped off. The "Young Lady" was built for Garry by Bill McCready and took approximately 5,000 hours to build.
- F40-PH Diesel: The model was the first diesel engine built for Amtrak to be used for its passenger service.
- Minaret, 2-8-2, Last Engine: Building a pair with his best friend, Bas Pascoe. About 60% complete now being finished by Greg Kamholtz.
- Bill also completed a complete train consisting or eight cars and a caboose that included four gondolas, one tank care, one flat car and a stock car that can be seen in many of the steaming photos.
- Willamette 2-Speed Donkey Logging Engine: This was Bill's first model of the old donkey engines used in logging the Northwest forests in the 1900's. He worked on these engines in the early stages of his career. This model is featured in a live action video moving logs and is currently owned by Merv Johnson.
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