Garden Railway Forum

That is exactly what I found Ian, both sides piston head O rings had issues, one side more than the other. I had proper replacments that came with Earl, so both cylinders got fresh O rings on the piston heads and the two steam lines that go into the valve block. I know it has a bit of a timing issue...

Our railway is duel theme, being W&L on one side and USA shortline/logging on the other. The slope back tender was for engine driver to better see his brakeman's hand signals in the days before radio control. This type of engine would have spent her days breaking down and building up road freigh...

First run of our new Pearse Switcher on the railway. Still has issues keeping up steam, and I cannot figure out why yet. She is very slow to raise steam(jet has been cleaned and she lights easy), even with the steam stop valve open, pressure stays up, but once running she gobbles it right up and eve...

Here is a better picture of the whole Switcher with its tender. Got the decals installed and the front/rear headlight bulbs and wiring done. Still need to repair the hood hinge, one end arm is missing. Need to find a big enough piece of sheet brass to form up a new one. So right now the roof wont st...

Here are a couple of pics I took from my old issues of Steam in the Garden magazines. First one is a younger Ian Pearse next to the late Bob Osterhoudt of Rio Pecos discussing the Sierra Nevada(would love to have one of those engines!) Second is the ad for the Switcher from the same dealer. Fran Ost...

Here is the switcher, or atleast the engine portion as the tender is in pieces while I redo the radio gear install and fit working lights. She was a bit of a mess when I got it. But the price was right and I have wanted one of these for awhile.

Here is my new Pearse 0-4-0 Switcher, slowly coming back from the dead. Frame took a hit on the front corner which bent it over and bound up the front axle. I took her somewhat apart and "adjusted" things to free up the bind. She now runs well, frame is stil tweaked a bit, will require a f...

Thanks Ian, I will post some pics of the Switcher soon, bringing her back from the dead. She was a bit beat up to say the least. Mike

Very nice, I'm actively looking for a other Pearse engine to buy, either UK style or USA. But is has to be 45mm gauge/dual gauge for my line

Lets start a Pearse photo collection. Post up your Pearse live steamers, be they in the garden or sitting on the kitchen counter. Here is one of my two Pearse engines(waiting on FedEx to deliver #2). W&L #1 The Earl, works number 108, lined, RCS 2.4ghz RC control and very worn but still a strong...

I think Ian hangs out here from time to time, hopefully he will chime in. I am curious how many(roughly) of the American style live steamers were made? Pearse did the 0-4-0 switcher with the slope back tender(Just bought one of those and am awaiting its arrival), the Colorado 2-6-0 and tender, and t...

I'm running mixed gas, 70/30 Coleman brand fuel. I also let Earl come up to pressure sitting on the stove inside the house. Once good and warm, the fuel tank does fine, even in much colder air temps. I ran him last winter at near 0'F!!!

We got a nice dusting of snow and some cold air this morning, so after some needed service work to correct a loose smokebox and upper lamp iron. I took a pic of her as she came up to pressure(spent most of that time in the house on the oven top raising steam). Then I took a short video of Earl hauli...

Our local steam group, led by Jim Sanders aka Wee Bee Loco Works, set up his portable layout at a train show in Indianapolis this past Saturday. This was our final set up for 2019. Not a big turnout for both the show or our loose knit group of live steamers. Many having family obligations that day. ...

Clevedon Steam has a very suitable tank as model steam boats need to keep the oil from going out the exhaust and into the water they run in. He is making me up a fitting and knows there is a need for this type of fitting. I am hoping he makes this part available for the masses. The thread into the b...

I just wish Mamod supplied the fitting that screws into the cylinder block so as to fit a silicone hose to the condsiate tank. Need a 4ba to hose barb fitting. I can get a nice condisate tank from Clevedon steam. Yes, blowing hot water, steam and oil everywhere out the side of the cylinder is about ...

If the Mamod tram is to expensive, then maybe you should go look at the battery RC range from Roundhouse, Its just as much to way more than the Mamod tram depending on which model you chose from their range. Is it expenisve, yes, but so is most anything else brand new in model trains in every scale....

Which ever way it points, its gonna get plumbed up thru the roof. I may convert my railway to mostly all Mamod stuff. I have played with many other live steamers from Pearse(which is for sale right now) to Asters. And while my taller raised line will remain gauge 1/45mm. I would like to build a smal...

To me is better built than the Regner one that used to be offered for their Willi model. It was a mix of wood and metal and quite flimsy. I am a bit hamfisted at times(autistic with body/space cordination issues among other issues), so I prefer something all metal and heavily built. What I dont like...

Thats how my Regner Willi was back years ago. Only sold it to pay other bills that life created. Current job does away with that problem at the current time. Since I could not get another Willi and with Chaloner being double the price of the Brunel, a Brunel it was. Its on its way to me now, should ...