Diesel railcar project

I know that 15 inch gauge topics get included in the narrow gauge section but I can never regard such lines as anything other than miniature. Sorry all R.H.D.R. and R. & E. R. devotees.

Paul H,

 

Don't think it has owt to do with being 'devotees' of anything, it's just facts. Surely the RER and RHDR are both miniature AND narrow gauge?

 

Interesting question. Many of the locos are scaled down standard gauge... I wonder if at that scale the gauge is the equivalent of standard; anyone know?

 

Not a simple answer to that - the initial Pacifics at Romney were one-third full-size replicas of the Gresley LNER locos, but their track at 15-inch gauge is therefore a bit narrow (three times 15 = 45 inches, rather less than the 56.5 of standard gauge).

River Esk and River Mite at Ravenglass are of similar scaled down proportions but River Irt and Northern Rock are rather different, with larger cabs, chimney, dome etc suggesting a narrow gauge prototype.

Andrew C
Narrow Gauge World

 

So they should have gone for 570mm, like a proper railway?

 

I was always under the impression that the RH&DR locos were 1/3 scale running on 1/4 scale (or thereabouts) track - ergo they are both miniature and narrow gauge.

 

Correct, they are 1/3 scale on 1/4 track. As are River Mite and River Esk at R&ER.

River Irt at R&ER is a rebuild of Heywood's "Muriel", an 8-8-0T which was definitely of narrow gauge proportions.

Thing is with both lines, they are narrow gauge railways using miniature outline locomotives. Their reason for being narrow gauge? Their purpose is to move people from point to point, not to provide an amusement attraction like a true miniature railway (think Rhyl, Southport, etc.), and 15" just happens to fall into the grey area where it can cover both aspects.

Quite some time ago now I wrote a lengthy article about lines being narrow gauge or miniature. It can be found online at http://s9.zetaboards.com/MRW_Forums/topic/98432/1/

Thanks,

Dom Greenop

 

The mind boggles!

 

There was also the Southport Pier "Silver Belle" - chassis parts apparently now live on at the Southport Lakeside Miniature Railway and the West Lancashire Railway.

http://www.joylandbooks.com/themagiceye/articles/happiland.htm for a pic.

 

Sorry - Muriel was an 0-8-0T..!

Was rather busy at the time and was trying to type too fast..!!

Dom

 

[youtube]jAEEdqNN1io[/youtube]

Clips show possibly the last run before the power bogie is rebuilt in its final form.

Steel for the chassis may be ordered early next year. Current thinking is to produce something of a similar size to the Plynlimon carriage, possibly with plastic bodywork.

 

Superb!!!!!
I will have to timetable my annual pilgrimage to Kernow (to re-stock on Doombar ) during the operating season to see how progress is made with the project

Good luck

Ian

 

I had one or two trips on this and it seemed to work well but I know that the coaches were converted back to loco hauled several years ago. What were the problems or operating reasons that led to this decision.

Cheers
Alan

 

Steel for railcar power bogie MK2 arrived today.

Originally the plan was to chop up the original post office bogies to produce a plateframe power bogie, however it has now been decided to build a new archbar power bogie, utilising only the wheelsets and axle hung motors from the post office bogies. Dependent on how work progresses, the new power bogie may make an appearance at the FR gala in May.

Incidentally for those in the South West - there should be a piece featuring the LSR on BBC Spotlight next week (probably Monday). You will have to wait and see what it is about - but it should include a puffer in steam!

Charlie

 

Just caught up with is , Wow!!! what an inspired project!! Watching the You-Tube clip shows that you have a very viable concept here, but, it seems to be very fast for a 2'-0" gauge vehicle.

A couple of questions, what horsepower are the traction motors? how are you going to limit the obvious high speed potential?

I will be following this fascinating project with interest.

Cheers

Alan

 

Motors are (if I remember correctly) around 20hp.

The new power bogie now appears substantially complete - though the sprung bolster plate is still under construction and thus not yet fitted:




If all goes to plan - See it in action at the Ffestiniog this May!

 

For those who haven't been following news on the LSR website:

Sprung bolster and brakes now fitted to the power bogie.
Seats arrived from Blackpool Tramway in April.
Photos of both here.

The railcar will continue to be 'on the back burner' for the time being as the initial focus for the winter maintenance period is relaying the first 1/2 mile of track from Launceston station.

The final 'outline' of the railcar is still under consideration, but current thinking is to loosely base it on the Rowan Tramway steam railcars after a French gentleman who visited this summer very kindly sourced a set of drawings for the LSR. For those unfamiliar with the Rowan Tramway vehicles, an outline drawing can be found at http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5529561z.image.f13.langEN .

Charlie

 

Watching progress with great interest, love narrow gauge railcars!!

 

Work started on the chassis for the railcar the other day - photos here.


Charlie

 

well done for all the hard work that is undergoing on the project and may much great work continue