Time to build a railway...but where?

[Peter Butler]

Thanks Rik, interesting logging locos there, even a couple built by Butler Brothers... I get the feeling I've been set-up!
By sheer coincidence when your message came in I was looking at this...

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Spooky!

[GTB]

The colour image of a tractor conversion illustrates my previous comments about gauge conversion perfectly.

Fordson Model F tractors aren't very big, that Natrass railtractor is running on NZ broad gauge, ie. 3'6" and Natrass managed to sell a couple in Aust. that ran on 3' gauge.

The rail tractors built by Olly Smith for Gammon Bros. at Mamaku are probably more in your line.

Check out the third photo down on this web page. http://www.trainweb.org/loggingz/smith.html

One wonders if Olly was a reader of the Dr. Dolittle books when he was a kid.........

Graeme

ps. re the inspection car that started this. This style goes back to the dawn of railways. Search google for 'steam powered inspection car' images. There were VB types, think a De Winton with a sofa at each end.

[FWLR]

I like the Spooky post Peter. Looks like a nice project for the master of scratch building “Locos”

[tommygander1941]

Thanks to all for your replies, the Drain Train has been one of my current projects and is now nearing completion. In order for it to be a representation of a self sufficient work platform I have built a workmen's carriage combined with a lockable storage unit for their valuable tools (not that they would be stolen in my friendly and honest village) and a cage for holding various sizes of spare pipes and couplings.... just in case!
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A useful train I think.... just needs some 'mucking-up'

The post may be 8 years old, but I only just discovered this thing via your eBay listing! It is VERY similar to the Bala Lake Railway's 'Catoflat', which has a compartment for the workers (with tram-style bench seats but covered with artificial leather), a tool compartment with double swinging doors and a flat area for sleepers or anything larger than the hand tools.

It is a very nice model by the way and I hope it goes to a good home, I may even try and convince one of my friends to purchase it so it can be used in "helping" construct his own line.

[Peter Butler]

That's such an uncanny resemblance are you sure theirs isn't based on mine?

[tommygander1941]

I don't believe so Peter, although I could be wrong! The Catoflat has been around for a long time!

[tommygander1941]

Continuing with the chassis build mentioned above, the reason for the construction was to get a battery powered, steam outline locomotive out on the line.
This is yet another project which I have been sitting on for far too many years.... something like 30 years in fact!
It came about during the exhibition years when a locomotive body shell was made by a good friend and colleague at the time. It just sat on a plinth, static with plastic disc wheels and covered in rust effect powder. It represented a forthcoming restoration project for the fictional preservation railway and was never intended to be completed.
During the installation of the model railway into my shed, certain items had to be removed and this was one! Although not intended to work it was too good to scrap so I set about it with determination and an assortment of tools!
Much alteration was needed to make the body look the part and hold all of the necessary equipment inside the shell. A lot of cutting and reinforcing was required and new access made for the battery pack and receiver to live.
I am happy with the overall impression and here she is just leaving the workshop......





I wanted to fit an on/off switch where it wasn't visible so bought a rotary switch to fit underneath here....





Just needs the receiver to be wired in and off we go...
I think she looks quite happy to be paired up with the 'Lady'

May I ask the dimensions of this loco? Mainly width, height (both rail-to-cab & rail-to-chimney) and length but also the width between the outside frames and the tram skirts?

I'd love a loco like this, as I am obsessed with tram engines.

[Peter Butler]

May I ask the dimensions of this loco? Mainly width, height (both rail-to-cab & rail-to-chimney) and length but also the width between the outside frames and the tram skirts?

I'd love a loco like this, as I am obsessed with tram engines.

The model was originally built to represent a small standard gauge locomotive (not by me so don't ask why) and was static as previously described. I really liked it far too much to junk it so decided to narrow gauge it. Yes, it is a large loco, but looks OK alongside other stock. It is also heavy so has great pulling power. Dimensions are as follows.
Length over buffers... 330mm.
Width... 115mm
Height... 160mm +/- (cab and chimney)

The distance between the frames and skirts can be seen here, it is a GRS chassis with cylinders and cranks removed and new bevel gears installed (engineers look away now!)

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If you're into tram engines, try this one...

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[FWLR]

Peter’s skills are to be admired by those of us (me) who would never be able to achieve such modelling prowess has Peter as.