Garden Railway Forum

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.

With a few more pics..

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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.

Rik

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

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.

WOW, just WOW, my hat goes off to you sir, absolutely amazing

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.

Simply stunning.