Your 2.5" locos

[monkeyhero97]

Dear all

I am just entering the real model engineering world - by that I mean the building part! Due to limited funds and space, I'm opting to start off in 2.5" gauge. I am going to start by building a 2.5" toby, what have you built / or got / or run in 2.5"? , I would be really interested in seeing the variety of locos in 2.5" if you don't mind sharing. While browsing on N25A website, I noticed that a 2.5" hunslet exists, has anyone built or seen one? Very intriguing....

Cheers

Marc 

[Deleted]

Hi Marc,

You'll be fine with Toby. There are quite a few running now and they run well. The only 'problem' is that because of the marine type boiler (very easy to build as there are no firebox stays) the ashpan is very shallow so needs cleaning out regularly while running. Ayesha is also a very good design and there are many being built. I've driven one several times and they just run all day.

Here's a nice Toby to spur you on!



I got into 2½" gauge (in fact got back into ME after a long time) when I inherited my Dad's 2½" gauge Flying Scotsman. I had to rebuild most of it but that got put on hold when I decided to build my Helen Long.



I've not built any other 2½" gauge locos as yet (too busy with other things!) but have lost count of the number of part built ones I've collected over the years:

Fayette x 2
Annie Boddie
Southern Maid
Mary Anne
Princess Royal
Dad's Flying Scotsman
Dairymaid
SR 0-4-4T
Dyak x 2
Freelance 4-6-0
Bond's Pacific
Bond's Mixed Traffic 4-6-0
Great Bear
and so on!

A friend of mine is building 2 of the Hunslets and they will be nearing completion soon



I've got plenty of photos of other 2½" gauge locos if you are interested.

John

[monkeyhero97]

John
Thank you for all those photos! Always nice to see photos of toby, as they seem to be quite rare to find on the net. It is great to see some of those hunslets! I defintely think it would be design that would suit me due to the fact I love hunslets and narrow gauge. Narrow gauge 2.5" on the surface seems to be the ideal size for students, I'll guess I'll have to wait and find out. Do you think you could give me his email so I can ask some questions regarding the hunslet?
Thank you
Marc

[charley]

Marc,

I'm completing a BL Flying Scotsman originally started in the 60's. I'm probably the third or fourth builder who has contributed to it. Just fitting the final parts of the valve gear and hopefully in a couple of months I'll have it running on air.

Why 2.5? I'm not a bosun and can easily handle it. If I could build a 2.5 from scratch I'd chose Fayette. Looks great although I've never seen one in the flesh. Only ever seen them on the stationroadsteam website archive.

Charley

[monkeyhero97]

Charley, go on viewmodels.co.uk , they are selling a prestine fayette right now, if you want to see some more pics.
Marc

[charley]

Marc,

So there is. Looks the part. It's got the American tender. (Hope I'm not breaking any rules with this comment).

Thanks

Charley

[Deleted]

Here's some photos of the immaculate Fayette built by Peter De Sallis Johnston. It runs like a sewing machine and won the Curly Bowl in 2002. Peter told me that the loco has pulled 4 people quite easily.









The most famous Fayette was 'Victoria'  built by 'Inspector Meticulous' (Tom Glazebrook) whom LBSC often refers to in his writings.

John

[Deleted]

Hello Baggo !!--------- It's hard to believe that these are all 2.5"gauge---Incredible !!....................... Now I almost missed this comment the first time around..Quote} "----Bond's Mixed Traffic 4-6-0, Great Bear and so on!....." ............... Have you any photos of this Baby Bear ??

[Deleted]

Hi Alan,

I think you've seen the photos of the Great Bear? I posted a link in your thread on your GB build. It's only a chassis with no wheels but seems to have been built from works drawings. I doubt if I'll finish it - it's more an ornament than a working model. It's got a rivetted steel boiler shell that is a work of art in itself!

Incidently, Carsons used to sell models of the Great Bear in 2½", 3½", and 5" gauges

John

[Deleted]

Some more photos I've taken at various rallies at the risk of boring everybody

LBSC's Ayesha - the loco that many would say started off the whole hobby



I would like to run her again but it depends on the views of the rest of the Association who now own her. We purchased her to save her disappearing into a private collection never to be seen again.

Some more:

A3:


Steve Eaton's original Toby:


Ayesha 2:



Black 5:


Purley Grange:

[monkeyhero97]

Wow, thanks for the photos! I love the black 5. I think the thing which makes 2.5 attractive is the boiler making. I would not want to waste so much money on a 5" by not doing it properly. With 2.5" , I hope to have a small hearth and small burner. Would you say smaller boilers are easier to make or not? Toby seems attractive to me because the boiler isn't too daunting!

how many people can toby pull... Two? Three??
Cheers

[Deleted]

Mary Ann:


Dyak:


Duchess:


Green Arrow:


S15:


Schools:

[Deleted]

Southern Maid - this won the Curly Bowl in 2009:


S160:


Uranus:


Ursa Maximus:


Southernised Kingette:


Princess Royal:

[Deleted]

P2:


Netta:


Not sure - might be Eagle:


Annie Boddie:


Erie Triplex chassis - this got sold on so I don't know where it is now:

[Deleted]

Some narrow gauge stuff for Marc

KUR Garratt - Ed may remember this at Rugby pulling about 20 people!


K1 Garratt:


Malcolm's Burma Mines 0-6-0:


Jack:



As you can see, 2½" is alive and well!

Marc - Toby may pull 2 people but you're a bit limited for adhesion with such a small loco. I know Steve's pulled himself and his son around.

John

[Deleted]

I'm happy to donate this "Test Rig" for free !! LoL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[steamcoal]

What a brilliant collection of photos. They really are the ultimate in model (miniature) engineering.

I like the Baby Atlantic and there are actually a few 2.5" engines for sale on the various sites.

[monkeyhero97]

20 people for a 2.5"
Amazing stuff!
Thank you for all these photos, they are really inspiring! I cannot wait to get started on my toby; i have all of next week to work on it, although I do not have any castings as the only casting which I really wanted, the cylinders, weren't in stock. It would be great to attend a rally, but since I live in CH at the moment, it would need to fit in with a trip to the UK. It will be great when I do move back to the UK in 2016 though. Having said that though, I cannot wait to be able to use my 5" simplex in the UK, on a raised track, before I plunge into the world of 2.5" . Talking about garrets though, I've just got confirmation that I will be a cleaner on the F&WHR for two weeks in july, I'll be able to get my hands on a full size one! The K1 2.5" really looks impressive, thanks for the photos.

I will make a build thread of my toby soon.

Cheers

Marc

[monkeyhero97]

Just out of interest, which sites?
Cheers
Marc

[charley]

John,

Thanks for the pictures inspiring me to get a shift on with completion.

Charley