polly locos

[andrewtoplis]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone own a polly loco kit (finished or otherwise)?. I am thinking about one for a possible railway in our garden. Are they any good? What little info I have found suggests they are good for beginners...does one then grow out of it and get bored? What are they like to run? I am certainly a beginner in model engineering but a fireman on preserved standard gauge so I have some knowledge about engines. Are these best for total beginners? What are the benefits of these against other kitbuilt locos, as I simply wont have time or facilities to build an engine from castings?

Thanks alot, Andy.

[the_viffer]

The Ickenham club is stiff with them. Maybe worth trying to contact them or another club which has them and see if they can help.

I've driven them a couple of times and been somewhat impressed. They seemed very docile for such a small loco (small does not equal easy to fire or drive: if you have only driven standard gauge you'll be in for a surprise at the attention needed to keep the fire, steam and water just so). Personally I find plenty of challenge in running a 5" gauge loco and don't get bored. Your mileage may vary.

If you want to pull big loads or have a scale loco a Polly is not for you.

By most accounts Polly kits bolt together and work. I'd be wary of buying a kit where few or no locos to the design are running. Worse still if the manufacturer has a large range of locos but few of any kind are ever seen running.

No doubt any kit supplier who sells a quality product will be able to arrange for you to speak to a satisfied customer or two.

[Phil Sutton]

All I can say is,I know of one that is finished.It runs extremely well,pulls a reasonable load (it's a Polly 4),keeps you you on your toes,and it's bags of fun.the only thing against it ,is that it isn't a "scale" model of anything in particular,but for a beginners loco,you couldn't go wrong.

Phil

[andrewtoplis]

Thanks For replying

Phil - thanks, but you have done it again...what DOES great for beginners mean? Is it just that its easy to construct? In that case it would be a plus for me!

Viffer- I didnt mean to sound at all demeaning of models, I am sure the first few goes will be a real eye opener, just as they would for a model engineer suddenly put on standard gauge!! I only ask because everyone says (just like Phil) that they are great for beginners, but does one then grow out of it or something??

[the_viffer]

andrewtoplis said:

Thanks For replying

Phil - thanks, but you have done it again...what DOES great for beginners mean? Is it just that its easy to construct? In that case it would be a plus for me!

Viffer- I didnt mean to sound at all demeaning of models, I am sure the first few goes will be a real eye opener, just as they would for a model engineer suddenly put on standard gauge!! I only ask because everyone says (just like Phil) that they are great for beginners, but does one then grow out of it or something??

They are good beginners' locos as the gauge glass has a decent bit of length to it, the grate has enough of an area that the fire won't go out on you in 10 seconds, it is not a huge stretch to tiddly controls and the loco is easy to service.

I understand they are easy to construct too but I have never do so. I can imagine locos which are easy to build but b*ggers to drive and especially the other way round.

I have driven both full size and miniature and I am strongly of the view that smaller is harder and hence more satisfying. I didn't take any demeaning reference in your post. I'm glad to read it again and become a sworn enemy if you like I suppose!

I doubt that you'd go to bed one night saying "my Polly is a lovely loco" and the next saying "No I never want to drive it again". You might find that you wanted to get involved in something specialised as your interest and experience grows. Examples might be GL5 where they run 5" gauge models of standard gauge stuff to full size rules or IMLEC where you try to run as fuel efficiently as you can. You are not going to be able to do the first with a Polly as it is not a scale model and you might get disappointed with the second as it can't pull a big enough load to win. In those cases you'd probably want to get a different loco instead or as well.


However I reckon a Polly would be a nice loco to run for a gentle Sunday hack as long as you remained interested in the hobby.

[Phil Sutton]

And I'm in full agreement with the viffer.They are easy to construct,being a no-machining,screw-it-together model.The only fault I found is that the screw reverser is a bit too far forward and a bit too close to the boiler for my liking,but I would think you'd get too bored with it.Polly steams well,and isn't too demanding while you drive it,fill the fire box while standing in the station area,it'll go twice round our track ( 800 ft )with 2 passengers before it needs firing again.(you'll lose more coal firing on the move than you'll get in the firebox!)

Phil

[andrewtoplis]

Thank you both for your opinions!!
The reason I suggest a Polly is for a potential garden railway at a house we are looking to restore in France, something to be made during spare time and with very minimal facilities, as can be imagined. Therefore a screw together kit would be an advantage, and it would rarely be used for any runs other than on the garden railway (hopefully about 350-400m long). On that criteria it sounds like a good bet.

Viffer - I re-read my first email and was worried that it sounded a bit rude, thats all. I will reserve judgement on whether model or standard gauge is harder, as I havent the experience to offer a worthwile opinion. I would point out though that on while on a model one does both jobs, on standard gauge you are either firing or driving as the jobs are too big. Is it therefore really a fair comparison?

[jgb7573]

As the_viffer said, the Ickenham club has a number of these amongst its membership (half a dozen or so I think). One of our junior members (then aged 15) built one himself and it ran pretty well . I believe it's in bits at the moment, the lad in question having discovered beer, or girls, or both. They run well, with examples pulling 3 or 4 people around our track (see www.idsme.co.uk/) and more if you are prepared to thrash them. Like all engneering projects, they need time and care. So if you can supply those, then I think one would do well round your house in France.

[the_viffer]

andrewtoplis said:

Viffer - I re-read my first email and was worried that it sounded a bit rude, thats all. I will reserve judgement on whether model or standard gauge is harder, as I havent the experience to offer a worthwile opinion. I would point out though that on while on a model one does both jobs, on standard gauge you are either firing or driving as the jobs are too big. Is it therefore really a fair comparison?

Naaahh. Terry is ruder than that when he is trying to be polite.

There is a lot less physical labour in driving a small loco than a big one but it all happens a lot faster. A bit like the difference between saiilng a yacht and a dinghy if the analogy helps.

[andrewtoplis]

Thanks again guys!

Viffer: "There is a lot less physical labour in driving a small loco than a big one but it all happens a lot faster. A bit like the difference between saiilng a yacht and a dinghy if the analogy helps"

Thanks, its a good analogy, and I agree that things change faster with a smaller boiler than with a larger one, but on a larger one things take longer to do, eg putting a round of coal on (or setting all the sails on the yacht). I dont think its fair to compare driving AND firing a small loco with only driving a standard gauge one. Comparing doing each individual job works, but of course it will be harder to do both together, on any scale.

Single-manning on a standard gauge loco would be very difficult on anything but the smallest loco for short distances, probably why it was generally restricted to industrial concerns etc.

We should have this debate over a pint someday!! Or should we open a can of worms by setting it as a forum for everyone to discuss?!

Andy.

[gwrfan]

Hi Andrew,

I've been following this 'debate' all the time, and I'd just like to add that, although really there's no comparison (??) between driving a 70 ton loco and a 5 inch gauge, weighing perhaps 200 lbs, on a standard gauge loco you have the advantage of two pairs of eyes, to check everything in the cab, and ahead of you on the track. Driving a small scale loco on a continuous track, perhaps with other locos running at the same time takes great concentration. Not only are you shoveling coal on the run, checking the glass, etc, but you are always looking in front of your loco, to see what 'obstructions' lay ahead of you. I think this is the bit that causes problems on the 'footplate', allowing steam pressure to drop and so on. And, only last week I ran my 'Pansy' (GWR 55XX), with the brakes applied. Now I have some repairs to carry out on the valve gear, due to a sheered off pin!

And, The Viffer, congratulations on your achievement as a 'Seasoned Member', LOL! ;D

[andrewtoplis]

Hi gwrfan,

Thank you for answering, but I think you have slightly missed my point. I was trying to say that it isnt fair to compare driving and firing (ie doing two jobs) on a model loco with doing one job on a standard gauge loco and come down on one side or the other as to which is harder. Of course it would be more difficult to drive a model than a standard if one has to do twice the work, and vice versa, hence why I mentioned single manning to illustrate that point, not to dismiss models at all, Honest Guv!! My original point was that I dont believe it a fair to say one or other is harder, because there is more to it than that.

Best of luck with the valve gear repairs! Hopefully I can buy you a pint sometime aswell

Andy.

[the_viffer]

andrewtoplis said:

Thanks again guys!

We should have this debate over a pint someday!! Or should we open a can of worms by setting it as a forum for everyone to discuss?!

Andy.

Pint sounds good!

[the_viffer]

gwrfan said:

Hi Andrew,

And, The Viffer, congratulations on your achievement as a 'Seasoned Member', LOL! ;D

Thanks for the that. I was worried about Full Member. I kept thinking of it as Complete Richard

[gwrfan]

Hi Andrew,

No, I do understand your point, that's why I said "although really there's no comparison". As 'LBSC' used to say, "you can't scale nature", meaning that water still boils at 100 degrees C, and our model furnaces are still very hot! Haha! Having never had the privilege of driving/firing a full size loco, I can't personally compare the two, but reverting back to your original question, some models are much easier to drive than others, and Polly seems as if it might be one of them. Much of the time it's all down to practical experience, the more you drive them, then the easier it becomes, and that means keeping a good fire, and water in the glass, haha!

Talking of which, yes, a pint sounds very inviting

As for the repairs, I have to get the boiler prepared for a hydraulic test soon, so it's not really too much of a chore.

The Viffer. 'Complete Richard', that's very good, hahaha!

Regards from Cornwall.

Geoff

[andrewtoplis]

Thanks Gwrfan,

Do you need a boiler test every year for a model? Who does them? Standard gauge certs last for ten years, often dictating the length between overhauls on preserved railways. You have never driven standard gauge? Most preserved railways will give footplate rides if you write to them in advance - you wont be driving but it gives an insight.

Just out of interest why did you choose a "pansy"? (as if i cant guess)

All the best, Andy.

[gwrfan]

Hi Andrew,

I think you will find that all societies/Clubs insist on a boiler test every two years. Others will correct me if I am wrong, but this is a steam test, at working pressure, and also an hydraulic test at one and a half times the working pressure. These tests, I believe, are governed by the Southern and Northern Federations, so everyone should have the same tests, and at the same intervals.

No, never been on the footplate of a real steam loco, and actually I've never really dreamed about a footplate ride, although I do know that these rides can be arranged. Perhaps when I next visit the I-O-W. haha.

As for 'Pansy', well I wanted a simple steam loco, and of course it had to be Great Western in origin. Having said this, I have read somewhere that 'Pansy' is not so simple as it appears, although I didn't really have any problems. She is a free steamer, and belts around our track, but only if you release the brakes, haha. She will be up and running again in the New Year, along with my 'Southern L1, 'Maid of Kent', which is to be known as 'Cornish Maid', naturally, haha.

Regards from Cornwall.

Geoff

[Phil Sutton]

Geoff,shouldn't that be "Cornish Made"?

Phil

[gwrfan]

Haha. Phil. Actually I don't know where it was originally made, as it was bought by a chap in Southern Ireland, from a dealer in the North of England. I suppose I could also call it 'Maid in Cornwall', haha.

[andrewtoplis]

Hi GWRFAN,

Actually my lot are a bit dificult to get a go with as we run with only a driver and fireman. Other railways who have a third-man system generally are more obliging. I used to work at Bluebell, who would take most people who wrote in providing they signed a disclaimer! Pansy sounds great-I think pannier tanks are surely the best medium size tank loco anywhere, although I did try a jinty a few months back and was very impressed. You cant beat a Brighton Terrier tho!!

Andy