Nicktoix Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 I've been fascinated by this loco since first seeing it on TV. After alot of research and a site visit last January I have at last got on with building the model. It is built from my own etches. BUT what is it ??? I'll tell you it is metre gauge and not European so suggestions welcome. It is 7mm. Basic chassis Not much room and these flanges have been turned down !! What does this suggest ? Waiting for the boiler so he can fire up. NIck 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 20 minutes ago, Nicktoix said: I've been fascinated by this loco since first seeing it on TV. After alot of research and a site visit last January I have at last got on with building the model. It is built from my own etches. BUT what is it ??? I'll tell you it is metre gauge and not European so suggestions welcome. It is 7mm. Basic chassis Not much room and these flanges have been turned down !! What does this suggest ? Waiting for the boiler so he can fire up. NIck South African? Looks like a Mallet? Statfold Barn has one but yours has a bunker not a tender? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted January 20, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 20, 2021 Could it possibly be a rack-and-adhesion locomotive like the one shown in photos 2 & 3 on this page. It was the big cylinders and what look like additional high-up axle holes that made me think of it. http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/2013/06/a-swiss-railway-interlude/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted January 20, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 20, 2021 If fact could it be one of these? https://www.steamlocomotive.info/valbum.cfm?display=17720 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktoix Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 Correct !! Nilgiri X class. 4 cylinder compound hp cylinders driving rail wheels and lp cylinders driving the rack. Originals built by SLM but converted to oil burning. Another 4 were built in India, all oil burners. There are plans to build a coal fired one in India. This is not going to be a quick build I expect it to take a year along with other projects. It will be DCC controlled with each motor independent. Nick 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted January 21, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 21, 2021 5 minutes ago, Nicktoix said: Correct !! Nilgiri X class. 4 cylinder compound hp cylinders driving rail wheels and lp cylinders driving the rack. Originals built by SLM but converted to oil burning. Another 4 were built in India, all oil burners. There are plans to build a coal fired one in India. This is not going to be a quick build I expect it to take a year along with other projects. It will be DCC controlled with each motor independent. Nick That's some project! I look forward to following progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktoix Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 This is an oil burner at Coonor last year. They have an extended smokebox and bunker along with the camel hump which is the fuel tank. I believe they are the largest rack locos in Asia, world wide the Meyer-Kitson in South America are much larger. NIck 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktoix Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 Title changed to reflect post. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 03060 Posted January 21, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 21, 2021 (edited) I will be following Nick, having seen the inception develop down at the LMRS club I thought it best not to comment on the "what is it ?" quiz. I don't usually like foreign locos but for some strange unknown reason I quite like Indian stuff and have a couple of DVDs on the subject. Looking forward to the updates. Regards, Ian. (3mm) Edited January 22, 2021 by 03060 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgundy Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 The Nilgiri is a fascinating railway and I had a trip on it in 2009. The locos are impressive beasts and coal firing on steep gradients in small tunnels must be challenging. I can understand why oil firing is attractive although I am not sure how successful it has been. At Coonoor our steam loco handed over to a diesel for the easier part of the trip. Burning bio-fuel, the diesels managed to make almost as much smoke. One of the oil burning steam locos was on shed at Coonoor but the Improved Engine Green livery did not really suit it.... Best wishes Eric 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGR Hooper! Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Incredible job @Nicktoix ...Many years ago we thought of making an HOm kit. But the cost was prohibitive and most people who generally buy our kits won't have the skills to assemble the whole loco. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted January 22, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 22, 2021 Is this line primarily a tourist operation nowadays? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGR Hooper! Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Andy Kirkham said: Is this line primarily a tourist operation nowadays? No, it runs scheduled services and tourist specials 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktoix Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 Slow progress. This is the rear end with the brake cylinders which are 3d printed. Next I fitted the track wheels and gears. The whole lot have to quartered and the rack pinions synchronised with each other and the rack. I did this by soldering a length of rack to the pinions and making all the adjustments. The white gears are "nylonish" glued to the shaft with Loctite 480. I hope I never have to take it apart. I am waiting for a new set of etches for the cylinders so have made up the expansion links meantime. Two different types. The pivots are silver soldered on first and then the rest built up from etches. They took about 2 hours in total Slow but steady. Need to go and lie in a dark room now Nick 8 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktoix Posted August 24, 2021 Author Share Posted August 24, 2021 And now the "dangly bits" aka valve gear. Quite tricky as the clearances are tight and you have to do it in the right order. LP set on the left side fitted. The piston rod is temporary fitted and won't be permanent until the cylinder covers and glands have been fitted . The glands will be resin 3d prints. The HP valve gear fitted. I made a mess of the drop link on the LP crosshead and had to fit a patch. I had theh crossheads and valve guides cast in brass.. The full set fitted on the right side with lessons learnt from the left side. A degree of surgery was required to the motion bracket to get alignments and clearances. Now to get it running freely and tidy it up. Nick 6 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktoix Posted August 26, 2021 Author Share Posted August 26, 2021 Cylinders now finished with 3d prints for glands and front cylinder covers Just got the pony truck and cowcatchers to finish on the chassis then it's onto the body. Having said that I think I'll have a rest and do summat else for a bit. This has been taxing Nick 2 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nicktoix Posted December 22, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 22, 2021 I've had a break for a bit but over the last three sessions I have got the boiler and footplate fitted permanently. The footplate looks not to be level but endless checking with a surface gauge shows that it is level. The roof is just loose on this pic. It isn't shaped correctly yet it wraps over the cab side sheets. Just got the cab to fit out and the pipework to do !!!!!! that will take sometime methinks Happy Xmas and a better New Year to all Nick 12 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted December 23, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 23, 2021 Very nice.. now for you to build a layout to go with it... Baz 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Andy Ross Posted December 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 23, 2021 He needs to build a couple of coaches first. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluestag Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 That is a LONG wheel base to be running without springs or compensation. How well does it hold the track? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus1 Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 I visited the line in 1987 and being a BR driver at the time got priv rate tickets everywhere, and the international staff pass got me a couple of footplate rides on the Nigiri. One was from Conoor to Ooty and another back down to Conoor, both on steam. there were no visible diesels then, and no oil firing. I've posted pictures of my visit on here in the "Railways of Asia" group further down The coaches were built by Ashbury in 1936. In the back of the loco shed was a diagram of the complex valve gear dating back "a long time". good luck o this project. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus1 Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/81549-nilgiri-class-x/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgundy Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 I am looking forward to some of the scenic bits...... Best wishes Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktoix Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 3 hours ago, burgundy said: I am looking forward to some of the scenic bits...... Best wishes Eric You'll be waiting then. I plan to build a short length of track with rack to show that it works. (Hopefully) Nick 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluestag Posted February 4, 2022 Share Posted February 4, 2022 And I have been thinking the A Class is tough. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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