RMweb Gold LH&JC Posted January 6, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 6, 2017 Here's a selection of photos from September to December last year, there are a load from an informal running day after Christmas to follow. Mountaineer working with other locos seemed to happen quite a bit, to be fair it was necessary on the last two photos as the rail heads were dirty and it was affecting Mountaineer's ability to haul heavy loads. Due to a windy forecast for the November running day Beddgelert was out as high winds can blow out the fires on externally fired locos. When the day came there was no wind but with damp in the air Beddgelert was showing a fair bit of steam. The Mamod has been in the works a bit having a larger meths tank fitted and Roy Wood cylinders and reversing block from the same stable added to cure her rather lacklustre performances. At the moment the only things left to do are to fit the name (Baz) and worksplates once they arrive. During the last scheduled running day of 2016 Dylan was out once more and I evidently put too much meths in her tank at some point hence the fire around the front pot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Lovely steam there William! What is that metal contraption that Bedgellert is sitting on? Is it just for steaming up, for which it looks the dog's doodahs, or does it also have another purpose? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold LH&JC Posted January 9, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks Mike, Beddgelert is indeed sat on a piece of line intended steaming up. It was intended for meths fired locos as it gives easy access to the wicks and the plate of steel under the track is hinged so you can easily see if the wicks are lit. If you do flood the burners then any burning meths will fall to the ground instead of burning the trackbed. However it's also useful for any loco as when clearing condensate from the cylinders it falls to the ground instead of pooling between the sleepers and the same can go for cleaning the lubricator. Onto photos from Wednesday 28th. It was bitterly cold all day with the standing ice on the rail heads making the line impassible for the first trains out. The first train out was a heavily modified Mamod with a rake of skips before the lines had been cleared, the rails on this section weren't that bad as the sunlight had softened the ice up nicely. Dylan was next out unfortunately she ran out of meths before completing half a lap Mountaineer was sent out. The heavy 2-6-2 however was struggling to move even herself on the icy rails, retiring to a loop at the earliest chance. Due to the ice Mountaineer beat a retreat running wrong line back to the steaming bay With the ice cleared Dylan was sent out again with a light load. Then I decided to send Mountaineer out at the same time, it's challenging running 2 live steam locos at once, but Dylan & Mountaineer are pleasant to run, if I loop them every other lap and give them a top of meths and put in a few pumps of water they'll plod along contentedly. Eventually Mountaineer retired to the sidings with Dylan taking over on the open wagons. Having run out of meths and gone cold Dylan is towed home by Mountaineer at the end of the day Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Kynaston Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Hi William, Your not all that far away from me - i'm about 20 mins (wrong side!) from Goole! Love the pictures, im just starting to gain an interest in 16mm, although more indoor electric, than live steam - but I am getting a little bit of a hankering for the Roundhouse Russell model! A quick query, if you don't mind, given that your locos are live steam and radio controlled, can you get slow running with them? Is it possible? Im thinking once the layout is up and running (bit of a way off yet!) then I might think about treating myself, but not sure how live steam would go indoors. The layout wont be particularly big (not like a garden layout) maybe 15'-20' long at most so i dont know if im expecting too much? Do you find there is much maintenance with the live steam locos? Richie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold LH&JC Posted February 17, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 17, 2017 Hello Richie Only Beddgelert is radio controlled but it isn't essential for slow running, it's chiefly a matter of knowing the loco, how much load she likes etc. If your line is going to be short and it's slow running you're after a geared loco built by Regner might be a better fit, being geared they are deceptively strong and capable of running very slowly. As for maintenance it's simple stuff, the main things to remember are to keep moving parts well oiled and use good water, if it's hard (like York's unfortunately) it's not suitable for boilers. The Millie is the only loco that's needed any major work, she needed new bearings, a new rear axle and the motion was overhauled considering that was after about 10 years use before I got her and 3 years of hard work in my ownership. If you want to visit the York club during one of our running days just ask. William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Hi Richie Have you heard about the SSP Slomo device? Apparently it fits between the wheels of live steam locos (not all models, by the look of it, and not ones with insulated wheels set to 32mm gauge, because there isn't enough room), but the videos on the web (try the Summerlands Chuffer site) show some seriously impressive slow running that looks as if it would suit your planned layout very nicely. NB I haven't tried them myself - I'm lucky enough to have a line where I can tack 7 or 8 bogie coaches behind my locos, which curbs their wilder speed excesses and makes them bark very nicely in a proper Ffestiniog kind of way! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Hi William, Your not all that far away from me - i'm about 20 mins (wrong side!) from Goole! Love the pictures, im just starting to gain an interest in 16mm, although more indoor electric, than live steam - but I am getting a little bit of a hankering for the Roundhouse Russell model! A quick query, if you don't mind, given that your locos are live steam and radio controlled, can you get slow running with them? Is it possible? Im thinking once the layout is up and running (bit of a way off yet!) then I might think about treating myself, but not sure how live steam would go indoors. The layout wont be particularly big (not like a garden layout) maybe 15'-20' long at most so i dont know if im expecting too much? Do you find there is much maintenance with the live steam locos? Richie As David has said, if you want to run Russell or similar, on a 20ft layout, the Australian Slo-Mo modification is what you need. I have seen a couple of these in use, on other people's layouts, and the transformation is transformational.....look up examples on You-Tube, and you will see why. The mod kits are not cheap, but well worth it if you want the benefit of live steam in a confined space. However, like him, I don't have need of it personally, as my latest garden layout, under construction, will have some serious room for locos to stretch their legs. I intend to purchase one eventually however, for my one manually controlled loco. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CME and Bottlewasher Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 As David has said, if you want to run Russell or similar, on a 20ft layout, the Australian Slo-Mo modification is what you need. I have seen a couple of these in use, on other people's layouts, and the transformation is transformational.....look up examples on You-Tube, and you will see why. The mod kits are not cheap, but well worth it if you want the benefit of live steam in a confined space. However, like him, I don't have need of it personally, as my latest garden layout, under construction, will have some serious room for locos to stretch their legs. I intend to purchase one eventually however, for my one manually controlled loco. I agree, we keep meaning to get some. Helps with control and scale running speeds and when the loco is fitted with such, perhaps a whistle, maybe dummy cylinder drain-cocks, modified exhaust sound et al. then the loco really comes to life, takes away any toy-like qualities. I would have thought that the driving experience would feel more realistic and enjoyable too. I think I spied such on the current Association of 16mm NGM DVD too. ATVB CME Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Kynaston Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Guys, Apologies for the delayed reply. Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions - food for thought! I must go and look up these slow-mo devices now! William - thanks for the offer of visiting York on a running day, I will drop you a PM as soon as i have some spare time and find out what your running days are - work seems to be taking up way too much time at the moment! Thanks for the friendly responses tho chaps. Richie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold LH&JC Posted March 2, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2017 In preparation for the February running day E.11 my faithful brake van was sent to the works for attention including its 4th roof, a far more substantial lamp iron on the back, and some patch painting. While attaching the new roof the step board (a replacement of the original which must have broken a long time ago) also broke along most of its length. Replacing it would have involved removing the roof so it got a bodged repair with 2 sets of metal plates sandwiching weak area. Mountaineer was out and after struggling to maintain pressure, late last year I pulled out the wicks however I pulled them out too far meaning the heat was being wasted. After packing them down a bit she was let out again and was back to her old self. Baz has finally been named with the arrival of a set of plates from Narrow Planet, usual disclaimer. Mountaineer is also now sporting a set of JBM plates as it was the work by Barry Milner that made Mountaineer a working loco as opposed to a shelf queen. Trimming the trees within the willow loop has improved the view massively. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold LH&JC Posted July 31, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 31, 2017 Despite being quiet on here I'm still playing trains regularly. The only kit building I've done is outshopping a Jurassic 1 plank wagon which came in very handy during the club's (very wet) Easter open day. Also after only 2 years of thinking about it I've finally painted Beddgelert's wheels, it was a simple job but it does make quite a difference in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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