Fireless

INJIN · Post by **INJIN** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:29 pm

Here is something you don't see every day. A fireless locomotive built by Mike Gaskin. You just "Pump it up" away it goes.

Here is a video if it in action...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRT_OjiUnU

Keith

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:47 pm

What pressure is it taken up to?

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 7:11 pm

An interesting model.

So this operates on compressed air rather than steam like a true Fireless?

Chris Cairns.

INJIN · Post by **INJIN** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:33 pm

Chris Cairns:89868 wrote:An interesting model.

So this operates on compressed air rather than steam like a true Fireless?

Chris Cairns.

Yup, Just pump it up to about 120psi & away it goes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRT_Oji ... 8X6xxnTtow

McRuss · Post by **McRuss** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:40 pm

How long does the loco run?

Markus

INJIN · Post by **INJIN** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:47 pm

Errr well.........................'Bout 30 yards!!

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Sun Sep 29, 2013 11:47 pm

Thanks for posting that photo.

I guess the next model will be a true Fireless although getting a suitable source of steam at 120 PSI will prove interesting.

Our railway group, the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group, is restoring an Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Fireless (AB 1952/1928). As we do not have a stationary boiler it has/will be filled using our working Barclay (AB 2244/1947), which means a lot of work for the fireman as it needs maximum pressure to transfer the steam and is done over 2 days. It has been a long restoration but it is hoped it will be in steam again next year to celebrate the group's 40th anniversary.

Chris Cairns.

jay1976 · Post by **jay1976** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:37 am

INJIN:89890 wrote:Errr well.........................'Bout 30 yards!!

A bit like the real ones then..
there used to be on at bressingham which stood at the entrace for years but before that it did go up and down there short mainline on cab rides I can remember it doing a few runs and needing topping up with pressure..

Jon Taylor · Post by **Jon Taylor** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 9:29 am

This loco was originally built by Mike for me, in (I think) 2001/2, and is a model of the S&KLR 'Unique'. Mike used a Roundhouse chassis, and the air receiver is a seamless copper tube, with a very substantial girder stay threaded, screwed and silver soldered into the end plates for strength. Cylinder lubrication was by a gravity feed tube.

The loco was intended for shunting my layout, and was originally pressurised via an electric tyre inflater.

I donated the loco to the SKLR a few years ago- good to see it running again!

BTW- there is an older model of the same loco around somewhere, using Mike's own chassis with a short valve cut off to use the air with maximum efficiency- an article about this inspired me to get in touch with Mike to commission the one seen here.

Jon Taylor, Stowmarket, Suffolk.

INJIN · Post by **INJIN** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:32 am

Hi John
Great to here from it's original owner.

Derek Wiggins borrowed it from the SKLR for the show at Peterborough so we decided to give it a run before handing it back. The air pipe had a blockage when we first tried to get it to run, young Luke put a new one on & away she went.

The other engine was also at Peterborough this year, here are a couple of photo's of them together.

Cheers

Keith

JCSteam · Post by **JCSteam** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 11:02 pm

I know this is an old thread but are these two still running, to me it seems a fairly cheap way of running a railway on small lines. And I'd be interested in knowing thickness's of the end plates and seamless tube steam tank

Roundhouse chassis £400
Bits for steam tank £150
Bodywork £70
Paint £50
Bike pump £40
Smile of face seeing your creation quietly running PRICELESS!

Garden Railway Forum

Fireless

Fireless

Fireless Loco

Who is online