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Want to build live steam loco from scratch

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microguy

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I just retied last month. Now I will have more time to work on live steam loco. First I want to build oscillating steam engine with boiler just like Midwest model VI steam engine kit. I see few in Ebay but they are pretty high price. Is there a blueprint or information on each part like Oscillating steam engine, safety value and boiler that I can make one from scratch. I tried to loo in www.john-tom.com but they are no longer in service. I do have lathe and mill machine. Later I will like to build Bagrs loco or panyo loco or smiliar loco with oscillating steam enigne. I would like to use gears instead of chain.

Reid
 
#4 · (Edited)
The Wayback Machine Internet Archive has the john-tom.com pages archived, so you can still browse them there: Steam Engine Plans. Some of the links may not be archived, but the few I tried seem to work.

That Wayback Machine can be a very handy tool, I was recently going through all my old saved bookmarks and was able to retrieve a lot of good info from dead pages that way. Here's another one you might find useful for a vertical-boilered oscillating-cylinder locomotive... idrispln.htm
 
#5 · (Edited)
microguy said:
I just want to build on G scale or LGB track.
Click to expand...
OK, so we've established that you want to build a loco that runs on 45mm gauge narrow-gauge prototype track.....

Here is a great 'how-to' about building a simple live-steamer - I apologise in advance that there is little by way of US outline stuff in it, but that's the nature of the hobby. Scratch-builders in the USA are the kings of modelling, as you may have noticed on previous pages here, and produce some stunning work that is the envy of the vast majority of us, no matter where we live.

Image

OSBN 978-1-909358-12-6
 
#6 ·
microguy said:
Is there a blueprint or information on each part like Oscillating steam engine, safety value and boiler that I can make one from scratch.
Click to expand...
I would suggest you join the G1MRA (Gauge 1 Model Railway Association.) They have a regular Newsletter and Journal full of scratch-built steam locos. ["Oh, a pandemic lock-down. Good time to build a 2-8-2 from scratch" is typical.]
G1MRA also has lots of resources, like plans and designs for simple starter locos. And while they are UK based, a steam engine is a steam engine, wherever it is.

Barrett Steam Models in the UK makes kits for live steam engines. While they don't have US prototypes, some of the smaller engines would let you get your feet (and hands) wet before you start that 2-8-2 I mentioned. Gauge one models | BARRETT STEAM MODELS Ltd. | England
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
rwjenkins - Thank you for new link on www.john-tom.com. I could not find what I am looking for. First of all, I guess I did not make myself clear what I am looking for. I just want to build just excalty same as Midwest Model VI steam engine with the boiler. So that I can build BAGRS Panyo jst same. I did not want to build so complex loco steam engine at this time. I just want 0-2-0 loco for this time.

Pete Thornton - I am from Utah, USA. I will see what G1MRA have. I did not want to order anything from other country. The shipping cost is so high right now.
 
#9 ·
#10 ·
John Van Riemsdijk recomended to me, when I wanted to build a first scratch built steamer, not to make the usual mistake: IE build a small simple loco. Because the main problem beginners have, is to design a boiler which supplies enough steam for your locomotive. So I started with a mikado tank.
 
#11 ·
microguy said:
rwjenkins - Thank you for new link on www.john-tom.com. I could not find what I am looking for. First of all, I guess I did not make myself clear what I am looking for. I just want to build just excalty same as Midwest Model VI steam engine with the boiler. So that I can build BAGRS Panyo jst same.
Click to expand...
I have a Midwest Model VI unit still in kit form. I'm not planning to part with it, but I can get you some measurements if that's helpful.
 
#13 ·
David Leech said:
You may find an 0-2-0 very hard to balance, unless you are talking in European wheel arrangement!!!
But we know what you mean.
Good luck with the build.
Cheers,
David Leech, Canada
Click to expand...
The Lartigue monorail in Ireland had indeed a 0-2-0 contractors loco. It had 2 vertical boilers. I have drawings of the contraption and once considered building a model. A picture can be found here.
Regards
 
#14 ·
HMeinhold said:
The Lartigue monorail in Ireland had indeed a 0-2-0 contractors loco. It had 2 vertical boilers. I have drawings of the contraption and once considered building a model. A picture can be found here.
Regards
Click to expand...
There is always the exception, isn't there?! 😀 Non mainstream engineering is interesting.
 
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#15 ·
David Leech said:
You may find an 0-2-0 very hard to balance, unless you are talking in European wheel arrangement!!!
But we know what you mean.
Good luck with the build.
Cheers,
David Leech, Canada
Click to expand...
A 0-4-0 would indeed be called a 020 in France. But there was a 0-2-0 (in French a 010) tank locomotive as can be seen here: EST 010T.
Regards
Fred
😉
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
I am still lookig for some blueprint for vertical boiler steam locomotive for Scale G. Does anyone know where we can find more blueprint on Vertical boiler steam locomotive? I just want a simple scratch build vertical boiler steam locomotive. It will be 0-4-0.
 
#19 ·
microguy said:
I am still lookig for some blueprint for vertical boiler steam locomotive for Scale G. Does anyone know where we can find more blueprint on Vertical boiler steam locomotive? I just want a simple scratch build vertical boiler steam locomotive. It will be 0-4-0.
Click to expand...
I think you might be out of luck for a bit of a strange reason. The type you describe is indeed the very simplest type of loco to build. Hence I think most builders don't bother actually making anything but scetches for personal use.

Vertical boilers are difficult to screw up. Except possibly for making a single and to large diameter center flue? Or maybe just having a burner of some type, not providing enough heat to actually boil water - but I think most people will have a pretty good idea if a burner might boil enough water for two cups of coffe?

The steam engine is usually something left over - which "provokes" this build and use. Also designing simple ocillating engines is also not that difficult - or buying a kit. (These days those kits are usually ready machined though.)

Also, since these engines are ad hoc designs, they aren't really built to any true / specific scale.

Perhaps just rip off general dimensions of this Regner Chaloner engine? Chaloner (Easy Line], Lokomotive | REGNER

Though the engine it self is pretty clever, double acting with a reversing valve. A scetch would let you figure out how to machine it. Dampfmaschine Piccolo (Easy Line) | REGNER

Not very helpful? Well I can only advise to google, I'm afraid.
 
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#20 ·
I might add, Regner for a while offered firing such a boiler with alcohol based paste, usually used for table cooking in restaurants and homes. I don't know what the actual device is called in English, that you use the paste in, but they can be used for frying / boiling / heating a variety of dishes coming from all places around the world.

The reason I think the idea sounds great, is because you can't spill it, like with fluid alcohol. And also such a burner is a really simple sollution, compared to gas firing. (Burning coal would be interesting to try though! One might perhaps have to incorporate an auxilliary blower into the chimney though? But natural draught might be sufficient!)
 
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