He Built His Own Stagecoach

He Built His Own Stagecoach FARM HOME recreation A couple of years ago Brian Kimble had a good reason for watching old episodes of Gunsmoke Bonanza and The Lone Ranger He was researching stagecoaches and taking photos of screenshots With the photos in hand he took measurements off his granddad’s old hitch wagon and drew up plans to build his own stagecoach “I just wanted one I have always had horses but I couldn’t afford to buy a stagecoach ” says Kimble He was surprised to learn that just the blueprints for a stagecoach started at $5 000 He started with an old running gear he bought at a farm sale and took the wheels to an Amish business to have them reconditioned with rubber strips He purchased 4 by 6-in beams and added an oak tongue to rebuild the running gear for his base He purchased 2-in angle iron and 15 sheets of 3/4-in plywood to build the frame and body of the stagecoach “There are 400 bolts in it ” Kimble notes Windows are set in 1/2-in angle iron frames and the interior is completely covered with maroon upholstery “The biggest challenge was making the front driver’s seat because it’s narrower than the wagon ” Kimble says After making sure everything fit he took it apart twice to sand and polyurethane the wood and paint the angle iron Kimble says he was grateful for all the sanding his cousin Gary Newell did “I like the natural wood look It’s like a piece of furniture ” he says noting he purchased quality plywood finished on one side “The coach is identical to the one on the Lone Ranger show ” Kimble says Burlap covers the back storage area and iron railing surrounds the storage area on top Kimble mounted a couple of horseshoes behind the driver’s seat to hold the reins when he parks the stagecoach He finished it in time for a wedding last June The happy couple and friends were inside the stagecoach and the bride’s father sat next to him in the driver’s seat holding a double-barrel shotgun Important note: he contacted the sheriff department to get permission With a stagecoach Kimble has another excuse to work with his Belgian horses Barney and Belle They have no problem pulling the stagecoach with six passengers inside and three people in front Kimble enjoys seeing kids’ and adults’ reactions “People ask me where I bought it ” he says He spent $7 000 to build it and plans to take it and his beloved horses to more events in the future Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Kimble’s Concrete 1170 Co Rd 1225 E Henry Ill 61537 ph 309 364-2278

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