Garden Railway Forum

Hello,
Can I run a MSS side tank loco on 4' diameter curves (MSS sells 5' diameter curved track) ?
I use Piko 600mm radius curves (G scale track) on my layout.
Many thanks for all your replies.

Not a chance!

(you are asking about 4 inches but probably mean 4 feet. Should be fine)

I think you may have a problem there if the loco has the as-built MSS wheels (and if you mean Peco rather than Piko) - see the thread I started in the Mamod & MSS subforum:
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 44&t=11359

But the subject seems rather uncertain so I couldn't swear to it.

Busted Bricks wrote: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:29 pm(you are asking about 4 inches but probably mean 4 feet. Should be fine)

Oops. My mistake.

Thanks for your help gentlemen. So I can't run this loco on my 600mm curves. It's a very bad news. What can I do ? Buying bigger curves ? It's a big amount of money.

Normandin,

Don't despair! There's a solution out there. Problem is, I'm not sure what it is...

It's a confusing subject. I've found a definite problem, which has been independently corroborated by Dream Steam. However, the video posted on the thread I started appears to show no problem.

The issue appears to be entirely down to the profile of the MSS wheels (the exact shape of the flange) and the way they interact with different types of track. My original Mamod wheels are fine on Peco at 3 ft radius; but on the same loco new MSS wheels are not. There are other wheels that can be fitted to MSS locos, although I'm waiting for more certainty that they will work before ordering.

Also, I'm using flexible track whereas you (and the video) have fixed radii track. That could make a difference even though my radius is larger than yours; I simply don't know.

Sorry I can't give a definite solution, but I think there is one and it might even be that you'll have no problem at all even though I have one.

PS: You might ask for this thread to be moved to the Mamods & MSS subforum as in future other MSS owners looking for useful information are likely to look there.

Moved to Mamod section.

tom_tom_go wrote: Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:06 am Moved to Mamod section.

Thanks.

CSL, thank you very much for your answer.

There is no solution in sight. My MSS steam project is cancelled. I also got a top priority order from SWMBO: " A steam loco in my house ? Never !"

I cant see any reason why you cant run it on a 2' radius on 45mm gauge. Ive had mine round an 18 inch curve on standard wheelsets

Thanks DLRdan.

This morning I got this answer from Dream Steam:
"The MSS locomotives have quite shallow flanges and can sometimes derail on LGB points, the 4’ diameter curves may also be a little too tight for the loco to manage. The minimum radius an MSS can manage easily is 3 feet 6 inches."

It is still possible to replace the MSS wheels on the loco, though. I'm not buying replacements* until I have more clarity on this, which I don't as yet.

*Note that my issue is that the original wheels on my ancient Mamod loco (the basic type now sold by MSS) have worked loose on the axles, and when I fitted new MSS wheels I found they bind on curves where the old Mamod wheels do not.

Thanks for your answer.

CSL,

You can purchase steel replacement wheels for your Mamod from Roy Wood Models. The bearings are a little larger, so the frames will require easing with a rat tail file. Go easy, it doesn't take long, I also purchased coupling rods as the original brass items had oval holes. The circlips should be removed & replaced (without washers or the wheels will bind) inside a plastic bag.

I have two SL1s, one of which had only one cylinder when I bid for it. Loco 1 now has RWM "O" ring pistons & cylinders, RWM lubricator, RWM silver soldered boiler with sight glass & Goodall filler, RWM 40psi safety valve & needle valve regulator, Forest Classics gas firing, RWM wheels & coupling rods. Only the frames, drag beam & reversing valve are original, The cab has also changed to match the RWM "Janet" style.

Loco 2 has the original boiler fitted with Goodall filler, RWM 40psi safety valve & needle valve regulator, lubricator & Forest Classics gas firing, The original running gear works very well for now. Both locos are very easy to control & will haul substantial loads. Loco 1 had 7.5 kg & 16 axles on the drawbar, whilst running on the West Herts indoor track last Saturday. I must get more wagons. The ones I have are all loaded with timber, rocks & pieces of lead & they aren't heavy enough.

Abiogenedis,

Thanks for the tip - am looking into it!

Six months on to the day and we have success!

I have fitted Roy Wood wheelsets and - admittedly after one run only - seem to have a much happier Mamod SL3.

I fitted meths firing some time back in the Nineties (Kenversions I think) which gives about eight minutes' running, and at long last it will run continuous circuits of my modest garden line (an almost flat loop with Peco SM32 track and nominally three-foot radius curves) for most of that time.

It was only hauling two Mamod coaches but I'm not convinced more can be expected. Am I being unambitious? (I don't really want to change to gas firing for thia loco.)

New thread started regarding performance improvements to Mamod/MSS locos:

https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 44&t=11937

If he means Piko, as in the clone of LGB track, the MSS loco will be just fine on the 600mm curves if the speed is kept reasonable. Now the Peco brand track is another story as can be read elsewhere here. I have run MSS loco's on my LGB 600mm diameter track, their R1, without any major issues but if you let the speed get to fast, she will derail or roll over on her side. Mike the Aspie