Re: TVT - The Skylark That Couldn't
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:28 am
As mentioned above, between the local weather and other issues, I hadn't got around to load testing this loco since it entered service.
It's now officially summer here and having hacked the track out of the jungle in the backyard and poisoned the weeds, we finally got a nice day for a run. With a clear blue sky, no wind and a temperature around the 20C mark, I finally ran the first train since about Easter.
The Skylark has now passed it's load test with flying colours..........
The first photo shows it out on the mainline hauling 11 timber pairs (44 axles) off the bridge at about 15 smph. The speed remained constant on the curves and on a slight grade where the ground has subsided a bit during the recent very wet winter.
The second photo shows it pushing the train back into the yard through two s-bends at the end of the run.
The loco weighs 1.8kg, with a drawbar pull of 400g. The train weighs about 5kg, but is free rolling with a rolling resistance of 180g, so well within the haulage power of the Skylark on straight track, but getting close to the limit on curves.
It should be pointed out that this is a ludicrous load for a Skylark on a Victorian timber tramway. When the prototype was at work on Russell's Tramway in the Dandenongs, it would have struggled with three loaded pairs.
Regards,
Graeme
It's now officially summer here and having hacked the track out of the jungle in the backyard and poisoned the weeds, we finally got a nice day for a run. With a clear blue sky, no wind and a temperature around the 20C mark, I finally ran the first train since about Easter.
The Skylark has now passed it's load test with flying colours..........
The first photo shows it out on the mainline hauling 11 timber pairs (44 axles) off the bridge at about 15 smph. The speed remained constant on the curves and on a slight grade where the ground has subsided a bit during the recent very wet winter.
The second photo shows it pushing the train back into the yard through two s-bends at the end of the run.
The loco weighs 1.8kg, with a drawbar pull of 400g. The train weighs about 5kg, but is free rolling with a rolling resistance of 180g, so well within the haulage power of the Skylark on straight track, but getting close to the limit on curves.
It should be pointed out that this is a ludicrous load for a Skylark on a Victorian timber tramway. When the prototype was at work on Russell's Tramway in the Dandenongs, it would have struggled with three loaded pairs.
Regards,
Graeme