Building of the PFLR

bazzer42 · Post by **bazzer42** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:52 pm

Hi Danny,
Good to see this sunny Forest weather has allowed good progress. Cashflow problems seem to affect us all whatever age, allows dream time. Saw a beautiful, lined maroon roundhouse George on trackshack dinner time but cashflow says no.

The bridges of Bream are taking shape just need to post something.

Keep posting the progress.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:17 pm

You saying bridges has reminded me! I have an update!

Recentely, a school contacted a friend of mine regarding some model bridges that they were chucking out. They were given to the school from a local manufacturer as demostration models. We have been given them for free (I think) and are going to pick them up tomorrow, which means I should be able to get a good girder bridge for a new section.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:46 pm

Update time!

Part 1. The bridges have been collected. They're damn good too! As it all came with no instructions we could be here for a little while trying to figure out how to put it together though....

Part 2. I recently thought that for visiting other railways, I should advertise the PFLR a bit more. So, I made a headboard that says "PFLR On Tour". It slots onto Bertie's lamp bracket and I think looks quite good.

While I was at it, I also made a 'Not to be moved' board, which slots onto the other lamp bracket, and can be put on for steaming and cooling off. The only problem now is that theres nowhere to put the lamps...

The headboards still need images, so the 'PFLR On Tour' headboard will get a coloured image stuck onto it, and the 'Not to be moved' sign will get a British Rail 'Not to be moved' sign image on both sides.

Pictures of the bridge pieces and the coloured headboards to follow.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:05 pm

And here we are, update time!

Bertie has had an upgrade! He now has a pressure gauge. This came in with my Dads latest Roundhouse delviery (along with a nice looking Katie and beautiful but sold Little John), and was fitted earlier on. Unfortunatley, I still don't have any pictures of the Not to be moved board and the headboard, they are on one of my many SD cards. However, at the recent steam up at the BCLR, the PFLR headboard got fatally damaged in a collision with a stick and also got covered in oil and needs replacing, but no big issue.

Below are some pictures of the new presssure gauge. Sorry they are out of focus, my camera just wouldn't focus in our living room.

Before...

...after!

I'm yet to perform a steam test to check everything is correct so watch this space!

LnBmad · Post by **LnBmad** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:51 pm

Nice work, having a pressure gauge can really aid smooth steaming

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 7:24 pm

Thankyou

Steam test went well, no leaks apparent, the upgrade seems to have gone well.

Time to re-fit the roof.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 8:33 pm

Update time for you all!

Today I visited Llanfair garden railway show, and its the first dedicated garden railway show I have been to and I must say, it was great! Also being only around 5 minutes walk to the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway was an added bonus. Time for the news, I have bought two four plank wagons! Both are second hand, both are in good condition, chunky, well built, and are a good size to go behind Bertie.

Four plank No. 1. This one has cosmetic brake gear.

Four plank No. 2. This ones brake gear was broken off at some point before I bought it, but I can mock something up.

Both wagons on the loop.

Also, met member Jez Kirkwood, and saw is loco 'Owd Butty', which looks like a great locomotive on here but is even better in the flesh! On the WLLR, they had their 50th anniversary gala, with Countess, The Earl, and a couple of other locos in service, and I'll get pictures on the photos section soon.

bazzer42 · Post by **bazzer42** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 9:23 pm

Lucky you, I was double booked. The wagons look nice. We did the welshpool 3 weeks ago, I thought it was a lovely railway. I particularly liked Llanfair station.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 9:35 pm

Thankyou. Currently cleaning the wheels of crud (they are caked in it!) and thinking about loads (oh and a brake van!).

Llanfair station was nice but it was so packed you couldn't really explore it...

Hopefully I'll get to go back on a less busy day.

90733 · Post by **90733** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:07 pm

I may have well seen you! I was working on AnDel Models stand all weekend. Was a good do, especially going down to the railway in the evening with the W&L locos posed for photos. I think I saw the open wagons and was tempted

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:50 pm

90733:87641 wrote:I may have well seen you! I was working on AnDel Models stand all weekend. Was a good do, especially going down to the railway in the evening with the W&L locos posed for photos. I think I saw the open wagons and was tempted

When I viewed the Andel stand (and I must say, I was tempted by the Ffion), I think it was a chap in glasses which I can't describe much more about manning the stand. The open wagons were on the first stall on the left in the main hall, but these were the ones without coal in, the ones with were an extra £5, and seeing I only had £40, these used all of my budget...

Speaking of the wagons, they were first run on the railway today, behind Sheba with a brake van on the back. They were at first run as a test to check they were ok, then they were put straight into service with the lineside gang who used them to catch cut offs from the loading gauge fouling fir hedge to stop it from making a mess on the track.

Now I really need to complete the freight train with a van, a flat wagon, and a brake van, so watch this space!

90733 · Post by **90733** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:01 pm

Haha, both me and Andy wear glasses, I was stood behind the stand a lot, so may have well been me! Were the same wagons I saw then I think, they will go well with your bertie.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:06 pm

They do go with it well, pictures will be appearing at some point. Sorry if I nabbed the wagons before you could get them...

90733 · Post by **90733** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:09 pm

Dannypenguin:87659 wrote:They do go with it well, pictures will be appearing at some point. Sorry if I nabbed the wagons before you could get them... :?

Don't worry, I doubt I would have bought them anyway, there much better with you

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:13 pm

Haha! Thanks

I did manage to break part of the brake gear off though by mistake...

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:14 am

I need to pick your brains again everybody (yet again)...

I'm not sure if my Bertie has a problem. Below is a picture of the wheel. In the centre, circled in red is the problem. It looks like some of the centre has been worn away to the bits that are left around the edge. Is this an issue?

Apologies for the 'dirtyiness', he most definatley needs a clean...

IrishPeter · Post by **IrishPeter** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:39 pm

I don't think so.

It is most likely to be a 'mucky join' i.e. the excess was not totally cleaned off after the joint was soldered, glued, welded, whatever. If you cannot rub it away with an oily rag, that is what it is - 999 times out of 1000.

If it is loose swarf then you may have a problem in the form of a metal componant that it getting excessive wear. However, don't panic - yet.

Thoroughly clean your loco, use WD40 to get the muck and dust out of the valve gear, wash in warm soapy water, allow to dry, and then relubricate using 3 in 1 or similar light lubricating oil. When you have run it a few more times, check and see if the swarf has reappeared. If not - which is the most likely outcome - panic over.

We will deal with the other possibility should it occur.

Cheers,
Peter in AZ

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:47 pm

Peter, thanks for the heads up. On the back wheel (the one that is pictured), it is unmovable, even if I tap it lightly with a small screwdriver. On the front one however, when I tapped it, a small metal flake came off. When I did it again, another came away...

Is this time to wash it down?

IrishPeter · Post by **IrishPeter** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:57 pm

Yep. Give it wash and a relub. run it a few more times, and do not hit it with anything.

From what you describe, there is a definite chance with the front axle that you may have a bad joint in which case it will eventually have to go back to Roundhouse to be fettled. Bertie being one of the basic locos is fixed gauge so the wheel should not move on the axle at all. However, it may just be a little waste left over from manufacture in which case which you knocking loose with the handle (hopefully) of your screw driver.

If the problem persists phone Roundhouse, and they will give you further direction. There after sales service is superb.

Cheers,
Peter in AZ

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:07 pm

Thats the last thing I wanted to hear... :( I'll give it a wash and a rub tomorrow, and also a run and report back. I'm afraid I couldn't tap it with the handle, although its only 1 cm in diametre it won't fit in between the vavle gear... It was only a very light tap. I will contact Roundhouse, in fact I know them, my Dad is a dealer, so I should be able to get some advice from them. Trust my Bertie to have defects... :roll: So for now ladies and gentlemen, Bertie is out of service.

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