Thomas Telford Locomotive - Take Two

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 11:10 am

There's another photo and comment on Mamod's Facebook page. Unfortunately no photo showing the cab. Apparently Mamod are just waiting for a few items before the launch. They're trying for the Peterborough show but might not make it.

nikkor · Post by **nikkor** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 5:42 am

I'm sorry to drop in new to the convo, but does it seem like the TT is more like a Roundhouse or something more modern, am I right?

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:35 am

Well, sort of, although I don't think Mamod are in a position to go head-to-head with Roundhouse quite yet.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to the Peterborough show yesterday where there was a TT on the Mamod stand, so I haven't seen the final design of the loco in person. Perhaps one of those who did attend can add their comments.

That said, what you will get with the TT is a loco with the basic modern Mamod features - pot boiler, sight glass in the rear of the boiler, gas fired, in-line displacement lubricator, oscillating cylinders, pop rivets, etc. But the overall size of the loco has been increased to make it fit better with the 1:19 garden loco scale. You also get more detailing like the dummy smoke box door and a centre buffer and coupling.

Imagine a Mk11 made slightly bigger with a few more cosmetic features and you'll get the general idea.

I'd like to see a video of it running on a track though.

Mike

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:13 pm

So the latest version of the Thomas Telford was painted up and revealed to the eager public at the 16mm National Garden Railway Show yesterday, and I managed to get the latest information from David Terry, and paid a deposit for my advance order (Show price £320 with an RRP of £350).

As seen on their Facebook page Mamod have redesigned the side tanks and this will be the first side tank locomotive where the side tanks are not carried over to the cab sides, like the old Mamod SL/MSS/Piston valve cylinder Mamods which I believe is a welcome change and more visually appealing. So they have effectively brought the lateral C of G slightly more inboard, and the reduced height chassis side frames have lowered the longitudinal C of G and are effectively rectangular with a slight cutout around the bottom of the oscillating cylinder back plates. These changes should improve the running performance.

The Version 2 displacement lubricator has been fitted which has a smaller diameter filler plug sticking out the cab side, and a separate drain plug. I asked David if it had a through steam pipe (like Roundhouse, Accucraft, etc.) unlike the earlier version which had a separate steam in and steam out pipe which led many owners to totally displace their steam oil fill at the start of a run. David was unsure and initially it was very difficult to see into the smaller filler hole. However using my torch sadly it looks like it still has the 2 separate pipes as before. Looking at my photo now I can see that the part where the side tank bottom changes in height has been moved further back thus exposing more of the combustion chamber wall. Has this been done deliberately to solve an issue with air getting to the burner as I see the combustion chamber wall still has those holes drilled through (which our previous tests on the Mark I, Mark II & Saddle Tank locos proved were not necessary - although in this case the front hole on the right side is used to get the main steam pipe from outside the combustion chamber to inside the chassis side frames)?

Just showing the lubricator drain plug and the main steam pipe from the lubricator a bit clearer.

David asked me if I liked the cutout at the rear of the cab roof. I replied that I do not like it but when I had said that in my feedback to Peter Johnson his reply was that it was generally favourable. David said it is actually about 50 for/50 against. This lead on to the question regarding fitting a proper regulator lever as had previously been mentioned. My impression of the response is that it is unlikely to happen now. Whilst these brass wheels do not slip like the plastic knurled knobs on the Mark II/Saddle Tank the 'O' rings slip off too easily and I've yet to find a glue that will hold them in place. Without the 'O' ring fitted you can easily burn your fingers!

I did pass on my suggestion about extending the front running board the full width of the buffer beam to the front of the side tanks to allow more space for fitting detailing items like a toolbox, re-railing jacks, etc. but the initial batch of chassis's have already been laser cut.

So there you have it. No release date yet but already a couple of advance orders in their order book.

Chris Cairns.

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 3:53 pm

Thanks for the update and photos Chris. I must say the loco is looking pretty good.

As for the regulator with a rubber ring around it, it's the same as fitted to the current Mk11. Hardly attractive but it does the job I guess.

Mike

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:30 pm

Thanks Chris, always informative and gratefully received.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:06 pm

Although I probably will not purchase the loco, I think it looks nice and better than Mamod's previous products

Thanks for the report.

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 2:37 pm

David Terry phoned today to advise that my special order Thomas Telford is almost ready and he is hoping to ship it out in the next few days.

Better get my 'workbench'/studio cleared up and clear out my schedule.

Woop woop!

Chris Cairns.

dougrail · Post by **dougrail** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:36 pm

Good luck Chris, how is it special?

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Thu May 08, 2014 2:44 pm

Is it any good?

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Thu May 08, 2014 5:30 pm

steamie1 wrote:Did it come Chris, Is it any good?

It was only ready for shipping yesterday but there was a couple of questions over the delivery information. I passed these onto Carol today but as David Terry was not in the office it will now be courier'd out for next Wednesday delivery. Even then due to other priorities I will not be able to run it for some time.

Mike Wakefield is due to collect his Thomas Telford direct from Mamod tomorrow so hopefully should have more useful feedback.

We believe the reference to 3 TT's being sold at Peterborough might have actually meant 3 Brunel's instead and at present the TT appears to only be made for those that have pre-ordered it.

Chris Cairns.

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Thu May 08, 2014 10:13 pm

A good public speaker pauses before the first words to feed anticipation. Cor! it's just like that. Could it be a mile stone for this type of loco? is it better than a Mk2? Can we wait? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Bounce bounce bounce) I feel like Tigger!

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 09, 2014 12:38 pm

I have just returned after collecting the loco. First impressions are very favourable.

Suitable comments and photos to follow.

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 09, 2014 4:16 pm

OK, here's what I think so far:

It looks well put together, everything turns as expected, there’s still gas in the tank (which indicates both that its been flame tested and there’s no leaks).

Compared with the Mk11 the inline lubricator is now vertical so can hold more oil. The filler knob is slightly reduced in size so it protrudes no further than the cab hand rails.
Filling will require tipping the loco on its side or injecting oil from a syringe (which is my approach). There’s a drain underneath the cab floor so emptying is easy.

The boiler has both a safety valve and a top-up valve. Cosmetic features include a whistle, water fillers on the side tanks, brass chimney cap, brass cab spectacles, a smokebox door and a lamp.

The rear of the cab has four slots in the uprights to accommodate a bunker or whatever to maybe hide the radio control if you wanted to fit it (I may have to go down this route as my outside track has a gradient and tight curves).

Supplied with the loco are the usual Mamod accessories – small funnel, gas valve filler, steam oil, lubricating oil and a set of instructions and certificate to show the boiler had been properly air tested to twice the normal pressure.
As this is one of the first Thomas Telfords to be sold they’re still waiting for the proper instructions to be produced so in the meantime provided one for the Mk11, which is very similar.

In order to lower the centre of gravity the overall height has been reduced compared to original prototype. Its now about 5.25" to the top of the (false) whistle. A little less to the cab roof.
This makes it a bit lower than a Roundhouse Bertie (another small loco).
My BusyBody driver was too tall, but he’s also too tall for the Bertie.
However my new and yet unpainted driver Jenny (from ModelTown) just fits in nicely. (She looks like a ghost)

Here's a couple of size comparisons with my Roundhouse Bertie and Accucraft Edrig.

As you can see the length is roughly the same, the width a bit less so, but its the overall height that is most noticeable.

OK, how does it run? On a track I don’t know as mine is temporarily out of use while I do some rebuilding, but on the rolling road all was fine.
Very stiff of course as it will need a good bit of running in, but that’s only to be expected with a new loco.

Mamod are currently having issues with their website so you won't see it for sale there just yet although it is available. You'd be better off using the old fashioned phone.

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Fri May 09, 2014 5:05 pm

Thank you for lovely shots and all the info. This could well be it for Mamod. A simple oscillator which they do well with a good layout for a clean burn and all the bits needed but no more. Throw in a choice of colour and they have a niche market. Phew I'm so pleased it looks great.

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 09, 2014 5:26 pm

As for colours you have a choice of green. Its not going to be economic for them to offer a variety, at least at this stage. I can't see them being able to offer a Roundhouse colour range. Maybe when they've sold a couple of hundred?

They will of course sell you one unpainted (except for the boiler) and you can paint it any colour you like.

Mike

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Fri May 09, 2014 5:57 pm

Thanks for the pictures and report Mike, loco looks nice

The only thing I don't like the look of is the cab side extending underneath the footplate

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 09, 2014 6:05 pm

I'm actually thinking the opposite as it may be somewhere I could mount a radio control receiver and small battery pack. Haven't looked in detail yet but would prefer to keep such things as forward as possible rather than fit a coal bunker.

Lner fan Sam · Post by **Lner fan Sam** » Fri May 09, 2014 7:42 pm

I'm sorry for sounding like a critic but would you say that the build quality on this loco is better than the mk2?

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 09, 2014 7:56 pm

but would you say that the build quality on this loco is better than the mk2?

Yes certainly. It ran straight out of the box and all looks fine, everything is looks square, all nuts tight, etc. Having said I thought the build quality of the Mk11s tends to be pretty good anyway although there's always going to be the odd "Friday afternoon" one every so often. What's more important in my view is the after sale service and in that I've always found Mamod to be first rate.

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