Tucking Mill

[queensquare]

With TM going to the SWAG RMWeb day this coming Sunday I thought it worth showing the progress on the ex-SECR O.

The loco and tender chassis went together pretty well although the tender frames are several mm too long for some reason although the wheelbase is correct so I just cut them down. They are shown, along with the wheels, ready for painting.

 

 

Once painted I temporarily popped the wheels in using bits of plastic tube so I could check clearances. For the drive I’m going to use one of the new Association 30:1 gear blocks. I’ve not used one yet but Tony Gee brought a Dean goods he’s fitted one in to Missenden and it ran very nicely.

The body has only got as far as the basic footplate, cab and smoke box front - the boiler is just a bit of tube cut to length and is still loose. Overall it all fitted very well, the Stirling cab proved to be nothing like as tricky as I had feared. I marked the centreline on both the cab front and roof/side strip, clamped the former to my bench, lined up the scribed marks and tacked it in place, using a bit of wood to form the curve. 

 

Jerry

 

 

 

 

[65179]

Looks good Jerry. How are you going to secure the gearbox given the holey chassis?

 

Simon (trying to get Adam West era Batman out of my head)

[queensquare]

31 minutes ago, 65179 said:

Looks good Jerry. How are you going to secure the gearbox given the holey chassis?

 

Simon (trying to get Adam West era Batman out of my head)

 

Thanks Simon,

 

The current thinking, (and as usual Im making it up as I go along!), is that the gearbox will be trapped rather than fixed which will hopefully keep it centred around the drive axle with the minimum of friction. The idea is to add insulating cheeks to the inside of the chassis frames from either plasticard or double sided pcb to represent the firebox sides and prevent the gearbox from moving laterally. A strip across the bottom where the ashpan would be will stop it rotating. The fact that the gearbox is connected to the motor by a UJ will mean that a couple of thou of movement in either direction is of no consequence as the all important relationship between the worm and final drive is fixed. We shall see!!

 

Jerry

 

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by queensquare

[queensquare]

The other unfinished item( there are plenty to choose from!) that I will be taking to Taunton on Sunday is my little Ford railcar which hasn’t seen progress for at least a couple of years - mainly because it’s ridiculously  small and has so far had two failed attempts at making it go without filling the entire body with mechanism. There will be a third attempt but not for some while.

 

Jerry

 

 

[2mm Andy]

This film of the real thing (well, a replica) popped up recently.

 

Andy

 

 

[t-b-g]

16 hours ago, queensquare said:

With TM going to the SWAG RMWeb day this coming Sunday I thought it worth showing the progress on the ex-SECR O.

The loco and tender chassis went together pretty well although the tender frames are several mm too long for some reason although the wheelbase is correct so I just cut them down. They are shown, along with the wheels, ready for painting.

 

 

Once painted I temporarily popped the wheels in using bits of plastic tube so I could check clearances. For the drive I’m going to use one of the new Association 30:1 gear blocks. I’ve not used one yet but Tony Gee brought a Dean goods he’s fitted one in to Missenden and it ran very nicely.

The body has only got as far as the basic footplate, cab and smoke box front - the boiler is just a bit of tube cut to length and is still loose. Overall it all fitted very well, the Stirling cab proved to be nothing like as tricky as I had feared. I marked the centreline on both the cab front and roof/side strip, clamped the former to my bench, lined up the scribed marks and tacked it in place, using a bit of wood to form the curve. 

 

Jerry

 

 

 

 

 

It seems odd seeing my name crop up on a 2mm thread but I am enjoying my little excursion into the small stuff. The Dean Goods took much fiddling about to get it to run. The main frames and a home made gearbox were done before it came to me and after several attempts to get it to go, the arrival of the Association gear box was very timely and all the problems went away fairly quickly.

 

We gave it a test run on Yeovil Town last night and it seems fine.

 

It has crossed my mind that the gearbox, as it has holes in the gears and the frame that will take a 1/8th inch axle, might be useful in some tiny 4mm scale locos too. I ended up removing a flywheel that was between the gearbox and the drive shaft coupling. It didn't run quite true and the loco was smoother without it. The space freed up in the firebox will allow more weight to be added.

 

 

Here is a snap of the Dean Goods, almost finished now. Just crank pin retainers and balance weights to go, unless I have forgotten something!

 

[D869]

2 hours ago, t-b-g said:

The Dean Goods took much fiddling about to get it to run

You've got the hang of it now so the next loco will be easier.

 

Nice job BTW.

[t-b-g]

45 minutes ago, D869 said:

You've got the hang of it now so the next loco will be easier.

 

Nice job BTW.

 

Thanks.

 

99% of the difficulty was in taking over something that had been started by somebody else. The tender was built and the loco mechanism started. Sadly, there were all sorts of problems with things not being as straight and parallel as they should be. If (and it is a big if!) there is another one, it will be done starting afresh. I didn't have a problem working with the size of the bits, just that what was done already wasn't quite right. Even the tender outside frames needed replacing as they were pantograph milled (very nicely) from quite thick material and set so close to the wheels that they wouldn't go round freely on straight track and any sign of a curve, even a large radius, caused it to come off the rails.

 

Most of my modelling is in 4mm (EM Gauge) but I also dabble in 7mm. Trying to add 2mm on a regular basis is probably spreading myself a bit too far. So there won't be a 2mm project from me but I don't mind helping Laurie Adams out a bit on Yeovil. 

 

We do have a lovely photo of a Dean Goods on a Yeovil Pen Mill to Taunton passenger train approaching Yeovil Town and it looks like a 3 carriage set with at least the leading carriage being a clerestory. The other carriages are not visible enough to see what they are. So my next foray into 2mm might involve a visit to the Worsley Works range to obtain some etches for some carriages. 

[queensquare]

28 minutes ago, t-b-g said:

 

Thanks.

 

99% of the difficulty was in taking over something that had been started by somebody else. The tender was built and the loco mechanism started. Sadly, there were all sorts of problems with things not being as straight and parallel as they should be. If (and it is a big if!) there is another one, it will be done starting afresh. I didn't have a problem working with the size of the bits, just that what was done already wasn't quite right. Even the tender outside frames needed replacing as they were pantograph milled (very nicely) from quite thick material and set so close to the wheels that they wouldn't go round freely on straight track and any sign of a curve, even a large radius, caused it to come off the rails.

 

Most of my modelling is in 4mm (EM Gauge) but I also dabble in 7mm. Trying to add 2mm on a regular basis is probably spreading myself a bit too far. So there won't be a 2mm project from me but I don't mind helping Laurie Adams out a bit on Yeovil. 

 

We do have a lovely photo of a Dean Goods on a Yeovil Pen Mill to Taunton passenger train approaching Yeovil Town and it looks like a 3 carriage set with at least the leading carriage being a clerestory. The other carriages are not visible enough to see what they are. So my next foray into 2mm might involve a visit to the Worsley Works range to obtain some etches for some carriages. 

 

Its a slippery slope Tony, I hope you keep sliding!

 

Jerry

[queensquare]

17 hours ago, 2mm Andy said:

This film of the real thing (well, a replica) popped up recently.

 

Andy

 

 

 

Thanks for posting Andy. Unfortunately the film highlights my problem - its basically a greenhouse on wheels with knowhere to hide a mechanism! That said, if I ever get it to work getting a sound file shouldnt be a problem!

 

Jerry

[bécasse]

1 hour ago, queensquare said:

 

Thanks for posting Andy. Unfortunately the film highlights my problem - its basically a greenhouse on wheels with knowhere to hide a mechanism! That said, if I ever get it to work getting a sound file shouldnt be a problem!

On the West Sussex, they sometimes ran with a lightweight 4-plank open wagon between them. Mounting a Tramfabriek motor low in such a wagon, covered by a "tarpaulin", with an ersatz tender drive to each railbus might just provide a solution. 

 

Scroll down to third photo

Edited April 21, 2022 by bécasse

[queensquare]

Bit more progress on the O this evening.  The boiler was cut, the firebox sides bent down and a piece of tube turned to form the smoke box wrapper. The boiler and fittings are just balanced for the benefit of the camera.

 

Jerry 

 

[queensquare]

A line up of the TM stud waiting to be cleaned and serviced in readiness for the layouts first outing in over two years, SWAG RMWeb day in Taunton tomorow,

 

Jerry

 

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by queensquare

[Kylestrome]

7 minutes ago, queensquare said:

A line up of the TM stud ...

 

A Steam Gala at Tucking Mill!  👍

[queensquare]

.......... and on its wheels.

I was asked on today's 2mm Zoom meeting about livery. It will be apple green, like Holly the Hudswell Clarke in the TM picture above with NSLR on the tender and possibly simple red lining. I've not decided yet if it will be named although I do have some more nameplates in stock which Bob Jones kindly did for me - more family members.

 

Jerry

 

[tapdieuk]

Jerry thank you for entrusting me to run some of Sunday services on Tucking Mill. 

 

A leaked letter from the NSLR board regarding the Sunday service.........

 

Dear Sir

 

                While undertaking my Sunday afternoon stroll in the valley, I observed no less than 3 separate trains running on NSLR. All hauled by each of the company's locomotives and the S&D tank loco on hire.  The Somerset and Dorset will be requesting additional steaming fees for their Locos. I must remind you these large mainline locos are only to be steamed on the days requiring the transfer of goods via the steep Midford Junction line to the exchange siding with the Somerset and Dorset.  They both have greater coal and water consumption than the Native fleet. I need not remind you that any unnecessary steaming of locos is a frivolous waste of coal, water, paid employees to crew them, and not to mention the wear and tear to both locos and track!

 

An update on the light weight Rail buses is requested. The Colonel was quite insistent that they were ready to roll when the board acquired them for the line. Although he omitted they were gravity powered and only good for a one way down line trip! Have you and the men had a chance to install the replacement belted transmission? The board would like to observe the frugal fuel consumption as claimed by the Imperial Rubber Band Company who supplied the replacement transmission.

 

The Board do appreciate the work you and the men put in to the running of the NSLR.  Apart from the lapse of judgement mention above, the board have been impressed by the steps taken to reduced derailments, and increase punctuality.

 

Mr Smith has notified us that he requires an additional 2 trains in the week to enable a large order to be dispatched by the end of the month. I have already notified the Somerset and Dorset, the wagons should be in the Midford exchange sidings by Monday noon.

 

Yours  

 

Sir Arthur Burningfoot-Mathews

 

Chairman of the Board North Somerset Light Railway

[queensquare]

11 hours ago, tapdieuk said:

Jerry thank you for entrusting me to run some of Sunday services on Tucking Mill. 

 

A leaked letter from the NSLR board regarding the Sunday service.........

 

Dear Sir

 

                While undertaking my Sunday afternoon stroll in the valley, I observed no less than 3 separate trains running on NSLR. All hauled by each of the company's locomotives and the S&D tank loco on hire.  The Somerset and Dorset will be requesting additional steaming fees for their Locos. I must remind you these large mainline locos are only to be steamed on the days requiring the transfer of goods via the steep Midford Junction line to the exchange siding with the Somerset and Dorset.  They both have greater coal and water consumption than the Native fleet. I need not remind you that any unnecessary steaming of locos is a frivolous waste of coal, water, paid employees to crew them, and not to mention the wear and tear to both locos and track!

 

An update on the light weight Rail buses is requested. The Colonel was quite insistent that they were ready to roll when the board acquired them for the line. Although he omitted they were gravity powered and only good for a one way down line trip! Have you and the men had a chance to install the replacement belted transmission? The board would like to observe the frugal fuel consumption as claimed by the Imperial Rubber Band Company who supplied the replacement transmission.

 

The Board do appreciate the work you and the men put in to the running of the NSLR.  Apart from the lapse of judgement mention above, the board have been impressed by the steps taken to reduced derailments, and increase punctuality.

 

Mr Smith has notified us that he requires an additional 2 trains in the week to enable a large order to be dispatched by the end of the month. I have already notified the Somerset and Dorset, the wagons should be in the Midford exchange sidings by Monday noon.

 

Yours  

 

Sir Arthur Burningfoot-Mathews

 

Chairman of the Board North Somerset Light Railway

 

 

Brilliant, many thanks.

 

Jerry

 

 

The large number of locos in steam on Sunday were the result of a visit by a new and enthusiastic engineer to the line. Whilst I would agree that the number was excessive under normal circumstances this can perhaps be excused as the companies stock needed a thorough test after a long hiatus due to the recent pandemic which severely restricted the companies activities. Im pleased to report that all the locos passed with flying colours, as did the new operator.

The opening up of a new shaft, increasing coal production further up the Cam Valley has foced the company to invest in a new (sic!) and powerful locomotive of the six coupled, tender variety. The new workings are expected to enter full production in time for the increase in demand next winter and the new locomotive will hopefully enter traffic in time for the next time the public's gaze will be focussed on the line in November.

As for the Ford railcars, the company works manager is still scratching his head over the best way to proceed but remains hopeful that a solution can be found,

[queensquare]

SWAG members day was the first time the layout had been out for two and a half years but Im pleased to say everything worked well. Many thanks to Will who drove all the way to Taunton for the day and took to operating like a duck to water. A very enjoyable day,

 

Jerry

 

[65179]

Jerry,

 

Great to see Tucking Mill out and about again.  We now need a Tucking Mill through the years montage to show how the layout (and the belly 😉) has developed.

 

Best wishes

Simon 

 

 

[queensquare]

1 hour ago, 65179 said:

Jerry,

 

Great to see Tucking Mill out and about again.  We now need a Tucking Mill through the years montage to show how the layout (and the belly 😉) has developed.

 

Best wishes

Simon 

 

 

 

Thanks Simon, will this one do for starters - Camrail/Larkrail 2011. Im not in the picture but I recognise a couple of people who are!

 

Jerry

 

Edited April 25, 2022 by queensquare

[65179]

1 hour ago, queensquare said:

 

Thanks Simon, will this one do for starters - Camrail/Larkrail 2011. Im not in the picture but I recognise a couple of people who are!

 

Jerry

 

 

I can't believe how little grey hair there is on my head in that shot!

 

Simon

[queensquare]

2 hours ago, 65179 said:

 

I can't believe how little grey hair there is on my head in that shot!

 

Simon

Sam’s a bit bigger now as well! 

 

Jerry

[Alister_G]

Hi Jerry,

 

It was great to chat to you yesterday, and Tucking Mill was looking splendid. Here's a couple of photos I took:

 

 

 

 

Al.

 

[queensquare]

I’ve not made any progress on the O since the spring so with my self imposed deadline of November looming and kim out for the evening I thought I would see what could be done.

In the photo further up the thread the wheels are just popped in loose for the photo so the obvious place to start was to get them permanently fitted. Getting the wheels in and quartered didn’t take long at all to get a nice free rolling chassis with the rods on. The rest of the evening, however, was spent tweaking the splashers which as originally fitted provided no clearance at all to the extent that with the body and chassis bolted together the brakes were hard on. I also thinned down the Association gearbox to keep the necessary hole in the boiler to a minimum. 
After much filing and fettling I was eventually able to unite the two and maintain adequate clearance so quit whilst I was ahead and settled down for a glass of red and MOTD!

 

 

Jerry

[queensquare]

Disappointed to miss the NEAG 40th bash but it sadly clashed with my regular slot at Swindon Steam. After a three year hiatus it was great to be back at the museum which was, as usual, a really enjoyable weekend.

 

Jerry