Garden Railway Forum

Thanks Gralyn,

I shall try that, hoping someone will know so I can avoid dismantling the loco as the batteries are dead. Your advice much appreciated.

Hi All,

Just decided to charge my Essel Fowler F30 after a long period not used. Unfortunately I stored it with another charger, so I am not sure what polarity and voltage the charger should be set at. Think the voltage should be 12v but not sure of polarity. Any help would be very welcome.

Hi Mr Bond, The loco is charged through a socket in the cab via a supplied charger. Can't give you any figures on battery life but I've never had the loco run out of battery. If I can find any pictures of the loco I will send them to you or post them on the forum. I have somewhere some video footage...

Hi there,

I have an Essel fowler. A very good loco, powerful, runs well at slow speed, we'll made. Would thoroughly recommend one.

I like diesel outline battery locomotives in there own right and feel that battery powered steam outline is still putting diesel locomotives as 2nd best. This is just my opinion, I appreciate that we all have our own favourites. I do run steam but far prefer my battery diesels.

If it had been for battery powered, diesel outline locomotives I would have been very interested. Often seen as a loco just to retrieve a dead steamer, to me they are attractive models in their own right.

Each to there own but I have track pinned to a timber base that's been outside for about 16 years with minimal maintenance with no problem. The timber was well seasoned and thoroughly treated with 5star wood preservative before use. It is not in direct contact with the ground which prolongs it's lif...

Interesting article on which water to use. Not sure if I have missed it but in a hard water area can I use water from a condensing tumble dryer?

It looks superb! A well engineered locomotive.

Not sure about this but Essel Engineering might do non standard wheel sets to order.

A real loss to our hobby. Excellent service and products. Hope someone can and does keep there range going!

I used to use DecaDry rub down transfers. Quite a variety of fonts, sizes etc. Find it difficult to source them these days though.

I have track fixed down to a wood base with steel panel pins. Most of it has been down about 15 years with no major problems.

MSS rolling stock is easily modified to couple to standard 16 mm rolling stock. Dream Steam also supply a buffer beam fitted with a standard buffer/coupler to fit MSS stock with minimum modification.
Hope this helps.

Dream Steam have limited stocks of the MSS tender in kit form for about £43.

Hi Jim,
Just a thought, if you can't get a Cheddar Models tender could you adapt a MSS/Mamod tender? I think they go for about £45.

Hi Cheshire.
In my experience, I would recommend an Essel engineering chassis or a Roger Hine chassis. I have loco's built by both of these and they are well made, powerfull, and durable. Hope this helps.
Alan.

Hopefully this photo will be the right way up!

Little John, starting to earn his keep!

Hi Jim, somewhere in my back issues of 16mm today there is an article on how to use/reconfigure the Y points as normal L/R points. When I get a moment I'll see if I can find it.