MTFCA Forum

My friend Grant has put his running and driving 1913 Stanley Steam Mountain Wagon
up for sale over on the HCCA Classifieds.

It is the only Stanley Steam Mountain Wagon in active commercial use.

It is one of perhaps twelve total remaining in private ownership.

Grant knows this Stanley inside out - underneath - above.

He is knowledgeable and passionate.

Visit @ https://hcca.org/classifieds.php?cars


FJ

Well, FreighTer Jim, I guess I just might owe you a beer or a coffee or something.

I just got home at 10:30 last night from Washington and bought the 1913.

WOW !! I can't imagine many of those are still around. Quite the machine that is !! Again WOW !!

More pictures please...

Fun for the whole (extended) family.

If you are interested in a smaller Stanley, I should probably sell my 13 torpedo roadster. Nice running car

Hi, Les -

10 hp car? Those are really good looking.
But unfortunately I will be tapped out for a long time to come.
The Mountain Wagon was a heavy lift.

Dan, what a great looking rig! Hope you will show us more detail. Just wonderful to see.

I took pictures; it seemed like I was taking dozens but looking at them now, I guess I didn't take that many.

This car was restored by Don Bourdon in 1979 and used by him for 23 years giving guided tours of Woodstock, Vermont and a lot of buns have slid across the leather seat cushions! The paint on the wood is getting flakey, but the metal still looks pretty good. The burns on a Stanley hood have been called "Merit Badges". I think at least one previous owner must now be an Eagle Scout.

We drove it around the island most of the day Monday and it behaved perfectly. The pilot was strong and blue all day without fussing and the main fire was clear and not smoky or stinky. It made wads of steam and had loads of power on the hills, even with a nearly full car. It seemed not to care if there are people in it or not. It is geared high, higher even than later passenger cars; but the 30 hp engine feels invincible. That long-legged gearing makes it sound great pulling away from a stop at the curb and then gaining speed. It will charge up hills with barking exhaust or it will walk up them with shallow huffing breaths. I don't know how fast we went, but it was fast enough. Water level stayed on the mark and steam was never a problem.

I am so pleased for my long-time friend Dan Haynes! He has been one of my best friends for over thirty years, is a wonderful model T person, and had steam cars before. He sold the modern Stanley he had (a condensing model 1919 if I recall correctly?) some years back, and a couple Stanley condensing model projects he also had. He has been telling me for years that he wanted another Stanley, but that he wouldn't buy one unless it was the "right" one, large and pre-'16. Not a wealthy man, but a passionate hobbyist and very hardworking, he thought he may never get the one he wanted because they are expensive.
I am SO-O pleased to hear he has made a deal for what he wanted!

Dan, congratulations! What a great piece of steam and automotive history. Enjoy.

Dan,

Just saw this thread updated.

One of the truly nice - knowledgeable - generous
folks I have met is Grant,

Did you get to see his house & meet his wife ?

I plan to visit Orcas Island again.

Congratulations


FJ

Grant with the 1915 Stanley Mountain I delivered last December to Orcas Island.

FJ

Hi, Jim -
Yes! I did see the house and spent the night on the third floor. The view!!!
This was taken just before 10 PM

Did you stay in the same room? Third floor with the tower? The house is fantastic and Grant can list every detail of every detail. He collected all those hundreds of great antique component bits, then designed the house to incorporate them. The kitchen was amazing, the stove (and great breakfast cooked on it the next morning), the bar, the counters. In the living room the Griffins, the china closet in the dining room and the history that goes with all of it.
No pictures of the house, though, for Grant's privacy.

All in all it was a great experience. The ferry ride, the island views, the Stanley tours, driving the car in that environment, it couldn't have been better.

Awesome!

Steam is a dream for me.

Matt

Basement for me.

Grant was a gracious host.

I posted several images & videos on Instagram and Facebook.

To respect their privacy I posted no images of their home.

Imagine my truck & trailer on that ferry and driving up to the airport
once it docked ....

We have kept in touch - he is a genuinely nice man.


FJ

Did you have to butter the sides of your rig to get it off the ferry and around the little roads to the airport??
I'll tell you, the basement would have been great with me, too. You probably got it during your winter visit because it stays warm; I got the 3rd floor in warm weather to catch the sea breezes blowing through all the open windows.

I agree about Grant and his wife. It was a great trip. I'm very excited about the car, too. My employer is sending me away to Pennsylvania for much of June, so I may not get to see the car again until July.

Driving my truck & trailer on the ferry at Anacortes
then off at Orcas Island was a thrill.

4th Of July is supposed to be spectacular.

John Wayne had a retired PT boat with an
operable artillery gun on the deck - he would
shoot blank shells offshore.

Johnny Carson commented how beautiful Grant’s
house was from his yacht off Grant’s back porch
one summer.

I watched the mail & supply boat ferry kids
to school from that island about four miles
out - a few miles beyond that island is Canada.

I hope you got the grand tour of the hotel

Yes - I must return again some day ....


FJ

Dan -- congratulations on your new transportation! If you do not already have a copy of Ben Sharpsteen's print with a Mountain Wagon on it, it is the last print shown on the page at: https://www.sharpsteenmuseum.org/shop-5 From memory, it was used as one of the covers on the Horseless Carriage Gazette back in the 60s or 70s? I don't recall if that issue also had an article about the Mountain Wagons or not.

For any of us that have often wanted to know a little more about the Stanley Steamers and the Mountain Wagons, there are a couple of nice videos showing Grant and his Mountain Wagon(s) at https://stanleysteamertours.com/ . Every wonder why a stock Stanley Boiler never exploded? Grant's video on that site but also a direct link ist: https://youtube.com/embed/VQDXc8zHawg?s ... ransparent starting at the 1 min 10 second mark explains why. The entire video is fun to watch.

And on the old forum at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1559195912 there are several shots of the Grant's Mountain Wagons including the engine.

Again, congratulations on your new Stanley.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Grant operates the only commercial business that uses the Stanley Mountain Wagon in daily operation in the lower (48) states that he knows of.

If anyone ever visits the San Juan Islands during the summer season - stop at Orcas Island and take a tour in it,


FJ

So, he's selling this Mountain Wagon .... does this mean no more Orcas Island
Mountain Wagon tour business, or does he own multiples ???

Burger,

Yes, he has multiple ones. In the news clip it said he was restoring 2 others in addition to the one they showed him driving see: http://interactive.tegna-media.com/vide ... A7ion=home They did NOT say he owned them but that he was restoring them.

At the old forum link (it didn't work above so reposting here) http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1559434837 it has:

"By FreighTer Jim on Monday, December 17, 2018 - 07:27 am:
The 1915 Stanley Steam 12 Passenger Mountain Wagon that I delivered is now being readied to replace the 1913 Stanley Steam 12 Passenger Mountain Wagon
Grant has been giving Summer Tours in for the past few years ..... "


At $30 for about an hour ride -- that would be fun. Maybe we could have a Model T Tour there some year? But I don't know what the other cost would be -- i.e. ferry ride, place to stay etc. But it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. I just wish I lived closer....

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

The 1913 will be replaced by a 1916.

The 1916 will be the primary tour vehicle.

The 1915 that I delivered will be a secondary
tour vehicle & back up vehicle.

Grant also has his first Stanley Mountain Wagon
which is a 1912 that is complete but needs assembly.

People With Passion are the greatest folks I tell ya’ ...


FJ

An off season tour of possibly The San Juan Islands or certainly Orcas Island
would be ideal.

I drove a good part of the public roads on Orcas Island
with my truck & trailer and with Grant In his car.


FJ

Hap_Tucker wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 02, 2019 2:50 pm

At $30 for about an hour ride -- that would be fun. Maybe we could have a Model T Tour there some year? But I don't know what the other cost would be -- i.e. ferry ride, place to stay etc. But it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. I just wish I lived closer....

=========================================

What I heard was that he had other Stanleys, not specifically Mountain Wagons capable of
hauling tourists. Maybe I overanalyze, or perhaps didn't hear it correctly. Anyway, thanks
for the clarification.

For anyone who has never traveled "the islands", it is a magical place. Life runs on "beach
time", which is more-or-less dictated by the ferry schedule. It might as well be 1920. The
scenery is spectacular. The more northerly islands get less rain than the southern ones, but
all fall under the "Olympic rain shadow", a downwind path behind the Olympic Mountains that
enjoys far less rain than typical coastal Washington, because the mountains squeeze all the
rain out of the clouds coming off the ocean. It would be hard to think of a place better suited
to touring in an early car. You have the water, the beaches, the Olympics to the west, the
Cascades to the east, and the pace .... the place is simply enchanting.

Burger,

Grant just has Stanley Mountain Wagons.

I believe new owner of Grant’s 1913 Stanley Mountain Wagon has been giving tours in the custom Model T
that Ed Archer built.

I believe he plans to continue with the Mountain Wagon.


FJ

Wow, ... this is really neat stuff.

If I might ask a favor of anyone able to do so, could someone get a good sound recording
with their video of one of these Mountain Wagons accelerating under load ? I've done a bit
of time around steam locomotives, and it seems I can faintly hear the barking, but the videos
I've seen so far have music dubbed over the sound of the vehicle.

Thanks in advance.
Burger

Freighter Jim has the 1913 Mountain Wagon in his trailer and he's making way for California. I don't think he realizes my state of anxiety for him to get here...
Friday, July 5th seems a month away.
C'mon, Jim! Floor it!

In the foreground is the 1913 Model 810.

In the background is Grant’s “ new “ 1916
Model 826 that I had just unloaded.

With the delivery of the 1913 - that makes
“ Four Of A Kind “ for me and considering ...

That only (12) complete privately owned
Stanley Steam Mountain Wagons
remain in existence ...

And of those - not all are in running condition ...

I am fortunate indeed to transport four ....


FJ

Burger,

Videos of the 1916 Stanley Model 826 Mountain Wagon
running are posted here:

Facebook @ https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?_rdr

Instagram @ http://instagram.com/directenclosedautohauler/#


FJ

Freighter Jim texted to say he will be here tomorrow with the model 812 Mtn Wgn, a full day earlier than his commitment! I will never get to sleep tonight...

After swearing for years I'd never do Facebook, I "had to" open an account to see Jim's photos and videos. What a great job he has. He drives around spreading happiness.

I suspect Grant moved into the driver's seat of that beautiful 1916 without a backward glance at the old obsolete 1913!

Facebook and Instagram are Tools

For me - they are great ways to share stories from the road.

Grant and Arthur behind the wheel of the
1916 with some motivated bystanders:




FJ

Ohboyohboyohboyohboy!

No kidding, Wayno!

Dan,

I suspect you will be celebrating the 4th by lighting a burner! Congratulations on the soon arrival of your Mountain Wagon! And for the new new owner of a Model T Ford -- I always recommend practice driving and stopping their new T in an empty parking lot etc. until they become familiar with how it works. Ditto for your new Mountain Wagon. And I suspect it will take you a little while just to get used to the extra length. I wonder how much wider you will need to take the turns compared to a regular size car etc.?

And of course please continue to post photos & updates when you can.

Again congratulations on your new addition!

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

FJ

Fantastic!
What's the root word above? Fan.
Thank you all.

Oh wow! I just don't know what to say! One thing, I am so pleased to see a bigger smile on your face than I have seen in a couple years now! Words cannot express how I feel about that. And you know why I say that.
I won't call you for a couple days yet. Let you soak it all in, savor every moment. Of course if you want to call me, I will try to answer the phone, maybe rip it off my belt as the caller ID says it is you (as long as Verizon actually connects to my phone, I am so mad at them right now!)
Take care, ENJOY! Hope to see you soon.

Burger -

Try this for good Stanley sights and sounds. It's from England and isn't cluttered up with dialogue. Several good hill climbing scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbVvi1hcFbs

I get to use the fire icon ...

Grant has to have a new boiler built if I understand
him correctly - there is a pinhole leak.

He never got to run his Model 826 in the parade.

I am developing a drama series about the
trials & tribulations of the steam car era with the History Channel about the Drama Of Steam Car Ownerships...

Alas ....


FJ

FJ, Grant is good, his boiler is sound, it turns out to be another pinhole leak in the weak superheater.tube. Monday he will be shopping for stainless steel tubing to roll a new one.

Hi Dan,

Guess I misunderstood.

Kathy just might make me one of her famous apple pies on my next visit to Orcas Island ....



FJ

Remember, I too know how to get to Ocas Island now!

That counter is long enough and there are stools enough for us to both have pie.

I am not very happy with you, Dan. That link you provided above led straight down
a "rabbit hole" and the next thing I knew, it was 0300hrs and the alarm is set for 0600
to get up for work !

Say, ... what is/are the cylinder sizes of Stanleys ???