Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Discussion of Live Steam locomotives should be located here
Post Reply
CSL
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 202
Joined: Thu May 11, 2017 9:42 pm

Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by CSL » Thu Jan 25, 2018 10:13 pm

Hi all,

I'm asking this on behalf of a friend who has inherited a Maxwell Hemmens "Ogwen" but has never operated it (hoping that I'll see it running round my little circuit one day!).

I am inexperienced in all this, having obtained a Roundhouse Bertie last year and previously only had Mamods.

So:
- will a Roundhouse GFA work to fuel Ogwen?
- are the internal and external oils used on Roundhouse locos suitable for Ogwen?
- is there any general advice about running an Ogwen that would be useful to know?

Big Jim
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2694
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:28 pm
Location: Near Llanelli

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by Big Jim » Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:49 pm

If i remember correctly the ogwen was externally gas fired.

Be warned, some Ogwens (Ogweni?) Suffered with a slightly iffy build quality. I can't remember if it was early or late ones. PECO had a hand in the original idea for them incidentally but they didn't manufacturer them.

I would try it with roundhouse specification lube. If you find the lubricator empties of oil very rapidly, before you finish the run, try a thicker steam oil and see how you go.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

User avatar
LNR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1533
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:26 am
Location: Australia

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by LNR » Fri Jan 26, 2018 12:26 am

It would appear according to Marc Horovitz that it's the later ones that had some problems,
Loco of the month article here,
http://www.sidestreet.info/locos/loco62.html
the article also provides steaming tips.
Good luck
Grant.

User avatar
ax1709cjm
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:21 pm

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by ax1709cjm » Fri Jan 26, 2018 12:10 pm

I have one of these and it's a bit of a pain to run - not as easy as running my Bertie for sure. In answer to your questions:

- will a Roundhouse GFA work to fuel Ogwen?

Should do, I use a standard gas filling adaptor.

- are the internal and external oils used on Roundhouse locos suitable for Ogwen?

The steam oil may be too thin (as mentioned by others). I use a standard ISO460 steam oil (roundhouse is ISO220 I believe), and 3 in 1 for mechanical lubrication, although I was recently a thread which said 3 in 1 was not a good lubrication oil - anyway it works for me.

- is there any general advice about running an Ogwen that would be useful to know?

As I say I find mine is not as easy to run as my Bertie, but mine is quite an old tired model so you might have a different experience. I find the gas is hard to light (possibly because I had to replace the gas valve on mine as the original leaked, and the replacement valve thread is too coarse). I also find the gas tends to go out when I've raised steam and am clearing the cylinders of condensate. Mine is radio controlled on the reverser only, this can be a bit on/off in terms of control, setting the manual regulator to just the right amount (which depends on the pressure (which goes down when the burner goes out!)) halps a great deal.

Despite all my problems, I find once the engine has settled and burner relit it's a great little engine to run. If you are managing Bertie OK theres no reason why you shouldn't give Ogwen a go, in my opinion. :D

User avatar
ax1709cjm
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:21 pm

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by ax1709cjm » Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:17 pm

Whilst, I think about it, here is a picture of my Ogwen pottering round the Hoole Railway. Hope the attachment works, not tried attaching an image before...
med_ogwen1.jpg
med_ogwen1.jpg (319.16 KiB) Viewed 6990 times

Oh and I forgot to say, I do have a scan of the manual that came with my engine (done for a friend who's lost his manual). Unfortunately it's quite big at around 3Mb. If you'd like a manual and can think of a way for me to get it to you, let me know.

CSL
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 202
Joined: Thu May 11, 2017 9:42 pm

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by CSL » Mon Jan 29, 2018 7:07 pm

Thanks everyone. Tips passed on.

ax1709cjm - the offer of the scanned manual is greatly appreciated but it may be that the original has in fact survived so I'll hold fire for now.

ossygobbin
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:32 pm

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by ossygobbin » Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:57 am

ax1709cjm wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:17 pm Whilst, I think about it, here is a picture of my Ogwen pottering round the Hoole Railway. Hope the attachment works, not tried attaching an image before...

med_ogwen1.jpg


Oh and I forgot to say, I do have a scan of the manual that came with my engine (done for a friend who's lost his manual). Unfortunately it's quite big at around 3Mb. If you'd like a manual and can think of a way for me to get it to you, let me know.


hi, i know its a long time back but do you still have the ogwen manual i could do with a copy if ok.
thanks stuart

User avatar
MRail
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 116
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Merseyside, UK
Contact:

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by MRail » Sat Mar 02, 2019 5:04 pm

Hi Guys,

Echo everything said so far.
My MH Ogwen is an absolute pig to light up.
Having lit, she runs like a Swiss watch, but should the gas blow out, a pig to re light.

Problems were eased by making a "fire iron" from a U shape of brass with an angled handle.
I use this to choke the air holes while lighting up, and remove after a short warm up time.
Again if the gas blows out, the choke is needed to re-light.

The gas tank/filler is quite poor.
Having got the loco to run, the slightest bump/lurch will have liquid gas passing over and extinguishing the flame.
Back to square one.
There have been several versions of gas filler; mine is on the side of the tank, so the loco has to be laid on side to fill.

I was in contact with John Hemmens a couple of years back, and he confirmed 460 grade steam oil.
No chance of any repairs/mods though.

I found RC on the reverser valve alone was not really enough.
Having added a servo to the steam valve to use as a regulator has helped to smooth the control.

I do like her, though!
Rob G
Madog & Mersey Railway (SM32)
In my Father's roundhouse are many loco sheds.

User avatar
ax1709cjm
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:21 pm

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by ax1709cjm » Sat Mar 09, 2019 9:41 pm

ossygobbin wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2019 11:57 am
ax1709cjm wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:17 pm Whilst, I think about it, here is a picture of my Ogwen pottering round the Hoole Railway. Hope the attachment works, not tried attaching an image before...

med_ogwen1.jpg


Oh and I forgot to say, I do have a scan of the manual that came with my engine (done for a friend who's lost his manual). Unfortunately it's quite big at around 3Mb. If you'd like a manual and can think of a way for me to get it to you, let me know.


hi, i know its a long time back but do you still have the ogwen manual i could do with a copy if ok.
thanks stuart
Hi Stuart, check your email, hopefully it's arrived. If not let me know, as I say it's quite big and may cause some email systems problems.

cheers

Chris

User avatar
ax1709cjm
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:21 pm

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by ax1709cjm » Sat Mar 09, 2019 9:59 pm

Hmm, I think I've found a video I took at the same time as that picture above. I'll try attaching it - it may not work as I havn't done this befiore.


User avatar
MRail
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 116
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Merseyside, UK
Contact:

Re: Any tips for steaming Ogwen?

Post by MRail » Sun Mar 10, 2019 8:41 am

Quite nicely behaved, Chris.
I've still not visited Ian's line.

Stuart's Ogwen is the earlier Roger Marsh version, so the gas burner comments are not entirely valid.
Rob G
Madog & Mersey Railway (SM32)
In my Father's roundhouse are many loco sheds.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests