MMS Back in Service

Glorious weather this weekend, so a great opportunity for some running in the garden, with Toby, Mortimer & the MMS all doing a turn. But first a quick strip down of the Baguley-Drewery as it's not been running so smoothly of late; lurching a bit & some groaning from the connecting rods. The strip down & rebuild seemed to do the trick & she's running smoothly again.

I also switched the MMS cyclinders back to the original ones, to see whether last weeks' fettling problems were cylinder related. Turns out they must have been, as she was happily running in on blocks Sunday morning, and running very nicely round the track on Sunday afternoon with two wagons in tow. The precision regulator has made her much more controllable, and with the wicks properly adjusted there's no shortage of steam. As she is now running well I may indulge in a few more cosmetic improvements from Dream Steam...!

So - all of the motive power on the W & L is now back in service - just in time for the rain ;-)

Fettling the MSS

Well, after the Model Engineer show yesterday, I came home & steamed both Mortimer & Cackler, both running nicely in the afternoon sun.

I then decided to get the MSS back into service, having now received the recently ordered lubricator. BTW, the service from Dream Steam was very good, and as there were a few days delay due to a PayPal issue, they threw in a brass chimney cap - very decent of them. I'm also happy to report their lubricator design is an improvement on the IP version, as the pipe to the reversing block is longer & as a result I didn't have to file anything at all! The loco has been running in on blocks this evening, but there seems to be a problem with the replacement IP cylinders; lots of steam leaking from the piston rod glands, and no packing behind the gland nuts either, so something to sort out this week. The old cylinders weren't all that bad, so I may just go back to them for the time being to get her running on the track.. The Dream Steam centre buffer replacement buffer beams look very good too I think.

Model Engineer 08

Went to the Model Engineer Exhibition yesterday, at Ascot. Good show, with some fantastic locomotives on display. The level of skill and dedication to build locos to this standard is amazing. Check out the scale tin of brasso on the footplate of the GWR loco! It almost seems a shame to steam them...


The Sinsheim 5" gauge track was impressive (surely the worlds largest trainset?!), although there were disappointingly few locos in steam. It was great to see a decent size loco in full cry with a long rake of goods wagons in tow though! The maddest thing of all was a working model of a prototype gas turbine engine - the noise was something to behold as it whined past! Here's a short YouTube video I shot of trains running on the Sinsheim track:

Interesting to see all the machine tools on show. Although I've never done any workshop training, the idea of having a small mill & lathe & to make my own locos is very attractive. Looks like you could get yourself reasonably well equipped for the cost of a decent 16mm live steamer - then it's just time & materials!

Diesel Mineral Working on the W & L Lt. Rly.

Here's a new YouTube video of diesel hauled mineral workings on the W & L Lt. Rly, featuring my Accucraft Baguley-Drewery battery converted loco & Binnie Hudson Tippers.

Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway to close?

Sad to read that the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway is due to close at the end of the year... Lets hope they can at least negotiate a stay of execution if not a continued existance on the site.

Weekend Running

Finally a weekend with some nice weather for a change, and some opportunities to run some trains!

On Saturday I was able to steam Cackler, following some tweaks as a result of an e-mail thread with the Loco's maker, David Hardy. The filler valve problem turned out to be resolved by cleaning out the non-return valve. I did some further fettling of the steam regulator to try to get it to close completely, I also tighted up one of the connecting rods between the slip eccentric and the piston valve which seemed to have worked loose. The resulting run was one of the best I've ever achieved with this loco; lovely slow scale speed pulling a couple of wagons, gas & steam regulators perfectly balanced. Certainly looking forward to more runs like that!

Today I was able to do some gardening, and clear the plants that had overgrown the line. Having done that, I ran Mortimer, once before the kids went to bed, and for an extended run after. I don't usually run once it's dark, even with the patio light on (primarily in case the track works loose), but Mortimer is very reliable, and with the single-fill system there's not a great deal that can go wrong. It was very atmospheric, and great to sit back with a glass of wine and watch her going round!

Hopefully we will get that Indian summer with more good running sessions into the Autumn...

Back to the BMR

We went to Brambridge yesterday, to go to the garden centre, but we squeezed a ride on the Bankside Miniature Railway in too. We were hauled by Carolyn, stalwart of the line - here's a picture of Carolyn plus train being turned on the turntable after the run.

They were also steaming a GWR pannier on a short test track. I'm not sure whether she is the same (unusual) gauge as the main line, and will be on passenger duties in future? (shame - we'll have to go back... ;-)

Big trains, little trains...

Despite the rubbish weather this weekend (again), we managed to see some big trains & little trains on Saturday afternoon.

First of all, up to Ropley again - we saw Wadebridge on a down train, before wandering around the loco shed and seeing several large locos, including a very smart looking A4 60019 Bittern. It's their steam gala this weekend, which looks like it should be very good...

After that it was down to Eastleigh, to the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway for a ride on a little train. It was one of their 'Days out with Underground Ernie', which the kids enjoyed, but sadly no steam haulage! They have quite an extensive track down there, and it was definitely worth a visit - doubtless we'll be back down their again...

I've ordered some parts for the MSS, so hopefully she will be back in steam before long!!!

Toby Rides Again!

Got hold of a new motor for Toby & fitted it Monday evening (with the new metal worm gear to replace the stripped out plastic one). He felt a bit 'gutless' testing on the kitchen table, but he's been out doing laps this evening, and seems to be running in OK. If anything I'd expected a power increase, as the new gears have a lower ratio. Hopefully performance will improve & settle down as he gets run-in...

Looks like the previously noted problem with the MSS refit is a blow through the dead-leg lubricator fitting, which I filed to accomodate the larger pivot bolts of the new cylinders; looks like I was too aggressive there (& I'll be after a new lubricator!). I was wondering where to get parts now that IP seem to have completely walked away from Jane & after-market Mamod parts; PPS carry some, but a bit of Googling revealed http://www.dream-steam.com/, who look like they have quite a good range :-)