Thread: Stephenson's Rocket

Don’t forget the Valley Heights Rail Museum Keith. Cheers Peter

And there is another operational Garratt at Puffing Billy. Generaly operates at weekends or as traffic demands.
G Class

Originally Posted by Handyjack

And there is another operational Garratt at Puffing Billy. Generaly operates at weekends or as traffic demands.
G Class

Now that is a really nice looking Garratt.

Some are not the most handsome of beasts

Regards

Keith

Two images of G42 for Fletty. As far as I am aware this is currently the only full size Garratt in Australia in revenue service. About twice the size of an Na locomotive, a more comfortable cab and ride but twice the number of oiling points and engine to clean.

Hi All,

Thanks for your comments and research into different types of locomotives. It is most appreciated and gives me lots of information to consider compared to the S Class diesel.

It has been slow progress on the Rocket. I have been working on the firebox and it's cover plate. Lots of fiddly bits to make and put together. There were a lot of square head nuts and bolts in this era, so had to hunt around to get the correct look of the firebox. A lot of the components were also riveted together, so that makes my job a bit easier. Also been making up a lot of pipe flanges that will be incorporated into my pipework systems.

Next step will be to make up the connecting arms from the piston slide block to the wheels.

Regards

Keith

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"...the connecting arms from the piston slide block to the wheels." = Connecting Rods.

With all the rivets and nuts it certainly starts to admire the work the early builders did with their relatively primative equipment.

We can only admire the Stephenson's, the Repliconics', the Keith's and many others of their work with the tooling they had at their disposal.

Keep up the good work, each rivet, nut and bolt gets you closer to completion.

If I didn't know better, I would think all the parts were made at the Chu Chu Train factory.

Originally Posted by Handyjack

"...the connecting arms from the piston slide block to the wheels." = Connecting Rods.

With all the rivets and nuts it certainly starts to admire the work the early builders did with their relatively primative equipment.

We can only admire the Stephenson's, the Repliconics', the Keith's and many others of their work with the tooling they had at their disposal.

Keep up the good work, each rivet, nut and bolt gets you closer to completion.

Thanks

Kevin - Your thoughts - An 1848 Crampton

Regards

Keith

Originally Posted by htl

If I didn't know better, I would think all the parts were made at the Chu Chu Train factory.

Thanks Bruce,

Very slow progress - Wouldn't make much of a profit

Regards

Keith

Originally Posted by Keith_1

Thanks

Kevin - Your thoughts - An 1848 Crampton

Regards

Keith

This could be an interesting and challenging engine to model. Interesting depending on what version, but you could have the valve gear displayed if it is a direct drive type. Challenging as there may only be one or two in exsitance for you to get all the detail you want to show. If the boiler is oval that could also add to the challange.

Some how I don't think there would be half the satisfaction if there wasn't any challenge

Quote If I didn't know better, I would think all the parts were made at the Chu Chu Train factory.

Originally Posted by Keith_1

Thanks Bruce,

Very slow progress - Wouldn't make much of a profit

Regards

Keith

What I meant by it was everything looks just right and factory made, with pride!!!

Originally Posted by htl

Quote If I didn't know better, I would think all the parts were made at the Chu Chu Train factory.




What I meant by it was everything looks just right and factory made, with pride!!!

Appreciate that Bruce

Thanks Mate

Keith

Hi All,

I have been working out my method of how to best make the connecting rods and then designing and making the pins that connect the connecting rods to the wheels.

The rods themselves are made of aluminium tube and the ends are machined down pine drilled and then doweled to the tube. The tapered wedges are 3mm thick pieces of aluminium flat bar filed and then fitted into position.

The pins (or shafts) that connect to the wheels are made of aluminium drilled and tapped on the inner end to allow me to secure them in position with 5mm setscrews. The sleeved bushes are to ensure the connecting rods are at the correct distance away from the wheels. The top ends of the connecting rod are held in position by flat aluminium washers that I machined up.

The 2 photos of the sides of the locomotive show the 90 degree offsets of the positioning of the connecting rods.

Regards

Keith

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