GAUGE 1 7 /4” NEWS SUMMER 2018 ISSUE 165
Darjeeling B Class - manufactured using Blackgates castings to Alan Cooper’s design with modifications during the build. Photo and built by Gordon Roberts In this Issue: 7¼” Gauge Society Proficiency Scheme; Tyneside Society of Model & Experimental Engineers ; Light at end of the Tunnel Society Gala; Design Criteria for 7¼” Railway Bogies; Quirks & Curiosoties; Tram No 141 from Hobart, Tasmania & more In this Issue From the Editor’s Desk 3 From the Chairman 3 BERNSTEIN – Early Port Class 4 Letters to the Editor 5 7¼” Gauge Society Proficiency Scheme 6 Tyneside Society of Model & Experimental Engineers 7 Light at end of the Tunnel - Society Gala 8 Progress Report on the Almondell Site 10 Design Criteria for 7¼” Railway Bogies 13 Bogies get up my nose 17 Quirks & Curiosoties 18 Storm Damage at Grahamstown 20 Tram No 141 from Hobart, Tasmania 23 Book Review 26 A Visit to Switzerland 27 The Story of a Dock Tank called Jersey 28 A Goods Yard Snippet 29 Members’ Notices 38
7¼” Gauge Society Ltd - Information The Society’s website is: www.sevenandaquarter.org
President: Membership Secretary: Proficiency Scheme: Brian Reading, 12 Belmore Close, Thorpe Frank Cooper, 47 Holmes Road, Tim Morton Jones St. Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 0PS. Stickney, PE22 8AZ Email: Tel: (01603) 434915 Tel: 01205 481197 [email protected] Email: [email protected] COMMITTEE/DIRECTORS Pattern Bank: Editor 7¼” Gauge News: David Mawdsley Chairman: Nick Deytrikh, Allerton Wood, Stanhope, Email: [email protected] Frank Cooper, 47 Holmes Road, Co Durham, DL13 2JP Stickney, PE22 8AZ Tel: 01388 528365 Committee Member: Tel: 01205 481197 Email: [email protected] Nigel Freestone, 11 Kingfisher Drive, Email: [email protected] Durrington, Wiltshire, SP4 8LJ Trade Liaison Officer: Secretary: Bob Whitfield, No.1 Hall Farm Cottages, Tony Knowles, 12 Highfield Stanton Lane, Leicestershire, LE9 3JR Close, Ravenshead, Nottingham, Tel: 01455 274594 MEMBERSHIP NG15 9DZ Email: [email protected] of the 7¼” Gauge Society Tel: 01623 795242 Annual Subscription AGM (2018) Coordinator: Email: [email protected] Full UK £25, Frank Cooper overseas plus £10 postage (£35), Treasurer: Tel: 01205 481197 John Lawes, 29 Tenby Avenue, Email: [email protected] eMember £17.50, Harrow, HA3 8RU Young members £6 1 Tel: (020) 8907 4700 AGM (2019) Coordinator: Pay to: 7 ⁄4” Gauge Society Ltd Email: [email protected] George White (Cheque or BACS to the Tel: 01749 674489 Membership Secretary), or Email: [email protected] debit/credit card via the Society website.
THE 7¼” GAUGE SOCIETY LTD REGISTERED OFFICE: PRESS DATES FOR NEXT ISSUE : 29 Tenby Avenue, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 8RU Advertisement copy to Trade Liaison Officer by 15th July 2018. Company registered in England & Wales Number 3955091 Articles, Letters, Hints, Tips and Snippets etc. must be with the Editor by the 7th July 2018. Sooner eases the workload. EDITOR: Members’ Notices (Events and Sales & Wants) should be put Nick Deytrikh, Allerton Wood, Stanhope, Co Durham, DL13 2JP directly on the Website. Send written ‘Notices’ to the Secretary PRODUCED , PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY: by 15th July 2018. Imprint, New Road, Newtown, Powys. Tel: 01686 624137 Replacement copies £4.50
All reasonable care is taken in the preparation of this publication but the Society cannot be held responsible for loss or inconvenience arising from errors or omissions. Advertisements are accepted in good faith - reliance on any content thereof is the reader’s responsibility. Views and opinions expressed by contributors to this magazine may not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, Committee or the Company. SOCIETY NEWS From the Editor’s Desk Some readers have clearly been perplexed by the inclusion of a small piece in the last two editions of the News entitled ‘Kitchen Conundrum’, and it is now time for some clarification. This refers to the building of a Romulus locomotive by our erstwhile secretary (John Nicholson) who has been progressing extremely slowly with its build over the years (but now, with more time on his hands, at full speed ahead). Quite why he chose to name it ‘Kitchen’ will become more apparent, I hope, when he writes us a full report on its progress next time. You will know that our Annual Gala and AGM this year will be at Perth, a couple of weeks earlier than usual on the 14-16th September. Booking papers will be enclosed with this edition of the News and you may wish to note that if you book to stay at the Huntingtower Hotel, they offer a discount to 7¼” Society members – if you ask for it. The earlier date of the AGM also means that the Autumn edition of the News will be distributed in mid-August to allow time for inclusion of AGM papers. Your Committee have been considering benefits of belonging to the Society (which I hope you feel includes this periodical!) and we would be interested to hear from members, of any other potential benefits that they would like us to consider offering. Finally, there has been a lot of discussion around the safety of running miniature railways and it has been suggested to me that many a lesson can be learned from examining the cause of accidents which have occurred in the past. This can be a sensitive issue but if anyone would like to publicise any learning points that have been gleaned from accidents on their own railways, it could benefit us all. Nick Deytrikh (whose Romulus rebuild is nearly as slow as John’s) New Boiler Test codes The new (Orange) books are being distributed to all clubs in the next few weeks. When your loco is next tested, you should be handed a copy. The main change is the requirement for the cladding to be removed on steel boilers at 7 year intervals, which may be extended to 10 years at the discretion of the inspector. Copper boilers have a recommendation for removal at 10 years, but not mandatory. All boilers, regardless of size used in public places require testing/certificate. PCMRSG (Passenger Carrying Miniature Railway Safety Group, the HSG 216 replacement) The website, of the same name, will shortly publish the draft edition and invites comment by the 1st September 2018. Please make these on the dedicated website as it will enable the various representatives to receive the comments. The HSE have been sent a copy also for comment. Guess the loco May I invite members to have a shot at guessing the locomotive pictured left (and the driver if you are able). It has quite an interesting story and this will be revealed in the next issue. Please submit answers (+ any other information you may have on the loco) to the editor at [email protected] before 1st July and the answer will be revealed in the next edition. The winner will receive a Society lapel badge or 2017 Gala DVD. If you have a picture of a 7¼” loco that you think may be of interest for our next ‘Guess the Loco’, please send it to me. (Ed)
www.sevenandaquarter.org 3 READER STORIES BERNSTEIN – Early Port Class A Builder’s Tale Adrian Hinchcliffe
The builder looking pleased with “Berstein’s” first run. A visit to the charming West Lancs Light Railway in the early After closure of the quarry in 1966, “Bernstein” was bought by 2000’s with grandson Alex was the moment in time that gave Jim Morris and taken to the Lytham Motive Power Museum for me the inspiration to construct this great little locomotive. preservation. Here it was restored to working condition, Built in 1898 by the Hunslet Co. for the Port Dinorwic Dry Dock painted lime green and renamed “Jonathan” in memory of the Co., along with sister engine “Covercoat”, they were used to owner’s son. After a 5-year loan period at the Bala Lake shunt slate wagons on the quays at Port Dinorwic, working Railway “Jonathan” was moved to the West Lancs Light there until 1923 (25 years) before being transferred to the Railway at Hesketh Bank and was given an extensive overhaul, quarry at Llanberis. Here “Bernstein” holds the record for going back into service in 1994. continuous use in one location, 33 years on the Pengarret As mentioned earlier, a visit to the West Lancs Railway resulted Gallery some 1500ft above sea level. in being given a footplate ride and the seed was sown. Looking at what was available both in drawings and castings a start was made on the Reeves design “Elidir”. It was soon 5 evident that 3” scale was not for me and a true scale 3 /8 was envisaged due to an offer of 20 or so full size Hunslet drawings of the 1890’s from fellow 7¼” member Frank Sidebottom. With no drawings or castings available in this scale, a start was made to do my own thing. What a joy it was to work from drawings in feet/inches/fractions – plus copper-plate writing. The boiler was to the “Elidir” design plus an extra barrel length of 3”, with a scale backhead, dome and safety valves. At this stage a further visit was made to West Lancs Railway to photograph and measure the full size loco but to my horror it was not there. I was informed that “Jonathan” had gone back home to Lytham and would not return. But good news, access “Jonathan” resting quietly in the now closed was granted by the Morris family for me to view at any time Lytham Motive Power Museum. during the build.
4 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES
Patterns were made and castings poured at a local foundry in Wigan for cylinders, valve-gear, horns etc. The model differs completely from the original in the valve gear department due to the fitting of balanced slide valves, launch link expansion links and ball race eccentrics. All the rod ends have needle bearings and the die blocks are ball races. Valve events are to Don Ashton’s design principles from his book on Stephenson valve gear, which I must admit gave me quite a few headaches trying to understand it, but all’s well that ends well. Thanks must go to Paul Smith of West Lancs Railway for the loan of a full size crosshead, LH injector and displacement lubricator to scale down to .302” per 1”. Finally, after 8½ years it was finished and was displayed on the 7¼ stand at the 2015 National Model Engineering exhibition at Harrogate, being awarded best locomotive and best in show. But the highlight was being presented with the Brian Reading award at the 2017 Society Gala and AGM weekend at Thompson Park Railway, Burnley. I was humbled and honoured to accept the great man’s award. Thank you all. The finished locomotive on the 7¼ stand at the 2015 Harrogate Exhibition. Letters to the Editor Some Lion history Dear Nick, Apologies to fellow members who see this letter and say: "Oh no! Not him again." However, I read with great interest the article by Harrye Frowen on his 7¼” gauge Lion as I have some bits of information that might add to the story. In the 1960’s, I courted a young lady from Merseyside and, being romantic, took her to Liverpool Museum. To my delight, there was Lion on display in the basement and it was possible to actually touch her (Lion). More importantly, in the mid-1980’s, when I was Editor of the News, a member (I think it was David Royle from the East Midlands) sent me a set of 1½” scale drawings for Lion. To my shame, at the time I didn't know what to do with them and they languished in a box until the 1990’s when I was able to make contact with him and return them (I think by then, he had written them off). So, there is at least one set of Lion drawings for 7¼” somewhere in the country. Is David still a member? If I remember rightly, the drawings were developed in conjunction with Dr (?) Taylor-Nobbs and the OLC. Finally, a Mr. Gardiner of the Frimley club (in Hampshire) had a 7¼” gauge Lion which saw running on the club track probably 20 or more years ago. I don't know its provenance/basis but it may have been a scaled up Titfield Thunderbolt. LBSC's designs had some strangely curved horns to the valve gear gabs and if made as drawn, often made it difficult to reverse the loco. A Mr. Saxby developed an improved design with straight faces to the gabs and this eliminated the problem. His design was published in an issue of a Model Engineer. It actually reflected full size practice, I think. Of course, LBSC's 3½” gauge and 5" gauge designs used a gunmetal casting to simulate the Haycock top over the firebox. However, Mr. Frowen's model shows the correct arrangement for the pressure envelope and, on the prototype, a brass cover was fitted purely for decorative purposes. A Forrester 2-4-0 goods engine photographed at Deal in about 1860 shows this arrangement also (cf The Locomotive History of the South Eastern Railway by D. L. Bradley). Jack Meacher Reply from David Royle re Lion Although I can't remember sending the drawings to Jack, Charles Taylor-Nobbs and I did a lot of research into the Lion through the intervening years. We collected a lot of photos and drawings, but unfortunately, my Lion never got completed due to family circumstances beyond my control. So, I have a load of bits and bobs of the Lion including wheels and aluminium patterns, which may be of use to others. (If anyone is interested in following up David’s offer, please get in touch with the editor at [email protected] and I will liaise with David - Ed).
www.sevenandaquarter.org 5 SOCIETY NEWS 7¼” Gauge Society Proficiency Scheme Tim Morton Jones The Seven and a Quarter Proficiency Award Scheme is As much as possible of the Gold Award will be practical and designed to train people in all aspects of running 7¼” where practical work is not possible, student presentations will miniature railways. It is designed to promote membership of be used; there are no exam papers! The Gold Award will the Society and is currently divided into three levels: Bronze, consist of 3 parts, each of which will earn you a certificate. Silver and Gold. It will also be split into two versions, Steam and Non-Steam; The scheme has been revised to deliver the awards using the the Non-Steam award will have extra content. You must be a website to deliver a bigger range of training materials, focusing current member to take part in the Gold Award. any expenditure on new badges, delivering training and Each Gold Award Part will be composed of 5/6 modules. assessment. Each module will be free standing and you can do them in any The Bronze and Silver Awards remain basically the same as order. The Society website contains all the details. they were in the past. These give you a basic introduction to Training Delivery the world of 7¼”. The booklets are available as PDFs online for Training for Bronze and Silver awards would be delivered you to download and read. Training for Bronze and Silver entirely by clubs and societies, much as it has been up to awards would be delivered entirely by clubs and societies, now. The Gold award would be supplemented by training much as it has been up to now. /assessment days or weekends which would be co-ordinated The Bronze Award introduces the basic terms used in running by the Seven and a Quarter Society. This will include some a 7¼” railway and gives a student an introduction to the jargon funding from the Society, but would be largely self-funded. we take for granted. You will be assessed by a short test paper. Records If successful you will get a letter of congratulation from the Records of achievement of “Students” will be held in a Society, a certificate, a bronze badge and a year’s free database offline (i.e. not available over the internet). These Emembership (if you are under 16) and this will allow you to go records would cover clubs / societies involved, adjudicators on to your Silver Award. and participants, and include the printing of certificates. The Silver Award also takes this approach, but in more depth. The details will be the minimum required to operate the The test paper is longer and if successful you will receive a award scheme. letter of congratulation from the Society, a certificate and You can read much more detail about the Proficiency Scheme a silver badge. You must be a current member to take your on the Proficiency page of the Society’s website, including the Silver Award. new Bronze and Silver booklets, the Gold award requirements The Gold Award goes into planning, building, maintaining and and the initial set of supporting documents. running a 7¼” railway. This is a large subject making the Gold We are grateful that Engineering in Miniature has agreed to Award much more comprehensive, i.e. there’s a lot more to it. sponsor our Proficiency Awards scheme for the next 3 years.
HSME Juniors steam the club Sweet Jay. Juniors drive the club Sweet Jay on the HSME 5” Elevated track.
6 Email: [email protected] SOCIETY NEWS Tyneside Society of Model & Experimental Engineers Linda Nicholls The club has been on its current site in Exhibition Park in The family of one of our founder members, Jack Dent, recently Newcastle for over 70 years and currently has in excess of 100 donated two of his models to the Junior Engineers to restore. members. In 2010, we completed a ground level track in both This project will start later this year. 7¼” and 5” gauge. Like many clubs, we have an older The 7¼” Gauge Society Proficiency Scheme has given the demographic and wanted to encourage families and younger juniors a structured approach to learning about running members. The purchase of an electric locomotive and building a railway. So far four members, aged 10 upwards, have gained of passenger carriages allowed us to introduce monthly public their Bronze award and one has gone on to complete his running. Members also use their own steam locomotives for Silver award. public running. Our web site is www.tsmee.co.uk for further information In 2016, we completed the building of a new clubhouse that includes workshop facilities. Also, that year, we introduced a boat section with the backing of Newcastle City council to use the lake in Exhibition Park. In the past 12 months, we have built a small 32mm garden railway and introduced a scheme to enable junior engineers to be part of our club activities. We feel it appropriate that juniors are involved with small gauge modelling at first in the expectation that some of them will progress to the larger gauges (7¼” and beyond) later on. Each junior member has to have a responsible family member with them and we have limited the group to 7 youngsters. I successfully gained funding to purchase kits for the juniors to build, for an electric locomotive from Abbots Model Engineering, a 16mm model from Roundhouse and a model boat kit. The juniors are building these kits themselves. Once complete, they will have the use of these models to enable participation in club activities from an early stage, without being reliant on other members. In the longer term, we will offer one-to-one support to build their own models and gain Ethan receiving his Bronze Proficiency Award. Robert experience using our new workshop facilities. (on right of photo) has also just completed his Bronze Award.
Sam, who has achieved Silver Award, in the driving seat. Kiera, learning about signals, before achieving her bronze award.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 7 READER STORIES Light at end of the Tunnel - Society Gala 14th -16th September 2018 Graham Burhouse
Despite having the worst snowy winter for many years, with When Bob Smith decided to close down Comrie he very access to the track being impossible on several occasions, generously donated to us the large turntable outside his arrangements for the forthcoming AGM are well in hand. engine shed. This has now been completely refurbished and handrails added so the less agile of us don’t fall over the side when getting off our engines. The turntable is 4.2m. long so can take most engines. It has been installed and will be in front of our new engine storage shed, and it will have nine roads leading directly into the shed, which will be one of four areas for engine storage at the AGM. There is also access from it to an ash pit and loading bay and numerous storage roads. We also have another loading bay should any engine be too long to use the turntable.
In the new tunnel.
Also, before our first public running day on Easter Sunday we had three weeks to test the new tunnel route with fully loaded trains of volunteers (some would say “conscripts”). This allows two routes for public running which proved to be very popular. We gave over 1150 rides between 11am and 4pm with eight trains running at times. As a safety exercise in the event of a signal failure during the running day, we decided to have a trial period with no signal operation, drivers using “line of sight”; this proved to be very successful and by alternating the route of each train this gave good safe distances between each one. With the new track design, this is easily achieved just by changing a single point when leaving the main station. This could also prove useful for Foundations for the engine shed. out of hours running, if a signalman is not available during the Gala weekend, and for members arriving earlier in the week. Work on the new storage shed has been held up for several weeks due to the bad weather. We were not able to dig the foundation trenches in the boulder clay until we were sure we would have two consecutive fine days to allow us to pour the concrete as soon as the trench was dug, as it would have filled with water and become very difficult to drain. Once the dry weather arrived, with a well organised effort, this was achieved with comparative ease, 10 cubic meters of concrete being laid in 40 minutes. A week later we had the foundation blockwork awaiting the internal frame. As we have no mains water on site we harvest and filter all our water. In very dry years our water storage has only just kept up with demand, especially if someone leaves a tap running, so we are currently installing a further three tanks which in total The refurbished turntable. will hold a further 13,000 litres.
8 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES
the farthest point from the main station and controls the line from the tunnel into Ducks End station, which also has a passing loop and two sidings. From there the line passes the sawmill and over a level crossing before joining the line back to the main station. We are looking forward to welcoming as many members as possible with both standard and narrow gauge locomotives and hope many of you will take advantage of the eleven passenger coaches and numerous goods wagons that will be available to use. Bear in mind that our track is in a fairly rural area and the nearest shops, pub and restaurant (Indian) are at least three miles away. Also, recognising the discerning tastes of Society members, we have secured the services of Gourlay Events, a family business committed to using local produce from around Perthshire and is one of Scotland’s foremost outside catering businesses. They have won “Outstanding Supplier of the Year 2018” at the Scottish awards. They will be in attendance from Thursday lunchtime to Sunday lunch and will also provide a two-course set evening meal which should be booked in advance, details will be on your booking form. Any members wishing to visit other areas of Scotland whilst they are here are welcome to store their engines and trailers, by prior arrangement, for the extra days. Also, the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers have invited The finishing touches. any members wishing to visit their new Almondell Model The new signal box at Woodlark Junction is nearing Engineering Centre, with or without a locomotive on Tuesday completion. Trevor is just putting the finishing touches to it, he 18th September. You will note that there is an update article in has already got the stove, table and chairs installed. There will this edition on the progress that is being made at Almondell. be an emergency water supply and a refuge should a A leaflet showing our track plan and how to find us is enclosed locomotive need to be pulled off the main line. It is situated at with the “News”
Time to play trains. See you at the Gala 14th - 16th September.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 9 READER STORIES Progress Report on the Almondell Site, Edinburgh. April 2018 Robert McLuckie
Please refer to the master plan for all locations There is still a lot of work to be done especially with unloading We last offered a progress report a year ago and since then and loading facilities of locos at the new steaming bays which the latest news from the Almondell site is all good. Excellent have still to be set up. Hopefully by the time of the 7¼” Gauge progress has been made with track circuit “C” using 7¼” Society's AGM at SMET, it may be possible that some form of gauge track donated from Comrie and lighter rail obtained running is available. Members of the Society who will be at from a private railway near Oban. The 5” gauge for the circuit SMET are very welcome to visit Almondell on Tuesday 18th “A” has also progressed well with most of the track bed September 2018 to view the site. completed. The final project to complete this will be two Here is the latest progress concentrating on track circuit “C.” bridges over the low-lying ground. Track laying is about to start on the completed sections of bed using re-gauged track panels recovered from our previous location at Newliston. Meantime over 300 feet of dual circuit 5”/7¼” circuit B has been laid using new heavier gauge rails with a further 300 feet of track panels made ready for laying. However, the best news is that we have been awarded a substantial grant for a “Visitor and Heritage Centre.” This gives us the opportunity to provide a visitor heritage centre, toilets and workshop facilities and hopefully work will commence on construction this summer. This will make a huge difference to the club as we will once again be able to offer training and members will have access to the workshop machinery which is currently in storage. At the moment, we are no longer able to run any locomotives as all the track at Newliston has been lifted and brought to Almondell. With the continuation of the excellent progress made by the members of the Thursday and Saturday teams, Photo 1 – Shows the start of the track bed for circuit “A” at there is a very good chance that 7¼” gauge locos will soon be location C1. Edging boards are in place for most of the route. running on circuit “C.” Also, 5” gauge locos will this year be On the far right, track circuit “C” can just be seen emerging able to run back and forth on circuits “A” and “B” until the from the woods from C7. The track to the left of the construction of the bridge which will allow full circuit running on wheelbarrow will curve toward the steaming bays in the track “A.” woods.
10 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES
Photo 2 – The first concrete level crossing is complete and this will allow access to the new steaming bays which will be to the right of the crossing.
Photo 5 – Exactly at position C2, the most westerly point on track “C.” The end of the concrete track edging supports can just be seen before continuing with the wooden track edging boards. The track bed consists of shale then terram sheet followed by ballast. The top edge of the sleeper is in line with Photo 3 – Area B1, the long running straights with track “B” the top edge of the edging boards and further ballast is still and “C” running side by side. These sections of track were required up to the full level of the edging. ballasted and then set up by school students involved in an educational link between Almondell and the schools. We were successful in winning a grant from the National Lottery Awards for this and the successful programme is being run by Concrete Scotland.
Photo 6 – At the end of curve C2 which is the last area of track “C” to be completed for a full circuit. The shale track bed to the left will allow the Comrie track to be laid around the perimeter of the 11- acre site. This is already being developed with site levels being taken and some track beds already having a base level of shale prior to building up and fitting edging boards.
Photo 4 – Showing the track onto the curve at C2 with old concrete sleepers in place to support the higher track due to the Photo 7 – Continuing on from curve C2 showing the set split level. The track being used at this point was previously used of points for the perimeter track. Edging boards are being at Oban and is not quite as heavy a section as the Comrie track. completed and the track will be ballasted soon.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 11 READER STORIES
Photo 8 – Work being carried out on the embankment which was a little too steep resulting in a mini landslip. Our Chairman hard at work reducing the angle of the cutting.
Photo 9 – A view looking back from the top of the tunnel Photo 12 – The station area at C5, all Comrie heavy duty track. towards curve C2. Work has started on the tunnel mouths with breeze blocks but these will be finished later with decorative stonework.
Photo 13 – Apart from the track which is still to be ballasted at the end of curve C2, the only other part of the track “C” which Photo 10 – In area C3 with the track completed but with will allow a full running circuit, is this area at C1 where another the tunnel at this side still requiring finishing stonework. concrete road crossing is required. All of the track panels have The Rotary Club donated and supplied 5000 crocus bulbs been lifted out and will be repositioned and set in place with across the site. the concrete. Overall the progress has been steady and with around 12 regular members turning out on Thursdays and on Saturdays but numbers are now starting to pick up. What the stalwarts have achieved in all weathers over the 4 years is amazing and they have to be commended on their efforts and dedication. There are also members working away behind the scenes doing a variety of essential tasks such as sleeper manufacture and jig making. Finally, the contribution of the funding team who managed to secure two large grants to enable the heritage centre to be built cannot be overstated, not to forget the many members who have offered donations and loans towards the project. The future for both the Almondell Model Engineering Centre Photo 11 – A view of the station from underneath the road together with the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers looks access bridge at C4. very bright.
12 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES Design Criteria for 7¼” Railway Bogies - Robert Carlisle
A scene in the workshop with a recently rebuilt 38 year old 2 inch scale B class which has been re-engined with a Kubota diesel engine and hydraulic drive and on the right the railway’s G class receiving rebuilt power bogies.
PREAMBLE: BOGIE DESIGN: The comments below are based on designing and The design of miniature railway bogies is often overlooked as building miniature railway carriages over the last a fundamental component of operating safely. Bogies are just 30 years and the author currently is the Carriage Fleet seen as that, a blob under the car that rolls along the tracks Manager for the Diamond Valley Railway (DVR) in and makes nice clickety-clack noises, particularly over points Melbourne Australia, which operates some 70 carriages and junctions! in 12 sets carrying around 150,000 passengers per However a bogie supports the car and ensures that it can carry annum. passengers safely for several maintenance-free years without The DVR system runs on heavy duty 6 kg commercial failure. Also, what is often not considered is that the success rail mounted on plastic sleepers and has axle loads in of the bogie depends entirely on the specifications and the order of 200kg. maintenance of the track as both have to harmonize in order Carriages may run upwards of 1,500 - 2,000 km per to achieve a safe integrated transportation unit! annum and this has required over the last 5 years a The objectives of a miniature railway bogie on a 7¼" gauge carriage rebuilding program comprising the installation “Heavy Duty” or what we call a “Narrow Gauge” here in of new steel floors, enhanced RTrak bogies, modified Australia (6-7mm deep x 6 mm wide flanges with treads of bogie side frames and a modified design of brake 25mm to suit the 6 kg rail profile) requires meeting the cylinders. following characteristics; -
www.sevenandaquarter.org 13 READER STORIES
• To support the carriage body safely, Four Essential design characteristics of a bogie comprise; • To provide stability on both straight and curved track, 1. YAW (Rotation) : A bogie must be able to swivel around its • To have a long life before requiring maintenance pivot smoothly without excessive friction. Now, in full sized railways, bogies can develop a hunting motion at speed which • To improve the ride by absorbing rail head vibration, causes rough riding and additional wear of the flanges but in • To ride over all track irregularities that are within a Heavy Duty 7¼ inch gauge passenger carrying bogie specifications, operating at less than 12-14 kph, hunting is not an issue that we need worry about in practical terms. • To cushion flange shock when passing over facing points. In addition, a UHMWPE polyethylene washer is fitted between Currently, these objectives are being met using 4140 grade the pivot plates, (which are 130mm in diameter), to support steel wheels and 1045 axles with 5203 double row 40 mm OD the car body and entirely does away with the need for out- bearings, and subject to brake block wear we are now seeing rigger ball races. There is also built-in clearance on the pivot 7-10 years between overhauls. bolt to allow some freedom for the car body to rock a small The railway developed a new RTrak passenger bogie in 2015 amount in its pivot housing as well. which incorporates the basic design philosophy of earlier What is not generally understood is that using ball race out- marks of bogies used at the railway. The excellent ride comfort rigger assemblies effectively creates in railway parlance a four has been retained with the new Rtrak bogies using a total of 10 point suspension which can make the carriage stiffer and springs per bogie having 8 primary springs over the axle boxes which throws all the “Twisting” effect onto the bogie springs and two secondary springs in the bolster. rather than having a combination of spring compression and Other heavy duty bogies used by the railway, which ride on pivot rock. only 2-3 bolster springs each side, are noticeably harder riding It is necessary for the bogie to be able to have and require careful setting up to ensure a 3 point suspension 2. ROLL: limited movement in a longitudinal axis in order to traverse is retained between bogies and the car body because the track that has low and/or high running rail sections on one side springs are not long travel and therefore have limited capacity or the other. Needless to say a club has to write into its track to handle “sideways rock” or ROLL as discussed in this article. SMS specifications the maximum allowable rise or fall of each Also a feature of the design is to retain the bogies to the rail relative to each other and that allowance has to then be carriage body using ¾ UNC pivot bolts so that the weight of built into the design specifications of the spring compression the bogie becomes an added captive weight to counter-act or travel. the live load and reduce the centre of gravity. This is achieved at DVR by having limited play in the bogie pivot to allow the car body to rock to accommodate the Roll movement. The Roll allowance is primarily accommodated by the spring design having sufficient compression to allow a twisting motion between each bogie to ride over any specified track irregularity safely without giving alarm to the passengers. The reason why this becomes a critical design objective is that otherwise the car body can develop an unstable tipping motion which may alarm passengers. This uncontrolled rocking movement has been promoted in Australia as a “Twist Test”, but without properly understanding its implications. The adopted formula of 1 in 200 may well suit short wheelbase cars up to 2m in length. But when applied to say 3,600 mm long cars where the bogie pivot distance between bogies can be as long as 3,000 mm, can result in a significant uncontrolled rolling movement of upwards of 15 mm which is unacceptable in any good design. In actual fact there are two components of a car having a controlled “Twist” capability. The first is the ability of the fixed frame bogie to “Walk” over a low joint within the bogie wheelbase and this is dependent on the specified compression range of individual springs. The second is the impact of an excessively low or high section of rail on one side so that when the carriage runs into this section of track, the combined compression of the springs in each bogie and play in both pivot joints can accommodate the “Twist” or super elevation safely without the flanges lifting clear of the rail and causing a derailment. A simple “Twist” test formula of 1 in 200 as currently recommended in Australia
14 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES does not translate into a safe practice for the larger and As automatic couplers represent one of the key design safety heavier “Narrow Gauge” carriages, as it may result in a long features to stabilize a carriage in a derailment, it is important bogie wheelbase car body “flopping” to one side or the other that they remain coupled and continue to hold a car upright, when passengers are boarding which can be dis-orientating and this situation is to be avoided at all costs. At this juncture and make them feel uncomfortable and therefore unsafe. it should be said that each carriage actually has one coupler, In general, and having regard to the interaction of all the design two 5 mm safety chains, and two air lines all of which can elements of a bogie, a standard 2,500 mm long carriage should independently hold the train together! be able to safety roll through a rail head differential of 8-10 mm Also, if the Pitch movement capability is built into a bogie over the distance between the bogie pivots. However, this properly then there is no overloading of one axle and no under- desired flexibility remains a constant when track standard loading of the other which could otherwise cause an unstable values are included in the equation and should also apply to situation which could lead to a derailment. longer cars having pivot points up to 3,000 mm apart. 4. LOW JOINT CAPABILITY: A related extension of the Pitch 3. PITCH: It is necessary for the bogie to be able to have Movement is the drop of an individual axle box into a Low Joint limited movement in a longitudinal axis in order to traverse which causes the bogie frame to pitch down on the affected track that has uniform low and or high rail sections. This side. In this scenario with a “H” frame bogie which cannot movement can be described as being akin to a ship pitching twist, there will be an unloading of the weight on one axle box fore and aft in a rough sea!! and a corresponding loading up of the weight on the opposite This is achieved by having ample play in the bogie pivot axle box in the same axle. How effective the bogie will be in channel so that it can longitudinally rock in its housing to riding through this track abnormality will depend on a number accommodate the Pitch movement. If one carefully studies the of factors:- typical track at a miniature railway club one can be surprised • The designed spring travel at just how much movement continually goes on as a bogies • The amount of compression when the car is empty rolls along. and when carrying a full complement of passengers So, the specifications of the track and its maintenance by the • The bogie wheel base, track gang to that standard is a critical component in operating the railway safely. Another by-product of track that rises and • The distance or clearance under the axle box falls due to tree roots lifting the sub-grade or a localized to the keep plate to allow drop of the axlebox settlement in an embankment, is that the 2 inch scale auto • The design depth of the flanges couplers as used at DVR continually slide up and down and • The minimum allowable drop in the rail head. eventually will cause wear in the jaws which then causes excessive run out and jolting and finally may actually allow one jaw to drop out and the car can become uncoupled.
The RTrak bogie.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 15 READER STORIES
to also look at track specifications so that they all harmonize and the train can run safely over the Clubs track! That is to say the track master and the carriage maintenance manager have to get together and understand that they both must operate in concert with each other as then all bogie variables can harmonize and the result is a reliable and smooth riding track (ie., with a rail “Top” within its design parameters) and the result is carriages and bogies that are designed to operate safely within these agreed design parameters. There are also a number of design elements that engender safe operation and they comprise;- The RTrak bogie side frames being painted. • heavy bogies bolted up to the carriage which reduces Summary: the centre of gravity, So both YAW (rotation) and PITCH do not require any • a seating height of no more than 430 mm above rail, involvement of the springs at all if the bogie is properly • a car mass of 250-300 kg, designed, and the only time spring compression and the • an internal car body width of approximately 450-500mm design length of travel becomes important is when designing and an overall width of 550 mm so as to ensure a the bogies to allow the car body to ROLL to a specific limit. comfortable, safe and smooth riding carriage. In addition, the LOW JOINT situation is also a critical In closure, after 57 years of operation and over 30 years component of what makes a bogie ride safely over indifferent operation of the RTrak family of bogies at the railway, it needs track, or not! So the bottom line is to design the bogie to have to be emphasised that DVR would never contemplate returning built-in flexibility to overcome any of the above operating to out-rigger ball races or wear pads as it introduces more situations. complexity and cost and actually reduces the flexibility of the Needless to say, in achieving all these values, whilst at the carriage/bogie/tack relationship which is so essential for a safe same time ensuring the safety of the passengers, it is essential and comfortable carriage. DVR RTrak 7 ¼ Gauge “Narrow Gauge” Bogie • Side frames Thickness: 16 mm • Wheel Centres: 395 mm • Overall length: 611 mm • Frame Height: 165 mm, • Bolster Channel Height above rail: 134 mm. • Bolster Bearing Plate: 20 mm with 8 mm Recess • Bolster Recess height above Rail: 146 mm above rail • Bolster is designed to Pitch on its longitudinal axis • Inside width of frames: 336 mm • Axle Boxes: Steel • 5203 2 RS wheel bearings: 17 x 17.5 x x40 mm • Bearing Retention: Circlips to ensure ease of removal • Springing: Ten Primary and Secondary springs • Primary and Secondary Springs: Specified to 800 kg car loaded weight • “Narrow Gauge” Flange Profile: 6 mm thick x 7 mm deep x 25 mm tread width • Grade of Wheels: 4140 Steel • Grade of Axles: 1045 Steel • Air brake cylinders: Twin 34 mm Diam. • Airline fittings: ¼” push-in x 1/8 bsp threaded • Brake Shoes: Cast iron • Central pivot and low friction UHMWPE polyethylene wear pad eliminates side bearers • 6 frame spacers improve integrity of frame & the lower 2 spreaders act as skid bars
16 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES Bogies get up my nose George White I acquired a Winson’s Britannia kit some time ago and eventually got it assembled with a few modifications; now I know some of you are already saying ‘serves you right’ but I do believe this is one way of our hobby expanding. It just needed a little bit of refining. However, I got to running it on the track and spent ages trying to stop the front bogie derailing. Every time it did this, the draincock pipework was severely damaged. My colleagues at ESSMEE said it was the springing and I should somehow adjust each individual spring. This sounded very complicated until one day, after a derailment, I realised that the tender and engine where locked together with no further angular give in the system. What was happening was twofold: 1. The drawbar was too wide and was locking up.
Original water feed. Final water feed. More investigations revealed that there was very little clearance in the drawbar holes for the towing pins, this meant when I sat on the tender at the front, the rear of the Brit went down and the front went up, ARRRGH!! A bigger drill sorted that out. Picture showing original drawbar shape outline and modified. We then went back to the bogie itself and made the pin ¼” 2. The water feed sticking out of the rear engine buffer beam longer and this put more ‘down’ pressure on the rails and was stuck hard up against the tender buffer beam. was good. I also noticed a large amount of up and down Modifications where immediately made and off we went. movement on the pin by the bogie and this was allowing the bogie to drop when it derailed thus causing the damage to the Problem sorted, except for an obvious need to increase the draincocks. Further modification to the pin was again required. springing on the front bogie as it showed signs of climbing the rail. At this time, I also modified the seat on the rear of the Getting this remedied took about 12 steam-ups on the track tender to nearer the front. When I put the engine back on before it was all sorted out. Was it worth it? YES. But still a lot the track and sat on the tender we started derailing again. of work to do.
George steaming his Britannia.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 17 READER STORIES Quirks and Curiosities Peter Beevers
My single Fairlie 'Aneirin' was built as a full-sized loco (in the Haylock style) with a family resemblance to Taliesin of the Ffestiniog railway. As such, for the two to meet up sometime (in the same way as Greenly and Gresley's Pacific’s) was something I'd always thought of doing. Thought, but never really expected it to happen …….. In late 2016, the Ffestiniog Railway put out a request for exhibits for their 'Quirks and Curiosities' event in 2017, so I offered my loco to them along with my idea of getting the two locos to meet up. Much to my surprise, they accepted and thought it was a great idea. So, on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend we set up some track in Minffordd yard and ran her for a couple of days, alongside one of the sidings. We met several society members, lots of other interested people, and generally had a good time.
18 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES
On the Sunday, Taliesin was due to come and sit with Aneirin for On the Monday morning, we took a break from exhibiting to an hour or so. At the appointed hour, her big cousin came take a run up the line behind Taliesin with the vintage set. around the sharp bend into the yard, pursued by a crowd of This was to Ddault, where we saw the slate train going up and photographers. As the two sat side by side, the barrier tape then gravitate back down again. That train's loco (the double came down and my dream meet-up was a reality – a truly Fairlie, Merddin Emrys) then joined our train and we all left. amazing sight. Then, after a while, the photographers started to At Minffordd, Taliesin was detached to go into the yard to pick drift away, until, sometime later, they'd all gone and there seemed up the exhibitors for the parade. After some shunting to get it to be just me and the two locos in the yard, all quiet and all in the correct order, we travelled down to Boston Lodge peaceful. That's something I'll remember for a very long time. where the train was split into parts so that each quirk could Ten days before the event, I'd had an email asking if it would enjoy its own trip over the Cob. be possible to load Aneirin on to a wagon so that she could So that's how I can say that I have been over the Cob in my go on the parade into Porthmadog. I'd brought various bits loco, and, (to quote the commentators at the event), when was of rail etc. to try to make it happen but until we actually tried to the last time it was even possible to have two single Fairlie's in do it we had no idea if it would work. After a long couple of Porthmadog??? hours’ work, including help from some FR volunteers and other Q&C exhibitors, we got her on to the well wagon and well secured down.
Remember to check the Society website for our own sales items www.sevenandaquarter.org
www.sevenandaquarter.org 19 READER STORIES Storm Damage at Grahamstown by XZ During a recent trip around North Island, New Zealand, I tried to see as many railways as possible, without, of course, upsetting the 'Management'. The biggest difficulty was being there whilst they were open, especially the miniature ones, and in most cases, there I failed; but that didn't stop me taking photos, or having a good look round!
The part of their track that got washed out runs alongside a concrete walkway that is really the top of the sea wall, so they are very close, and it's not all that high either, and the sea probably inundates fairly easily. I couldn't be sure what the substrate for the track had been unless it was the gravel that was now showing. Perhaps concrete would have been more stable, but as we all know these things cost, so perhaps that was a ‘round-tuit’ job. The track ran along the top of the stone wall (see Photo 4), which also might have made it a bit more One such was at Grahamstown, and the Thames Small Gauge vulnerable. Railway. Thames is at the south end of the Coromandel peninsular on the west side, and Grahamstown is the previous site of the local railway station. Even in that position it seems it can get the brunt of some of the weather as on arrival I noticed a largish pile of track panels that were obviously not new, stacked in the station area.
By investigation, supposition and asking a question or two of passing local dog-walkers I found out that they had been subject to a storm a couple of weeks previously, around the last weekend in January, and the sea swell had washed out about 180 metres of main line. Fortunately, it didn't seem to have done any damage to the station buildings, either that or they had been quick off the mark with repairs (though none were obvious).
20 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES
The outer (900m) mainline track is a long dog-bone. I'm not After a short distance there is a diamond cross-over, sure of their normal running direction but I assume that on presumably to try to even out flange wear as the end loops are leaving the station in a northerly direction, they pass behind a fairly tight, it must also act as a slight deterrent to speeders as Squash Club and tennis courts, where there is a cross-over for the next part of the track is straight and level for a good the 5” Gauge rail, across a girder bridge and round a double- distance, making it very tempting to slightly over-open the tracked loop to the place where the track had washed away. regulator (and perhaps hang onto the whistle!!!).
The route then runs alongside the walkway for about 200 metres, back past the station and then drops down to a slightly lower level, where the washout actually ends. This level, it would seem, was the route of the full size railway at some time in the past. (see note in Photo 1). How nice to be able to run on original trackbed!
www.sevenandaquarter.org 21 READER STORIES
The southern return loop has a passing loop provided at “Bird Hide Halt” on the inland side, which with the double track section on the northern loop could possibly provide for bi- directional running. From there the track returns to the cross- over and the station. Of course, I could be totally wrong, and it all works the other way round. Ha ha!
Remembering a recent request for information about storm damage from one of our number, I thought this article might be For other facilities they have a sturdy turntable serving also for appropriate. I also think it's probably a railway we have heard unloading, and several raised steaming bays behind the nothing about previously, and they are always good to know station building. I presume the turntable is also a lift. There is of, especially if you are lucky enough to be able to visit the also a three-road carriage shed made from the usual old area, so it should be noted that this is not the only visit-worthy shipping container. railway in the Coromandel, or New Zealand for that matter.
22 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES Tram No 141 from Hobart, Tasmania Simon Hutchinson
The real Hobart 141 at the Tasmanian Transport Museum. Photo Stuart Dix. As a lifelong tram enthusiast, I have been fascinated by the From 1928 onwards, all new trams built for Hobart were bogie unique tramcars of Hobart, Tasmania’s capital. In 1952 my single deckers; five prototype trams and 37 standard bogies of parents emigrated from England to Tasmania where I grew up, distinctive design, built between 1933 and 1952. and I visited the UK when I was 17, travelling on many of the After the takeover of the ‘city council run system’ by the state welsh narrow gauge lines and also the Manx Electric and government in 1955, tramway abandonment which began in Snaefell Mountain Railways. I also became a member of the 1942, was accelerated, with the last tram running on 19th of Tramway Museum at Crich and have driven three trams there, October 1960. Glasgow 812, Blackpool 166 and Newcastle 102. I trained in Medicine and resided in the UK between 1984 and 1992, working at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, and returned to Europe in 2012 which gave me the opportunity to travel on some of the Swiss railways which I had always admired (Pilatus, Arth Goldau and Vitznau Rigi, Jungfrau Railway and the splendid Swiss Transport Museum Returning to the subject of this article, the Hobart Electric Tramway Company opened a pioneering narrow gauge electric tramway, the first of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, on 21st of September 1893. 20 double deck 3’6” gauge tramcars were built by the Lancaster Railway Carriage and Wagon Co Ltd. in Lancashire using electro-mechanical components from Siemens Bros Ltd. These original vehicles were replaced by 40 second- generation double deck trams of generally British design built between 1905 and 1925 by the tramway company and also by Hobart City Council after acquisition of the company in 1913. Early stages of construction.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 23 READER STORIES
Starting to get there. Bodywork complete, just awaiting the mechanical components. One tram, number 141 from 1952 and which was the second- last to be built, was preserved intact by the Tasmanian Transport Museum Society. Inspired by the ride-in trolleys supplied by RMI Railworks, I decided to build a ride-in 7¼” gauge tram, based as closely as possible upon No. 141. I felt that the basic roofed sit-astride design could be modified with ends, roof and a mid-section built to resemble No. 141 as far as practicable. I took many photos and measurements of 141 in the museum in Hobart and drew up plans so that the general proportions of my model matched the prototype, albeit stretched vertically to accommodate the driver and passengers. The tram has a wooden chassis containing two 12 volt 105 Ah deep cycle batteries connected in series, driving two arch bar style bogies each fitted with a 450 Watt 24 volt motor supplied ready to run from DNC Systems in New South Wales. This style of bogie is not prototypical of No. 141, the standard bogie trams using a Melbourne design as fitted to their ‘W’ class trams; however, 3 of the prototype bogie trams did indeed have arch bar trucks. Speed controllers are fitted at each end, leading to a switchbox then to the main controller linked to the batteries and motors, again all supplied by DNC Systems. The distinctive anti-climber bumpers were fabricated by Coastal Engineering and Belting, a local engineering firm, as were the dash panels and headlight assemblies. The Fresnel lenses were supplied by General Signals Inc. of the USA. The tram body was built from Tasmanian Oak, the local eucalypt hardwood, and marine grade plywood. First time out on the temporary track at home in Penguin.
24 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES
The roof was made from 4mm marine ply covered in prototypical fashion with blackout calico bedded into paint. Colour cards were matched to the original vehicle to obtain the correct shades of green and cream and the sign writing and lining was undertaken by Sig Signs of Burnie. The sit-astride seats were upholstered in brown vinyl, matching the prototype, by Knightsbridge Furniture, a local upholsterer.
My elder son Alex deputised to tram drive on my birthday. Me posed with a glass of absinthe (an absinthe fountain was my present to myself!).
As an aside, I have always found it interesting that in Australia, government owned public transport vehicles tend to be smothered in external and internal advertising and private operators’ vehicles are advert-free. In the UK however, in general, municipally owned tramcars tended to be advert-free whereas company owned vehicles were liberally adorned with adverts. Notable exceptions being London and certain of those municipal operators whose systems survived into post-war service. I laid some temporary track in the back garden in time to give tram rides to guests at my 60th birthday party held of March 10th and the tram has behaved perfectly.
Tram driving proved popular with some of the guests. One distinctive feature of a Hobart tram was external advertising in the form of metal signs bolted to the dash. When it entered preservation, number 141 carried four of these panels advertising Shell motor oil, Neptune petrol and kerosene, and Vincent’s headache tablets. These adverts had been subsequently lost, but inspection of old photographs enable me to have facsimiles of these four adverts and two others, for Kiwi shoe polish and Shell petrol, printed by Smith Signs of Ulverstone on magnetic rubber so that they could be My current project is restoration of a 1969 Austin bus easily attached and detached from the tram. with motorhome conversion.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 25 READER STORIES
The real Los Angeles Railway Company 665 at Perris, My three trams, Hobart 141, Los Angeles 665 and the frames California. Photo copyright Mark Eades. of the steampunk tram.
I have also built a facsimile of Los Angeles Railway Company number 665, the original residing at the Orange Empire Rail Museum in Perris, California. All the measurements and other details of the prototype had to obtained from books and internet sources as the American museum failed to even acknowledge any requests for assistance, unlike here at home. It is essentially complete, just awaiting the electro-mechanical components to be fitted as finances and time allow. I have also started work on tram number three, this time a free lance steam punk design, following which I may tackle an English Electric Railcoach from Blackpool. It will be nice to do a 1930’s Streamline Modern design. I hope that I will be able to obtain some help and advice from any of the organisations which own one. Simon Hutchinson, PO Box 365, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia, 7316 Book Review How to Build 7¼” Gauge Points from Bar Stock by Colin Edmondson This comprehensive guide to the building of points in 7¼” gauge is by Colin Edmondson who is well known to many Society members. He spent his working life working in an engineering drawing office and now uses Autocad design and drafting software which ensures precise measurements and profile for his tools and designs. The booklet is A4 size, comb-bound and has 28 pages on thick paper (which would be reasonably tolerant of workshop usage). There are 42 colour photos, many clear diagrams and fully dimensioned tables in the appendix. As the title indicates, this describes construction using 25 x10mm bar stock and the author’s detailed instruction runs through equipment required (most of which we have in our workshops), safety issues and the need for rest periods to prevent us from reaching the point of ‘that’ll have to do’. It is logically written, process by process and liberally illustrated. Additional topics include sleeper material, fishplate construction, point levers, building points on site to fit existing track and a look at 3-way, single bladed and layover points. The author describes track gauges and profile gauges (which he can supply) and perhaps unusually, but very welcome, a willingness to offer advice by phone if the reader is really struggling with any aspect of the point building. As there appears to be little published material on point construction out there, this is an excellent publication which should enable most of us who can use an angle grinder and welder and with elementary engineering skills to manufacture our own points. Nick Deytrikh Title: How to build 7¼” gauge points from bar stock Author Colin Edmondson Available : eBay Price: £12.50 + £2.50 p&p
26 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES A Visit to Switzerland Nigel Mundy
Eight-road Liliputbahn roundhouse, Rothenburg near Luzern.
A visit at the end of July 2017 enabled me to sample three There are plans for further developments - a 210-meter Miniature Railways. On Saturday 22nd July, I visited the extension on the lower circuit next year, a museum in 2020, and Verkehrshaus de Schweiz (Swiss Transport Museum) in Luzern a 615-meter extension plus a new station on the upper circuit which has a 9½” Gauge circuit worked by a 1965 built 2-truck in 2025! At present, they have 10 steam - mostly Balson-built, Climax No 5672 - the original apparently worked in Chile! 9 electric locomotives and 14 sets of carriages on 2km of track, That afternoon I decided to visit the 7¼” Gauge Liliputbahn - with 4 stations, 8 bridges and 8 tunnels - all the result of the there is a regular bus service from Luzern Station which, with collaboration of more than 100 enthusiasts. I feel there must the benefit of hindsight, would probably be a better means also be a ready supply of Swiss Francs too! To see this place of access than taking the train to Rothenburg Dorf and at its busiest, their "International Steam Festival" takes place walking for 20 minutes as I did. Alight at the Chaernsmatt Hotel each year (in 2017 it was from 9-18th June) and it certainly and the Liliputbahn's 3-platform station and 8-road semi- attracts many visitors - both humans and locomotives!" roundhouse are behind the hotel. Molm, a Balson 0-4-0WT based on an 1897 Hohenzollern prototype, and a BE tram were in operation. The roundhouse contained nine other steam locos - most notable of which from a British point of view were 4079 Pendennis Castle (with an 8-wheel GWR tender) and Britannia 70021 Morning Star. Other more local locomotives included a Waldenburg 0-6-0T, 0-6-0RT (1068) and 2-8-0 (2602). On 26th July it so happened that my relatives decided on a trip to Lake Geneva which coincidentally found us at Le Bouveret - home of the Swiss Vapeur Parc with its extensive dual 5" and 7¼” Gauge track which opened to the public in 1989! On this "normal" Wednesday at least six trains were in operation, including two steam - 0-8-0 Mecklenburg and 0-6-0T 1 Aigle. Balson/1990 - MECKLENBURG at Le Bouveret Vapeur Parc.
Balson/ - 1 MOLM on the Liliputbahn, Rothenburg, near Luzern. Balson/ - 1 AIGLE at Le Bouveret Vapeur Parc.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 27 READER STORIES The Story of a Dock Tank called Jersey Terry Robinson
I have always had an interest in steam locomotives, originally J.G.S. Clarke but now is in the Reeves stable. I also bought an in Main Line named locos such as the massive ‘Austerity’ and old Herbert vertical milling machine in pieces, the deal was struck Q6 engines which came through Darlington, my nearest large and the equipment duly delivered, but unfortunately it was station. They brought iron ore, coke and limestone to the beyond repair and has been replaced. The chassis and castings steelworks which were at the bottom of the street where I lived were then stored away whilst other projects were completed. and took the finished product away, and this slowly broadened Moving on to 2009 with retirement on the horizon, I purchased my knowledge into all aspects of the railway scene. the boiler to my specification from a well-known boiler maker in One fascination was all the shunting locos at Skinningrove the south west, then by a stroke of luck, early in 2010 I was offered steelworks, and these were saddletanks except three, two fireless early retirement, so the drawings came out and the research machines, which looked strange, and a side tank by the name of started. I then had to decide what I wanted the finished model to Jersey. By the time I left school in 1965 and started work at the represent. It was then that I realised that the design was a very steelworks, all the shunters had gone for scrap and were basic representation, so using information from books, replaced by a fleet of ten new ‘Sentinel’ diesel hydraulic locos, magazines and photographs taken of a preserved loco the although the two fireless machines ran for another seven years. project commenced. The mainframes were too deep and were It was about this time I became more interested in industrial locomotives and found to my amazement that Jersey had been a former LSWR/Southern railway class B4 loco, originally working in Southampton docks, and had been sold out of service in 1949. Moving forward to 1993, by which time I was into model engineering, having built a slightly altered Ken Swan ‘Jessie’ loco, a friend announced he was leaving the UK to work somewhere in Africa. I was interested in buying a chassis and castings for a B4 tank engine, which then were produced by
28 Email: [email protected] READER STORIES
stripped, machined and new buffer beams and buffers manufactured, scale length side tanks made and fitted. The cab was made from scratch as Jersey originally had an open cab to Southampton dock specification; they were plated in the 1920/1930 period. Finally, the problem of livery had to be sorted. When Jersey originally arrived at Skinningrove, and incidentally, it was delivered by rail coupled in a freight train, it had the vacuum brake system removed and various modifications carried out. So, in light of this, I decided the livery would be plain black in the same trim as it was when it left Eastleigh early in 1949. The model has a rosebud grate and up to now has performed very well, so I am now looking forward to putting some miles on the clock.
This was Terry’s prototype for ‘Jersey’ when he had a greater interest in birds and his metrology skills were only in their 1 infancy (it is, in fact, 7 /8” gauge). A Goods Yard Snippet A Press Release from Bristol Model Engineers has been received and is presented here in edited form. The annual Bristol Model Engineering and Model Making Exhibition is being held at the Thornbury Leisure Centre near Bristol 17th - 19th August. Four halls at the Thornbury Leisure Centre will be in use, with a wide range of trade stands, both regular attenders and some who are new to this exhibition, offering tools, materials and machines for our workshops. There will also be lots of new models from individual model engineers plus displays from many Clubs and Societies. With the increase in popularity of 7¼” gauge, particularly by clubs building locos for passenger hauling, we are hoping to see clubs exhibiting their own, and their members’ models, whether finished or part-built. Our on-line ticket sales facility offers advance ‘Queue Hopper Tickets’ www.bristolmodelengineers.co.uk/Exhibition/tickets.html or for more general information contact Steve Birch, Exhibition Manager at [email protected] or 01454 838625. Also see ad. this issue and the exhibition website: www.bristolmodelengineers.co.uk/Exhibition/exhib.htm
Signal Fuels - Suppliers of Quality Welsh Steam Coal -
SMALL NUT (22mm x 45mm) 1” x 1¾” Remember to check LARGE NUT (45mm x 65mm) 1¾” x 2½” the Society website BEANS (12mm x 22mm) ½” x 1” GRAINS (6mm x 12mm) ¼” x ½” for our own sales items WASHED / SCREENED, packed in convenient 20kg bags ANY QUANTITY SUPPLIED TO ALL DESTINATIONS! www.sevenandaquarter.org Please call +44 (0) 1773 747027 E-mail: [email protected]
www.sevenandaquarter.org 29 30 Email: [email protected] ( 5 5
( 3
! "# $ # % & ' (&&!#
$&)# * &&+& # &", &"2, ! 4 ! &1 "&)& $ & # ! !
55( #"# !6 $ # % & ' ! ( ')* +%, & 67 8 9: ;8: ) 7 1 <+ #"#6" ) 3&.7 '''6+ #"#6" )
www.sevenandaquarter.org 31 INSURANCE FOR CLUBS SOCIETIES & INDIVIDUALS Club & Society Public Liability automatically includes all members anywhere in UK or Europe without extra charge Road Traffic Act insurance for miniature road vehicles Models & Home Workshops, Road Trailers, Portable Track, Personal Accident, Directors & Officers Boiler Testers Professional Indemnity Modelling & Model Engineering Businesses Commercial Miniature Railways up to 2ft gauge PLUS Vintage Tractors, Stationary Engines, Traction Engines, Motor Rollers Lorries & Low Loaders, Steam Cars, Memorabilia & Collectables and, of course, Home Buildings & Contents and Cars Please contact us for full details Insurance for Modellers and Model Engineers Suite D, The Balance, Pinfold Street, Sheffield S1 2GU Tel: 0114 250 2770 www.walkermidgley.co.uk Walker Midgley Insurance Brokers is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited Registered in England No. 4043759 Registered address: Towergate House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Locomotive www.steamplates.co.uk PAVIERSTEAM and Light Engineer
Tailor made to high standards 7 ¼” Royal Scot refurbished by Paviersteam
We are a small business which prides its self on reliability and professionalism in offering machining, engineering, repainting and full overhaul services to the model engineering world. We undertake projects of all sizes from individual parts to new builds, including repairs, refurbishments, Not down to a price! also buying and selling part built projects and locomotives. 7 ¼” Loch Lomond refurbished
With over 2 years in the model engineering world and 3 years as an engineer Paul Pavier has the vision to succeed as a high quality model engineering service provider. www.paviersteam.com Email [email protected] 07811 269186 Mobile 0784 6868094
32 Email: [email protected] A fine exhibition quality 7 ¼ inch gauge model of the Great Western Railway Class 3700 4-4-0 tender locomotive No.3440 ‘City of Truro’, built by David Aitken Sold for £49,600
A well engineered 10 ¼ inch gauge model of the London Midland Scottish No 6100 ‘Royal Scot’ tender locomotive, built with Bassett Lowke castings Sold for £24,800
A rare and fine exhibition quality 5 inch gauge model of a 4-4-0 Metropolitan locomotive No.27 Sold for £8,060
INVITING ENTRIES | THE TRANSPORT SALE | 19 SEPTEMBER 2018
AUCTION LOCATION ENQUIRIES Live Steam Locomotives & Garden Dreweatts Michael Matthews Railway Models, Traction Engines, Donnington Priory + 44 (0) 1404 47593 Stationary Engines, Workshop Equipment, Newbury [email protected] Scale Models & Transport Related Items Berkshire RG14 2JE dreweatts.com
www.sevenandaquarter.org 33 Station Road Steam Manufacturers of 7 ¼ inch gauge locomotives All types of steam engines bought, sold and part-exchanged S t a t
i Stafford, Feldbahn & NEW Feldbahn 0-6-0
o x 6WHHO &(PDUNHG SVL ERLOHU x 6WDLQOHVV VWHHO ZDWHU WDQN x (1 6WHHO ZKHHOV EDOOEHDULQJ D[OHER[HV x :HLJKW SRXQGV OHQJWK LQFKHV x &DVW LURQ F\OLQGHUV &OXSHW SLVWRQ ULQJV x 6XSSOLHG SDLQWHG UHDG\WRUXQ ZLWK n :DOVFKDHUWV YDOYH JHDU PRQWKV ZDUUDQW\ FEldbahn FC7 r )& LV VFDOHG XS IURP RXU ZHOOSURYHQ ³)HOGEDKQ´ GHVLJQ :HLJKLQJ LQ DW KDOI D WRQ ´ 2$/ ZLWK LQFK ERUH F\OLQGHUV DQG ERLOHU SUHVVHG WR SVL WKH o HQJLQH LV VXLWDEOH IRU WKH ODUJHU JDUGHQ UDLOZD\ RU PRVW GHPDQGLQJ RI FOXE DSSOLFDWLRQV $YDLODEOH ZLWK RXWVLGH IUDPHV DQG IO\FUDQNV IRU LQFK JDXJH LQVLGH IUDPHV
a IRU LQFK JDXJH HLWKHU YDULDQW FRPHV RXW DW WKH VDPH RYHUDOO VL]H ZHLJKW DQG SRZHU d
3$576 6+23 x VDIHW\ YDOYHV
s :H PDQXIDFWXUH DQ HYHUJURZLQJ UDQJH RI SDUWV DQG DFFHVVRULHV x PHFKDQLFDO OXEULFDWRUV x ZKLVWOHV x YDFXXP EUDNH YDOYHV t x UHYHUVHU VWDQGV x IXVLEOH SOXJV x QDUURZ JDXJH FDVWLQJV e )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ SOHDVH YLVLW RXU ZHEVLWH a m . c :H DUH DOZD\V LQWHUHVWHG LQ DFTXLULQJ HQJLQHV RI WKH W\SH WKDW ZH VHOO ,I \RX NQRZ RI D VWHDP HQJLQH IRU VDOH LQ DEVROXWHO\ DQ\ FRQGLWLRQ SOHDVH OHW XV NQRZ (QJLQHV ERXJKW RXWULJKW RU ZH DUH KDSS\ WR o WDNH WKHP RQ D FRPPLVVLRQ VDOH EDVLV RU SD\ \RX D ILQGHU V IHH LI \RX SXW XV LQ WRXFK ZLWK DQ HQJLQH ZKLFK ZH ODWHU SXUFKDVH $OO HQJLQHV OLVWHG DUH RQ RXU SUHPLVHV DYDLODEOH IRU LQVSHFWLRQ E\ DSSRLQWPHQW
m 3OHDVH GR FRQWDFW XV HYHQ LI DOO \RX KDYH LV D UXPRXU RI DQ HQJLQH EHLQJ DYDLODEOH 8QLW 0RRUODQGV 7UDGLQJ (VWDWH 0HWKHULQJKDP Ɣ /LQFROQ Ɣ /1 +; Ɣ 9LVLWRUV ZHOFRPH 0RQ)UL E\ DSSRLQWPHQW RQO\ SOHDVH
34 Email: [email protected] www.sevenandaquarter.org 35 36 Email: [email protected] HORLEY MINIATURE LOCOMOTIVES
7¼” Drawings and castings Dock tank BR STD Class 2 2-6-0 5” Castings only BR STD Class 2 2-6-2T Ashford. Stratford. Waverley. BR STD Class 4 2-6-4T 7¼” Castings only BR STD Class 5 4-6-0 Dart. Roedeer. Green Queen. BR STD Class 7 4-6-2 BR STD Class 9 2-10-0 L.M.S. Coronation Class 8 4-6-2 (Duchess) HORLEY MINIATURE LOCOMOTIVES LLP Phone: 01293 535959 E-mail: [email protected] www.horleyminiaturelocomotives.com
Denver Light Railway Ltd
Locomotive Engineers
Unit 5 Fryers Close Bloxwich Walsall West Midlands WS3 2XQ TEL 01922 404911
Building new locomotives Restoring old locomotives Complete overhauls Track work Points/crossings Turntables Coaching stock Locos up to 15 inch gauge
Trailer Canopies Loco Stands New Boiler Manufacture Boiler Repairs and Testing
Contact Andy Walton [email protected] www.denverlightrailway.co.uk Find us on facebook
www.sevenandaquarter.org 37 SOCIETY NEWS MEMBERS’ NOTICES SOCIETY SALES ITEMS 2017 Burnley AGM DVDs £5 inc P&P Members’ lapel badges £5.00 inc P&P Available from Frank Cooper or via Society website.
Events
Note: The ‘Events’ section has been re-formatted and condensed, thus easing matters for the compiler when extracting individual details from the Society website and elsewhere (this is not a straight-forward ‘cut & paste’ procedure!). Dates are included for the present quarter, plus an extra ‘overlap’ month (June - October inc.).
Thompson Park Railway , Burnley (venue of the 2017 Annual accommodated and are welcome, as are traction engines Gala). Operating Sats, Suns, Bank Hols and certain Wednesdays and other model road vehicles. There are spaces available 12 – 4 (weather permitting). Visiting locos welcome. for caravans and camping. Early arrivals and later departures Contact Mike Bailey (Secretary) Tel: 07957 714148 can be accepted for anyone wishing to stay longer than the email: [email protected] allotted three days.Full details/booking arrangements by email: [email protected] - also see the BMES website Parklands Railway Week ends June 1st. Steam electric and Facebook pages. (Insertion contributor: Nigel Freestone). & diesel welcome (boiler and insurance certificates), plus any rolling stock. Passenger and freight vehicles available. Ravensprings Park Public Open Day June 10th Other local attractions easily accessible. (on site from 0930, public from 1330), 24th Charity Open Day, Contact 01493 730445 for accommodation, July 8th, Aug 12th, Sept 9th, Oct 14th. and 01493 754112 or [email protected] for other information. Bradford MES Annual Open Day June 16th (Sat) 10:00 – 17:00. Visitors welcome. Also July 22nd Visitors Day. Ashmanhaugh Light Railway Public Open Day June 3rd, Visit www.bradfordmes.co.uk or email Russ Coppin 16th(*), July 1st, 14th(*), Aug 5th,18th(*), Sept 2nd, 15th(*), Oct at [email protected]. Also July 22nd Visitors Day. 7th, 20th(*). (* = visiting locos day only). This is a private railway operated by a club of approx. twenty members. Visiting locos on Picnic Field Railway (at Audley End Rly, Saffron Walden, certain days of the year. Trains running 2 - 5 weather permitting. Essex) June 16/17th Road Steam Rally. Also ‘driver experience’ Light refreshments available. East View Farm, Stone Lane, sessions alongside passenger trains, where dads (and others Ashmanhaugh NR12 8YW. Sorry no dogs allowed on site. aged 16+) can drive our 7¼”g Warship loco (subject to Contact Alan Ball 01603 714837 or 07717 502597 availability). email [email protected] July 14th (Sat) Maxitrak Owners Club Day, Sept 1st Steam & Top Field Light Railway (Whitwell & Reepham Station NR10 Sausages (visiting locos welcome, plus evening BBQ), 29th 4GA) Public Running Day 12 noon – 4:30pm. 3rd June, 1st July, “Anything Goes’ – all welcome. Visit www.audley-end- 4th Aug, 2nd Sept, 7th Oct. railway.co.uk for public/site access information.
Grimsby & Cleethorpes MES public running 3rd, 10th, 17th, Sheffield Model Engineers Invitation to Abbeydale 24th June, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th July, 1st Aug (Wed), 5th, July 7/8th. Ground and raised level 7¼" gauge tracks, minimum 8th (Wed), 12th, 15th (Wed), 19th, 22nd (Wed), 25-27th (Annual radius 30 feet and fully signalled. 3m lifting table for unloading Open Weekend Gala), 29th (Wed), Sept 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and a variety of coal types/sizes. Sat 7th is private running, 30th, Oct 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th. Contact Secretary Dave Smith, just for visitors; Sunday will be intensive public running. lla Little Lane, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9DT. 01507 605901 Our carriages are vacuum braked.For further details please or 07970 491567 email: [email protected] contact Bob Potter [email protected] Website: sheffieldmodelengineers.com The Summerfields Miniature Railways , Bedford. Public Running. June 10th, 24th, July 8th, 22nd, Aug 1st, 8th, Echills Wood Railway July 13 – 16th Standard Gauge Steam 15th, 26/27th, Annual Gala 31st (Fri) – Sept 2nd, 16th, Oct 7th, & Diesel Weekend. Open to members of the Society and other 21st, 24th (Wed). visitors. Public operation on Sunday 15th from 1100hrs. Also Sept 14 – 16th Narrow Gauge Weekend. Booking for EWR The Bedford Model Engineering Society is holding its annual rally events is essential - contact via the EWR website www.ewr.org.uk (now known as The Gala) at its Summerfields Miniature Railways or the event co-ordinators, Jane & William Moody site at Haynes, just south of Bedford. Dates as above. Originally [email protected]. Caravan parking facilities may be conceived as a Visitors’ Rally for 7¼”, 5” and 3½” gauge available at Far Leys. Visitors with models should have current locomotives, gauges from 7¼” down to 32mm can be boiler and insurance documentation.
38 Email: [email protected] SOCIETY NEWS Events
Barnards Miniature Railway Steam Gala Weekend Wester Pickston Railway (SMET) July 29th, Aug 26th. Visiting July 14/15th. Visiting steam locos welcome locomotives by arrangement only. Details from Trevor 01738 (Romulus/Hunslet/Large Scale prototypes ie 5MT upwards). 812479 or our website: www.smet.org.uk. Our Google map Must be Vac fitted, boiler and public liability certs required. co-ordinates are -56.4333231 -3.648622. (7miles from the Saturday evening BBQ and running, public running 11am - 4pm A85 junction with the A9 Perth bypass). SMET is also the venue both days. Also Diesel Gala Sept 16th. Tents/Caravans welcome. for the 7¼” Gauge Society 2018 Gala & AGM 14-17th Sept Email : [email protected] for bookings. (see below). See www.barnardsminiaturerailway.eu for location details. Bristol Model Engineering and Model Making Exhibition East Herts Miniature Railway 40th Anniversary Celebration 17-19th August (see ad. this issue and Goods Yard Snippet). weekend July 21st/22nd. Lunch and evening BBQ provided. Also Autumn Gala Oct 13/14th Visiting engines welcome for 7¼” Gauge Society 2018 Gala & AGM 14-17th Sept passenger and non-passenger hauling. Late running into the Hosted by SMET (above), locos can arrive/depart between Tues evening on Saturday. For bookings contact Mark Tassell 11th and Tues 1th Sept. See booking forms with this issue. Also 40th [email protected] or www.facebook.com/EHMRS/ early booking of accommodation is advised. Rugby MES Narrow Gauge Rally July 28/29th. All types of loco Bath & West Railway Open weekend 6/7th Oct. ½ mile 7¼”g from any country of origin, provided the prototype is built to a track, 3miles road for Traction Engines. Certs/insurance required. gauge of less than 4' 8½”. Also BR Rally Aug 11/12th for locos Details/reservations from [email protected] either built by BR, by the Big Four but in BR livery, or any pre- grouping loco in BR Livery. For full information and bookings More 2018 events details from www.sevenandaquarter.org contact the respective organizer on either [email protected] or [email protected] for full information and bookings.
Sales & Wants
7¼” gauge Wren loco (Ken Swan design). Built 1988, copper A large hydrostatic unit, would suit large 7.25” narrow gauge up boiler (new boiler/steam test certificate), well looked after, good to light 15” gauge loco. Located Stoke-on-Trent. £250. runner (pulls 8-10 adults on level). Located Staffordshire. £5,000. Tel: 07876 287864 email: [email protected] Tel: 07804 901074 email: [email protected] HST loco, 24V 1HP Bosch, battery powered, iDrive controller, air Class 40 loco, heavy hauler, run once only at EWR and horns, disc brakes. Timber body, all steel chassis. performed flawlessly; stored since. Custom made 17D bogies Located Leicester. £2,000. Tel 07768 000655 each with 750w 24v 3000rpm Parvalux motor, fitted PNP vacuum email [email protected] brakes and reservoirs. Mtronics Controller and sound, working roof fan, cab interior detail, Perspex windows, working custom Superb braked driving truck/open wagon 45" X 17". 8" deep built smoke/clag/fog units which only need water to operate, body, removable drivers seat and coal box. Sprung buffers. marker, head and tail lights. Leisure batteries. Also an additional Located Milton Keynes. £475. Tel 07763 443019 set of brand new identical bogies as above for sale separately. email [email protected] Located Derby. £5,799. Tel: 07796 685007 email: [email protected] Note: All reasonable care is taken in the preparation of these ‘Notices’ but 3.5 HP Petrol/electric hybrid loco, Maxitrak Planet 2 style with the Society cannot be held responsible for loss or inconvenience arising LED headlight. Excellent order but little used. Collection only from errors or omissions. Advertisements and announcements are from New Milton (loco is a two-person lift and should fit in a presented in good faith – reliance on any content therein is the reader’s responsibility. Events and Sales & Wants listings are mainly edited extracts hatchback vehicle). £2,750. Tel: 01425 611593 from the Society website. If wishing to attend an event, it is advisable to email: [email protected] contact the organiser in advance. Sales & Wants respondents in particular should satisfy themselves as to the suitability of any items pending Pair 7.25”g sit-astride carriages. Renovated, little used and stored. transaction; the Society simply provides an advertising medium and cannot become involved in any matter arising between transacting parties. Heavy, strong wood beam frame, undercarriage and sides metal. Members having difficulty placing announcements on the Society website Vacuum brake system installed (not tested). Free-wheel bogies, should contact Society Secretary Tony Knowles, for assistance. Written sprung buffers. £1250. Located Partington, SW Manchester. Notices for the next issue of the magazine must be submitted to the Tel 07746 309608 email [email protected] Secretary by 15th July 2018.
www.sevenandaquarter.org 39 1 A PUBLICATION OF THE 7 /4” GAUGE SOCIETY LTD
A class 16 visiting Wester Pickston Railway, Perth. Photo G. Longlands