Good Home Needed

In the 1990s my father constructed a 7.25 inch gauge railway in his large garden. Motive power was a wooden bodied battery electric diesel outline loco driven from a rather rudimentary sit astride carriage. Sadly my father contracted cancer and died before the project was completed although we did run the loco on the line once, hauling passengers. Since then the loco has sat for 20 years under a tarp in a dry garage.

We now are in the process of selling the house and need to dispose of the loco (the permanent way was disposed of some time ago). It is free to anyone willing to finish the job,possibly change the power unit etc. New owner would have to collect from the Wrexham area. A donation to a cancer charity would be nice. Please PM me if you are interested.

 

Hi Mick. I'd be very interested, I'm looking to stat a 7 1/4" project to help young people with learning difficulties.

 

That sounds like a good home - I worked in social services all my life so it would be appropriate! As I said it has not run since 1995 so I can't vouch for the state of its motor and it would need a new battery. Not been able to test it as the track went some years ago. Probably an electrician would be able to sort it out. Should be ok as its been in a dry garage with a central heating boiler since then. I seem to recall it took three of us to carry it from the workshop to the track. would need a van, pick up or SUV with a big load space to transport.

Going to your part of the world would be appropriate - my dad's family come from Frome and I am very familiar with the area. Let me know if you wish to proceed.

 

Hi Mick,

Do you have rough dimensions, my Brother has quite a large car, just wondering if it's large enough.

Looks like I need to book a trip to Wrexham!

 

I will measure it up later in the week,probably Thursday. I live some way from Wrexham and have some things I need to do over the next couple of days.

 

Ah ok, thanks Mick. Would collection around the weekend of the 30th/1st be suitable?

 

Yes that should be ok. I'll check if my brother is around to help.

 

I'll try and source a short bit of 7 1/4" to sit it on for the journey

 

I think we may have that - it is sitting on a length of track. I will measure that too.

 

Oh you're an angel Mick!

 

I regularly move 7 1/4" gauge locos in the back of my car and would recommend NOT sitting the loco on track as it may jump off going over a bump. I usually sit my locos on a sheet of rough ply (OSB), sometimes with an old rubber car mat on top to stop it slithering about. Best to load it 'fore & aft' with the front buffers up against the front seat backs (protected with another bit of ply etc) and a ratchet strap to hold it in place. You'd be surprised how much inertia even a small loco has if one brakes sharply! Hope this helps.
Ray

 

Ace, thanks Ray!

 

Measurements - length 120cm, width 50cm height 85cm off track, 90cm on. Marshall 5's advice sounds good.

 

I would agree with Ray take plenty of rugs and other packing with you, plus some industrial rope, I moved a number of items in the back of a mates Transit van a few year ago, all was secure or so I though, I had to end up buying a pair of new back doors for him as the load had moved backwards while I was driving the thing.

 

SpudUk. Are you still interested? Just got a buyer for the house and need to dispose of the loco.

 

Hi Mick, absolutely! When do you need it collected?

 

More or less anytime apart from next week when I'm away. Name a day. There is someone else interested so I would appreciate a definite arrangement with you as you were the first to make contact.

 

Would this Saturday be possible? Trying to get all the bits of a jigsaw to fall into place!

 

Yes that would be ok. Will you have assistance - I think it will need 3 to lift?