Garden Railway Forum

Another test run last weekend showed that the water pump is reliable now. That´s the good news. There still is an issue with draughting. Even at standstill using the engine blower or the electric blower I cannot get the pressure above 25 psi. As boiler and smokebox are one piece there is no leak the...

On the wagon side he is using the ladder (which is bending visibly in the video). Guess the wagon does not have a pole pocket.

I have a very old and much modified Mamod loco.
She has only very small flanges and derails on my tinplate track, even it it is completely level and straight.
So I am looking for Wheelsets with proper profile for O-gauge tinplate tracks.

Can anyone help?

26:25 shows that even on such a huge railway, the "out of scale hand from the sky" is needed.

How many fillings would an unmodified Mamod need to get round there once?

drewzero1 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:07 pm It took me a minute to recognize the tube of caulk. Looks good as a boiler!

Added benefit: it comes with a perfectly centered bit of pipe to fit the chimney on.

philipy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 8:28 am She looks superb, Holger.
Can't wait to see a video of her running.

Here you go:
https://youtu.be/qnYce0YG07A

Compared to 807, Sirapite is quite huge. I spent the last workshop sessions building the brake gear. https://up.picr.de/46954521vi.jpg Took a few tries to get the lever dimensions right. The handwheel is a Wilesco spare part. As soon as the weather gets better I will have another test run. Hopefully...

Great work.
The rounded roof corners are a good choice.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:52 pm I think it's safe to cross now...

3 dachsunds.jpg

Wow! you really taught them to wait for a safe time to cross?

As plastic, china and matal are permitted, I assume plush is also. As you may have guessed by my username, mit real-life nickname and favourite "animal" is Scrat. My old 5" gauge signal box had a Scrat as signalman: https://up.picr.de/46878170hi.jpg The switches control the layout lam...

Hi Rik,

these tram locos can become addictive....
We might hold a photo cometition on that topic as well.

I use a cheap 2.4 GHz camera and receiver set built into a bogie passenger wagon. The bogies compensate quite well. The wagon is a former GDR production with a bakelite body so the antenna is hidden inside. Powered by a 9V block battery it gives good service. Any disturbancies created by switching p...

Happe new year! December 31th she did the first lap under her own steam. This is a big step after getting just a few metres on December 26th. Niagara falls have been removed from the backhead, other minor jobs have been completed. (And new jobs identified of course) Next on the list: - engine pump i...

Got a few metres under her own steam today, but the backhead looks like a miniature version of the Niaragra Falls.

So back to the workshop.

Today there was a gap in the rain but....also a leaky fitting which kept me from firing up.
After fixing that I will try again.

We have a working water pump.

Of course, both balls were stuck in their seats.
Still waiting for good weather to have a test run.

Finally got around to make the firehole door.
As there is almost no space around it this was a bit tricky.
Clearances to any boiler fitting are 1mm.

Now I am waiting fo the storm to go somewhere else so I can test the loco.

Started running on air last weekend.

Smokebox horse has received a replacement tail.

Found suitable mounting positions for whistle and valve.

Firehole door still to be made.

Maybe she will run under her own steam still this year.

I would like a copy of the Steam Locomotive fault-finding book.

some progress: first coat of Vermillion on the buffer beams, first coat of mid Brunswick green on the wheels and some minor parts. Paint is good quality but takes a long time to dry. Next steps will be painting other parts and making a firehole door. I have a whistle and matching valve but no idea y...