Tram engine 'Ellie'

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pandsrowe
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Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by pandsrowe » Tue Nov 14, 2017 7:56 am

Anyone here planning on building this engine?
The construction book that I had ordered arrived yesterday and I think that it is going to be an ideal winter project, a very simple design using standard stock materials plus some purchased gears. The designed body is a bit plain in my view but can be easily enhanced with a bit of 'bling or ingenuity depending on your point of view.
Phil

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:16 am

Hi Phil,

Not aware of this loco and book, more info please?

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by GTB » Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:49 am

tom_tom_go wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:16 am Not aware of this loco and book, more info please?
The original loco build was serialised in the Australian Model Engineering magazine (AME) a couple of years ago. The articles have now been republished in book form by Camden and the book was released recently.

https://www.camdenmin.co.uk/collections ... steam-tram

It is a single geared oscillating cylinder drive and spirit fired pot boiler, so not difficult to build if you have the machinery. Some laser cut parts are available I think and the gears are Meccano.

Regards,
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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Big Jim » Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:05 am

That looks rather interesting Phil. I had not heard of it, the availability of some parts means that it should be a nice and quick build.
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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:57 am

So you need a lathe to build it?

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by GTB » Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:04 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:57 am So you need a lathe to build it?
It's assumed in the articles that a lathe would be available to make the cylinder and wheels, plus heating gear to make the boiler, otherwise it's mostly hand tools.

Commercial parts from the likes of RWM could probably be used with a bit of redesign.

Graeme

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Big Jim » Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:23 pm

I was wondering about the possibility of using mamod stationary engine bits. Or even using the frame and rods for a ic outline loco. It's the jackshaft drive that does it for me.
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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Busted Bricks » Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:32 pm

I have ordered the book. Once I've had a chance to study it, I might make a few design changes to suit the gears and wheels I have available. The plan is to start engine production once I have relocated to Denmark. I suspect the engine for the Cracker can be used on the Ellie as well.

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Ripon » Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:49 pm

I've had the book for a couple of weeks now so have started on a few bits as in the photo. Seems very clear and fairly simple but time will tell. Progress will be slow as I am also building a 5" gauge loco and awaiting some gear cutters from China. I'll post photos of progress if anyone is interested.
20171115_165748.jpg
20171115_165748.jpg (24.89 KiB) Viewed 7880 times

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Big Jim » Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:50 pm

Very interested. Please post away, the more the merrier.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by tom_tom_go » Wed Nov 15, 2017 6:09 pm

Any scale, any gauge!

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Ripon » Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:23 pm

16mm scale. 32mm or 45mm gauge.

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Busted Bricks » Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:29 pm

What diameter are the wheels across the tread?

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Ripon » Wed Nov 15, 2017 10:03 pm

Wheels are 38mm across the tread, 42mm across the flange. I turned mine from some 2 inch steel bar.

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by FWLR » Thu Nov 16, 2017 7:52 am

I would love to have a go at building a loco..but don’t have a lathe, surface grinder or a bench mounted drill....the CEO would go mad if i bought any of them :) :)

Must be a loco i could build without any of that stuff. :?:

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Big Jim » Thu Nov 16, 2017 10:11 am

Must be a loco i could build without any of that stuff. :?:
It can be done, ready made parts are available from people like Roy Wood Models, although you might be limited in what you can build. Various bits of Mamod stationary engines and traction engines have been used to produce a simple geared loco.
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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Nov 16, 2017 10:31 am

Yep, Roundhouse do ready made parts so you only need hand tools.

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Busted Bricks » Thu Nov 16, 2017 11:58 am

Would you be interested in a kit?

For good reasons I can't make Ellie kits but I have my own simple design in the works and would make it available as a kit. It just seems like the garden railway world predominantly consists of nay-sayers who think I won't be able to sell more than a few a year and therefore it's unlikely it will be a viable business (not my only line of business I would hasten to add - I turn a profit on my laser cutting business). Maybe they are right?

I have been involved in the R/C aircraft hobby for over 25 years and these days hardly anyone builds their own models but prefer to buy ready-to-fly models. I wonder if the same is the case in this hobby?

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by FWLR » Thu Nov 16, 2017 12:09 pm

What would they consist of and at what price point please.

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Re: Tram engine 'Ellie'

Post by Busted Bricks » Thu Nov 16, 2017 12:22 pm

FWLR wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2017 12:09 pm What would they consist of and at what price point please.
I'm not far enough into the process to give a clear price but I'm very much aiming for the budget end of the market. I think even the cheapest RTR loco on the market these days is out of financial range for some people.

Kits could be as little or as much as you want. Chassis with no engine, engine, boiler kit, ready made boiler etc. I have recently acquired an automatic lathe for production of fittings. Wheels, gears and other parts I have made to order. Missing bit is still the fiber laser cutter - I'm about £5K short on having saved enough up for that. I have considered crowdfunding but that can be a bit hit and miss. Investors and banks are not interested in small businesses. Therefore things progress as and when I can afford it.

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