New arrival on the GWLR

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Lonsdaler
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New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Wed May 23, 2018 9:43 am

The GWLR has just taken delivery of a new diseasel locomotive for PWay and recovery work on the line.
Boulton-on-the-SLR.jpg
Boulton-on-the-SLR.jpg (404.4 KiB) Viewed 8575 times
Seen here undergoing acceptance trials on the Silverdale Light Railway (North), he has yet to be modified in any way. Plans include RC, Sound card, detailing and general 'roughing up'

Being a Mamod Boulton, he will be called 'Matthew'.
Last edited by Lonsdaler on Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Phil

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by bazzer42 » Wed May 23, 2018 5:43 pm

I saw the Mamod in Garden Rail and thought it looked the business. I do like the shape of it. I also love your overgrown track...gorgeous!

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by IanC » Wed May 23, 2018 9:39 pm

It looks a cracking locomotive.

Please let us know how it performs in due course. I would imagine it performs as good as it looks.

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by FWLR » Thu May 24, 2018 7:51 am

“Matthew” looks brilliant Phil, is it running on 32mm.

Can you send me a load of your greenery please….. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Big Jim » Thu May 24, 2018 10:58 am

I saw the prototypes of these at Llanfair last year and was very impressed with them.

I look forwards to seeing the results of it being 'spivved-up' (or should that be 'beaten-up'?)
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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Thu May 24, 2018 2:51 pm

Not my greenery Bazzer, it's Ian Midgley's (SLR Midge) railway where the 'acceptance trials' took place.
It is a very capable locomotive for the price. I have been told that the chassis is made by Essel for Mamod, so there is a good pedigree there. I left it trundling around the track for several hours on Monday, and it just plodded on - exactly what I wanted it for.
And Rod, like most of the NWAG group, it is 32mm, although regaugable to 45mm if required. :thumbup:
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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by FWLR » Fri May 25, 2018 7:44 am

That is one for my list Phil. :thumbright:

Must ask Ian for some of his greenery then also…. :roll: :roll: :roll:

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Fri May 25, 2018 9:37 am

FWLR wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 7:44 am That is one for my list Phil. :thumbright:

Must ask Ian for some of his greenery then also…. :roll: :roll: :roll:
If you come up to a steam up, let us know before hand and we can pot some baby's tears up for you!
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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by FWLR » Fri May 25, 2018 9:50 am

Going to Sam’s in Ulverston on Sunday Phil. :thumbright: :thumbright:

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Fri May 25, 2018 12:21 pm

FWLR wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 9:50 am Going to Sam’s in Ulverston on Sunday Phil. :thumbright: :thumbright:
B*gger - I'm not! I'll ask Midge if he is and ask him to take some with him.
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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by FWLR » Fri May 25, 2018 3:36 pm

Thanks mate. :thumbright:

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Southern188 » Fri May 25, 2018 6:35 pm

A big like from me. Could you please tell me how easy it would be to change the gauge to 45mm? Thanks.

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by laalratty » Fri May 25, 2018 9:00 pm

Lonsdaler wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 12:21 pm
FWLR wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 9:50 am Going to Sam’s in Ulverston on Sunday Phil. :thumbright: :thumbright:
B*gger - I'm not! I'll ask Midge if he is and ask him to take some with him.
Not sure you want any from there, the whole garden will be covered in no time!
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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Sat May 26, 2018 8:37 am

laalratty wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 9:00 pm
Lonsdaler wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 12:21 pm
FWLR wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 9:50 am Going to Sam’s in Ulverston on Sunday Phil. :thumbright: :thumbright:
B*gger - I'm not! I'll ask Midge if he is and ask him to take some with him.
Not sure you want any from there, the whole garden will be covered in no time!
I suspect it will be less rampant away from Ian's tender care :lol:
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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Sat May 26, 2018 8:41 am

Southern188 wrote: Fri May 25, 2018 6:35 pm A big like from me. Could you please tell me how easy it would be to change the gauge to 45mm? Thanks.

Michael
Hello Michael,
Really easy. Grub screws secure the wheels to the axles. It comes with a gauging tool to set the back to backs :thumbup:
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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by Lonsdaler » Thu Oct 10, 2019 4:41 pm

Belatedly, here is an attempt to catch up on the trials and tribulations of a Mamod Boulton, including both detailing (done and yet to do) and problems encountered, together with the solutions.
As Received, and Running In
This is the loco in 'factory condition'
Boulton-as_factory_sm.jpg
Boulton-as_factory_sm.jpg (213.08 KiB) Viewed 4001 times
As supplied, she is manually operated - with a battery holder for 8 AA batteries, which could be fitted with rechargeables and charged in situ via the provided charging port in the cab (a fairly standard 2.1mm socket). There is a toggle switch in the cab also, which switches the loco on or off together with a switch which changes direction from forward to reverse or vice versa. Speed is controlled via the exhaust stack, which is simply an extension to the arm on a potentiometer.
The chassis and running gear is manufactured by Essel and supplied to Mamod for assembly, as I understand it.
I ran the loco in this condition for all of last summer, and it performed reasonably well, but as it 'ran in' one or two problems became apparent The motor and gearbox gradually became noisier in operation. Upon inspection it appeared that the motor had somehow worked its way loose, and one of the brass wheel bearings had become detached from the chassis and was just rotating on the axle.
Boulton_underside_sm.jpg
Boulton_underside_sm.jpg (346.5 KiB) Viewed 4001 times
(Having taken this photograph, I realised how much crud had accumulated around the gears and it has now been cleaned!)
I decided to disassemble the running gear and motor to check there was no inherent fault. The problem with the motor was fixed by simply tightening the mounting screws for both the motor and the gearbox, which had either worked loose or never been tightened to the chassis in the first place. The brass bearings had been fitted with the flange to the inside of the chassis. As they were a push fit, they had simply worked there way out onto the chassis and become free floating. Reassembling them with the flange outside the chassis meant that the coupling rod assemblies would keep the bearings in place on the chassis members. It may be that when set to 45mm this wouldn't be an issue, as the wheels would keep the bearings in place on the chassis, but that isn't the case when set for 32mm running.

It would appear that the problems are simply due to a lack of quality control in the assembly process - they were easily fixed once apparent and don't detract from the usefulness of this little loco. I would say that if you are considering a Mamod Boulton, don't let these niggles put you off. It is a well engineered chassis to a trusted and proven design and will form the basis for an interesting and individual diesel locomotive, or even just provide a quick set up useful engine. I'll go on to the work I'm doing to make mine more individual in another post.
Phil

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My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by SimonWood » Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:54 am

Good to know the issues are with assembly. I've been impressed by the quality of the Essel chassis I've seen. The Boulton's still looking good to me, look forward to seeing the changes you've made.

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by FWLR » Mon Oct 14, 2019 7:49 am

Thanks for the report on your Mamod Boulton Phil. If I ever get around to being able to get one it's good to know that it is an easy fix.. :thumbright:

It's members like you that help members like me with so much inspiration. That is wants so great about this Forum. Plus meeting people like you, if only once at a steam up at Arthur Ashby's two years ago, who gave me a lot of really friendly advice.

Ps. Only got another 18 more Notifications to go. They will have to wait for now. Anne's time limit for me on the forum has expired for today... :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Re: New arrival on the GWLR

Post by -steves- » Tue Oct 15, 2019 8:35 pm

I quite like the look of this too. Think I might do something similar on one of my chassis and see how it turns out, always like a good challenge, lol. Looking forward to seeing it when you have finished your detailing. :thumbup:
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