Garden Railway Forum

Since I can't find a topic pointed out for the Beck "Anna" I make one here.
Feel free to share pictures of your own little german "Mädl", since Anna's are common and even after a few decades of ceased production still going incredibly strong.

My version is a 1979 (according to the plate on the boiler) version, I made another burner for it, which is longer and gives a bit more heat on winterdays to keep it running, and added some lights on the back. It's not a very special locomotive, but I like the looks and she's relayable, though a bit short on breath sometimes.









The locomotive has the well-known slip excentric valvegear and the speed is controlled with the knob on the dome, where oil also needs to be added before running.

Those are nice little engines, I have a Merlin Maestro which is very similar but with 6 wheels and walscherts valve gear. They might not be the most detailed engines but mine runs very well and looks the part.

I have a green Roundhouse one which works rather nicely, and dates from about 1985. She prefers the cab uphill treatment, as she runs slightly better in reverse than forward gear.

Peter in VA

I have a very worn Merlin Midas. Very similar to Anna but an 0-6-0.

Is like to get the motion repaired.

Theres a nice pristine example on ebay now https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/BECK-REAL-STEA ... nav=SEARCH

Blimey, not cheap either.

That pressure gauge, is that 1:1 scale?

tom_tom_go wrote: Sun Sep 17, 2017 12:55 pm That pressure gauge, is that 1:1 scale?

Hmm, somebody's compensating!

If she prefers running back wards over forwards, its time to reset the valve gear timing. I believe these are done similar to the later Merlin engines as the running gear is basicly the same. Just that Merlin eventually replaced the slip eccentric with a fixed return crank and used a reversing valve between the cylinders. There are measurements you take on the piston valve spindle and adjust if not correct. Resetting this should restore your forward running ablities again. Between my friend and I we have a Merlin Mayflower, works number 322 and you can see some of the old Beck design in the old girl, espically the cylinders and valve motion. Mike

On ebay they think these locomotives are made of gold.. I have bought mine for 350 and have seen them for similar with slight tinkering needed.

For live steam ebay is not the cheapest.. beter keep an eye on webshops and swapmeetings. They run okay, but for this kind of money better get yourself a roundhouse or accucraft..