On the workbench
POEM
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|
 Purchased
from Murray Lane of Auckland in June 2008, POEM is a
semi-freelanced 2-8-0 based upon a WWI trench loco.As
of late 2008 POEM is in John Bremner's workshop
undergoing some cosmetic changes - not least of which is
the colour. POEM should be back on the rails around
mid-December just in time for the prime running season. |
My petrol hydraulic
|
|
 About
25 years ago when I was at college and involved with the
Merstham Valley
Railway, I bought a Honda petrol engine and an
Eaton hydrostatic transmission
for a loco I wanted to build. As with many projects like
this, nothing ever came of it, and they have sat
languishing in the back of my parent's shed for years.
My
petrol engine and hydrostatic transmission have arrived.
All I need to do now is decide what to build.
Perhaps something like this armoured Simplex or perhaps a
Ruston. I
received an email from a guy who has found out
that
Alan Keef hold the drawings for all Simplex
models, including the 40hp armoured versions
from World War I. Jordan is also thinking of
making one so perhaps we can collaborate on the
design.
|
Wagons
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|
 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 and I got the steel for the prototypes back from the profile
cutters just before Christmas. I now have the "fun" of
welding up what is quite a complex shape for the
chassis. |
On the drawing-board (or at least ideas in
my head)
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|
 In
November 2008 I picked up a complete set of drawings for an Orenstein &
Koppel rack loco to the design by Ken Swan. Not sure if I
want to undertake this as a "first build" so might look for
something a bit simpler but it would make a fascinating
model.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 rack
loco and one adhesion-only 0-6-0. I am trying to track them
down. |
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 |
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 A
friend in Sweden is researching a Decauville Type 6 and will
produce drawings for one for 7¼" gauge.This would be a
project I would really enjoy. (Prototype photo taken on
the Bredgar &
Wormshill Light Railway, UK) |
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John Bremner and
I are looking at the feasibility of building a Garratt as a
joint-project and
something like this 2' 6" gauge Sierra Leone Government
Railway 2-6-2 + 2-6-2 would fit the bill.
It would be great if I could find a suitable chassis
pre-designed to use.
L'il Lima by Keith Watson might be a potential as I'd
want Walschaerts valve gear not Hackworth, so Romulus and
Tinkerbell are out of the equation - at least as designed
(there are
Tinkerbells out there with Walschaerts valve
gear). |
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|
 It
turns out that drawings of South African Railways NG/G11,
NG/G13 and NG/G16 Garratts are available from the
SAR Steam website.Even though we'd make a few changes
to the bodywork (a higher cab in particular so it can be
sit-in), the plans for the engine units would be very
useful. |
Reference
| |
7¼"
Gauge Society approved track and wheel standards
FLANGEWAYS
| |
On diagram above |
Standard Gauge |
Narrow Gauge |
|
Fractional " |
Decimal " |
Metric |
Fractional " |
Decimal " |
Metric |
|
Flangeway |
"A" |
9/32 -0 +1/32 |
0.281 -0 +.031 |
7.15 -0 +0.79 |
9/32 -0 +1/32 |
0.281 -0 +0.031 |
7.15 -0 +0.79 |
|
Maximum gauge widening
on curves |
|
1/8 |
0.125 |
3.18 |
1/8 |
0.125 |
3.18 |
|
Track gauge |
"B" |
7 1/4 -0 +1/64 |
7.25 -0 +0.015 |
184 -0 +0.38 |
7 1/4 -0 +1/64 |
7.25 -0 +0.015 |
184 -0 +0.38 |
WHEEL STANDARDS
| |
On diagram above |
Standard Gauge |
Narrow Gauge |
|
Fractional " |
Decimal " |
Metric |
Fractional " |
Decimal " |
Metric |
|
Check gauge |
"C" |
6 15/16
-0 +1/32 |
6.938 -0 +0.031 |
176.5 -0 +0.79 |
6 15/16
-0 +1/32 |
6.938 -0 +0.031 |
176.5 -0 +0.79 |
|
Diameter point |
"D" |
17/64 |
0.265 |
6.73 |
5/16 |
0.313 |
7.94 |
|
Flange angle |
"E" |
|
20o |
20o |
|
20o |
20o |
|
Flange depth |
"F" |
3/16 |
0.188 |
4.76 |
1/4 |
0.250 |
6.35 |
|
Flange thickness |
"G" |
9/64 |
0.140 |
3.55 |
|
0.190 |
4.82 |
|
Flange tip radius |
"H" |
1/16 |
0.063 |
1.59 |
|
0.081 |
2.06 |
|
Minimum wheel width |
"J" |
13/16 |
0.813 |
20.64 |
1 1/8 |
1.125 |
28.58 |
|
Root radius |
"K" |
1/8 |
0.125 |
3.18 |
1/8 |
0.125 |
3.18 |
|
Tread coning angle
(maximum) |
"L" |
|
3o |
3o |
|
3o |
3o |
|
Wheel back-to-back |
"M" |
6 13/16
-0 +1/64 |
6.813 -0 +0.015 |
173 -0 +0.38 |
6 3/4 |
6.750 -0 +0.015 |
171.5 -0 +.038 |
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