Buffer Height

[Steamcoaster]

I am trying to determine buffer heights. I am modelling the WHR. I have been following some drawings published by the 7mm scale society and the buffer heights between engines, carriages and Waggon varies.

Throw in ex WD D Waggons and Ashover Railway equipment and that seems different again.

I have an IP Engineering Waggon with a coupling height which seems to agree with the drawings but is clearly at odds when compared to a cooper craft slate Waggon which has a lower buffer height.

Now, I'd like to ascertain the actual buffer height for the WHR and WD railways.

All help gratefully received.

[MDLR]

The standard most of us adopt is to have the centre buffer 1" (25mm) above rail level and hang what they were in real life - that way your stock will ALL couple!

[Big Al]

I agree with Brian 25mm above rail.

[Steamcoaster]

OK. I agree. But...

The WD D wagon bogies have a buffer height of 1ft 4 apparently. Making this 18 inches or 25mm is OK. It means putting a joggle in the draw bars. This matches the cooper craft wagons I have.

The drawings I have suggest the WHR and FR was/is 18 inches or 24mm. Rounding to 25mm is OK.

The IP kit dimensions do match the 7mm scale drawings but the buffer height is nearer 32mm. I had thought about modifying the kit but I've built it now and it's a nice model. Lowering the buffer will make it look odd but functional.

I can't help thinking there is an error somewhere. It could be the 7mm scale drawings from which the IP kits may have got dimensions from. And the error is on the drawings? Or the drawings are correct and the buffer heights were different - surely not?

My view at the moment is that the wheels need to be mounted closer to the body to reduce the ride height and bring the buffers to 25mm.

Many thanks for your help.

[IrishPeter]

32mm - 2' sounds rather high for slate quarry gauge, so I think there might be a error there, especially if the drawing or model is meant to represent a FR or WDLR. I think you are looking at 16" to 18" for any of their stuff.

32mm is close to what I use in 15mm scale to represent the usual buffer height for 3' gauge Irish tramways, which was 2'3" unloaded or 34mm. The more mainline Donegal lines were higher, as was the CB&PR. The Castlederg and the NCC(NG) were a little lower at 1'10.5" or about 28mm.

Peter in AZ

[MDLR]

This has always been a thorny subject. If you're just running your stock with your locos, you can build to exact scale (and from the figures that have been bandied about, the odd millimetre between friends isn't going to matter).

If you want to run with other people's stock, then we nearly all run at 25mm or thereabouts buffer height on 32 mm gauge so you would perhaps have to compromise a little. You pays your money.................

Of course, changing the gauge / scale introduces a completely different set of factors!

[IrishPeter]

25mm is sufficiently well established SM32 as to be a case of needing a darn good reason todo something else. Even I would go with the flow on this one if I were a 2' gauge.

I prefer to manifest my salmon DNA is other ways - like modelling Irish 3' gauge! Even there I will eventually conform to the 33/34mm height established by Accucraft with their IMR models.

Peter in AZ

[Steamcoaster]

I am satisfied with 25mm. It's near enough.

I am still left with an IP WHR Waggon with a much higher buffer height nearer 32mm. My solution is to going to have to be to cut away the running gear and fit new axle boxes, W irons and brake gear to suit a reduced ride height.

[METHSSNIFFER]

Always a tricky one is there a formula with respect to wheel diameter

[Steamcoaster]

Not really. Got to knock 8mm off. Would end up with very small wheels. The wheels are the right size too.

I have decided to cut away the running gear and add some Brandbright W irons and axle boxes. Hopefully the sole bars will be in the right place.

Jurassic brake can next I think.

[IrishPeter]

What is the design of the bogie bolsters like? Cano you loose some height there too?

Peter in AZ