On the workbench      On the drawing-board      Reference

POEM

Purchased from Murray Lane of Auckland in June 2008, POEM is a semi-freelanced 2-8-0 based upon a WWI trench loco.

CLICK HERE for more info on POEM.

My petrol hydraulic

Since my petrol hydraulic transmission arrived from the UK I have been pondering what style of loco to build. I decided that I would not start until POEM was back and running so that I didn't get distracted.

I always had a soft-spot for the MinitrainS H0n30 Plymouth. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of building one in 7¼" gauge.

CLICK HERE for more information on my petrol hydraulic

Passenger carriages

John Bremner and I are currently building a new carriage that will sit on the drawbar of my trailer. Number 1 is too long and too heavy to carry about for the odd occasion when I'd need my own ride-car, so a short one is good enough for now.

Freight wagons

I have always had a soft spot for the classic V-tippers that were built in the thousands for industrial use all over the world. They are also very practical for construction purposes on a railway.

I have been working on-and-off on some CAD drawings to build some from profile-cut steel. 

The big diesel

I have recently come into contact with an ex-automotive engineer who has offered some of his spare equipment for an experiment. He has a 5kW generator looking for a home and is keen to see if he can build the "guts" of a locomotive in exchange for website development for him.

Sounds like a good deal to me!

Long-term projects and ideas

Plans are also available (I don't have them) for an adhesion-only 0-6-0 which uses a lot of the same parts.

I am trying to find out whether castings (or patterns for them) are still available.

There are apparently two Koppels in New Zealand. One is based around Havelock North (it has been seen there on several occasions - see the Havelock North photo gallery) but I do not know where the adhesion-only 0-6-0 is. I am trying to track it down.

This would be a project I would really enjoy.

(Prototype photo taken on the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, UK)

It is worth noting that the 7¼" Gauge Society and the Model Engineering Association of New Zealand (MEANZ) approved track and wheel standards are not quite the same.

MEANZ approved standards

CLICK ON image to view / save full-size

7¼" Gauge Society (UK) approved standards

FLANGEWAYS

WHEEL STANDARDS