JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 26, 2021 20:51:40 GMT
A conversation has occurred between myself and a friend about what the expected capabilities of my locomotive are (the 3.5" William).
Sadly due to lockdown I've not had a chance to pull many passengers so I don't really have much of an idea what it could do. I think traction would be the limiting factor.
So please go ahead and show off, what sort of loads have you pulled with your locomotives? For interests sake let us know the type and the gauge for comparison. It's for this reason I want to attend IMLEC at some point, I'm finding myself very interested in efficiencies and capabilities.
I can only start fairly lamely with:
- Driver +1 passenger, Martin Evans William in 3.5" Gauge (will be updated when I've had a proper try post-covid though!).
Thanks for playing along with my nonsence.
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 26, 2021 21:20:01 GMT
A good few years ago when I was a member of Urmston club, Peter Walker hooked up every truck the club possessed, filled every truck with people and hauled them round the track at alarming speed. The loco a 5" Peppercorn A2 "Pearl Diver"
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jun 27, 2021 1:37:17 GMT
Jim Ewings LOAD STAR was the one to pull everything put behind it.
He did many other experiments at the same time with Piston Rings Superheaters, Grate sizes.
But mostly with weighing the loco so that everything went onto the track and weight everywhere.
David and Lily.
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Post by mugbuilder on Jun 27, 2021 4:37:14 GMT
Many years ago [about 1979] there was a 5" gauge efficiency trial held here in NSW and I entered my then new NSWGR 'D50' class 2-8-0. It easily pulled 3720 pounds at an average speed of 9 mph. I think that the loads that we pull behind our engines are well over scale, as the driver alone ,would be well over the scale equivalent of a load for a 3-1/2" gauge William.  |
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Post by flyingfox on Jun 27, 2021 6:48:29 GMT
Jonl, greetings, with my 3.5 in gauge Martin Evans "Jubliee", Stanier 2-6-4 tank, I took 4 passengers round the Bristol track in an IMLEC, and ran further than any 5 in locomotive. I was beaten by another Jubliee by a small amount to the 3.5 in trophy.
A few years later, I blew the superheater in IMLEC at Gravesend.
Regards
Brian B
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Post by johnhale on Jun 27, 2021 6:52:16 GMT
Jim Ewings LOAD STAR was the one to pull everything put behind it. He did many other experiments at the same time with Piston Rings Superheaters, Grate sizes. But mostly with weighing the loco so that everything went onto the track and weight everywhere. David and Lily. 89 children was impressive! |
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stevep
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,070
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Post by stevep on Jun 27, 2021 9:01:19 GMT
Jim Ewings LOAD STAR was the one to pull everything put behind it. He did many other experiments at the same time with Piston Rings Superheaters, Grate sizes. But mostly with weighing the loco so that everything went onto the track and weight everywhere. David and Lily. I think his engine was LODE STAR, and the frames were filled with lead. As you say David, Jim experimented a lot and the engine had many innovative ideas, including a variable blast pipe (a plunger from underneath moved a conical 'blob' into the nozzle to vary the area). It had lifting injectors fed from 'chicken hoppers' in the tender, so there were no water valves. And also a nifty speedometer, hidden under the water dome of the tender. Back to Jon's question - I pulled 34 passengers behind my 5" Stanier 2-6-4T at a Birmingham IMLEC (until a valve moved on the spindle), and I have had 4 adults behind my Rob Roy. |
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 27, 2021 10:06:52 GMT
Astonishing. I'm enjoying this thread!
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Post by ejparrott on Jun 27, 2021 10:33:46 GMT
My 3.5" Lilla used to handle 8 adults on quite heavy coaches at Swansea. My Pannier packs one hell of a punch for it's size
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 27, 2021 11:24:20 GMT
I suppose narrow gauge engines are going to have more boiler and firebox relative to their size
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Post by John Baguley on Jun 27, 2021 13:07:21 GMT
The 2½" Gauge loco 'Monstrous' that I am rebuilding is reputed to have pulled 12 people on just 30psi boiler pressure which I can quite believe. It was built by Edward Adams, an acquaintance of LBSC, in the 1940s and based on a NZR K class locomotive. Being 3' 6" gauge it's about the size of a 3½" gauge loco but has three massive cylinders of 1.5" bore x 1.75" stroke. I think Edward set out to build the most powerful 2½" gauge loco out there and probably succeeded!
The carrying box carries the following note:
Edward was also an 'experimentalist' and fitted the rear driving wheels on this loco with Vee shaped rims that gripped both sides of the rail in an effort to increase the traction. Unfortunately, this will only work on scale bullhead type rail so I've had to replace the Vee rims with conventional rims. He did a similar thing to a Caterpillar that he built but on that fitted two sets of drivers with Vee rims.
At the moment the loco is waiting for a new boiler as the original has too many problems to make it worth repairing. I've got all the materials but it's a case of getting aroundtuit. I am looking forward to getting it running again and see just what it can do. It will be as powerful as many 5" gauge locos but the traction will be severely limited by the lack of weight on the drivers.
John
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Post by philh1aa on Jun 27, 2021 14:56:10 GMT
Do we need to set a standard for the size of a passenger? I will try to avoid mentioning the size of a passenger in 1948 versus the equivalent in 2020+ (oops I've just mentioned it). Lets be kind and say it could have been a kids football team + sub in 1948?
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 27, 2021 16:35:07 GMT
A truck wit 4 kids is considerably lighter than the same truck with 2 porkers on board
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 27, 2021 20:12:30 GMT
I'm 220 lbs so if my locomotive can pull me on a substantial riding truck maybe its more powerful than I thought...
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Post by theflyingscotsman on Jun 27, 2021 20:18:09 GMT
this thread is interesting, i guess once theyre rolling and without any great incline it may be able to keep going
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Post by John Baguley on Jun 27, 2021 23:36:55 GMT
I don't know what the 12 passengers were but it may be mentioned in Model Engineer somewhere. Edward Adams only had a small circular track in his garden and at that time his own son Michael wouldn't have been that old so the passengers may have been some of Michael's friends or the neighbours kids. I've met Michael on several occasions and he still has the 2½" gauge Big Boy built by his father.
John
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 28, 2021 0:58:55 GMT
A spring balance scale would make a cheap drawbar dynamometer... I suspect you would not ever see much of a pull on it though
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jun 28, 2021 1:24:55 GMT
Dearest Lily was hired out several years ago to sit behind the WINNING LITLE LEC locomotive. 56 KG exactly the same as My Cousins Wife... And the girl down at our local Takeaway etc.
In fact a few years ago the weight caused an aircraft crash!!! They were still calculating bodies from 30 years before.
America of course.
I still have clothes from 30 years ago that still fit JUST.
Lockdown extra baggage beginning to be a problem.
David and Lily.
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Post by chris vine on Jun 28, 2021 11:06:27 GMT
I am intrigued to know how David knows the weights of all these ladies!!!...
Chris.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 28, 2021 11:35:15 GMT
I am intrigued to know how David knows the weights of all these ladies!!!... Chris. Some questions it's better to not ask.... |
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