Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

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andrew.giffen3052
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Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by andrew.giffen3052 » Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:03 pm

I had a request to build a pair of these lovely "flying fifteen" Rhodesia railways 15a class garratts, which to me really hark back to a golden age of steam travel, I don't know but say, 1950s or so, loping across the "veld" on passenger express trains.

Getting drawings was quite a challenge, but even general arrangement drawings show all the critical dimensions, including the exact centres for all rods and valve gear.

I didn't need to worry too much about valve events as they are battery electric and I'm chatting with Fosworks as to how best to run them with a garratt sounding chuff , headlights and maybe a bit of smoke if possible. All new ground for me as I'm a live steam man usually.

It will be nice to get them into the sunshine and rolling this summer before they go to their new homes.
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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by andrew.giffen3052 » Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:17 pm

With a few more pics..
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Peter Butler
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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by Peter Butler » Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:41 pm

Wow!!!! that's some introduction Andrew.
You are most certainly welcome on the Forum, I think we may learn a lot from your experience and undoubted talent.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by andrew.giffen3052 » Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:41 pm

Thank you! I forgot to say, they are on 45mm gauge and are 1.1 metres long

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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by georgesheppard » Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:32 pm

:shock:

They look amazing! The craftsmanship is superb. Please share a video of them in action when you get them out in the sunshine for testing!

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philipy
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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by philipy » Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:02 am

georgesheppard wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:32 pm :shock:

They look amazing! The craftsmanship is superb. Please share a video of them in action when you get them out in the sunshine for testing!
Yes, indeed!
Philip

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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by ge_rik » Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:11 am

I thought the first couple of photos were the real thing included for reference when I first read this thread.

Wow! What an entrance! Welcome aboard.

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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by andrew.giffen3052 » Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:34 am

Thanks Rik,
Did I read that you have a mate building a 15F? I built a few of them, most recently a 5" gauge live steamer, so it would be nice to be in touch with him. Pic attached. From works drawings
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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by Andrew » Fri Jun 11, 2021 8:41 am

Oh wow! Those are beautiful!

I agree, if there's any chance of a video it would be great to see them in action...

Welcome aboard!

Andrew.

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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by -steves- » Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:14 am

WOW, just WOW, my hat goes off to you sir, absolutely amazing :salute:
The buck stops here .......

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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by andrew.giffen3052 » Fri Jun 11, 2021 12:51 pm

Thank you all, yes the running part is the big thing now. I have tested each engine unit separately using a 12v battery and simple speed controller and the wheels go round, so step one successful. As my 12v battery is the motorbike variety, it won't fit in the boiler so I have to purchase something else, and if I do that I'd be silly not to do so as part of a full electronics package so I'm looking forward to the quote from Fosworks who've recently kitted out a garratt and Steve is worth talking to.

It's not your garden variety of garden railway loco! I also confess that these are not the first garratts I built... so I did most of my learning curve last year on a pair of SAR gmam double mountain garratts, now gone out to SA.

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Re: Rhodesia railways garratts, battery electric

Post by Old Man Aaron » Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:41 am

Simply stunning.
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works

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