Another Simplex runs again

[doubletop]

You may have seen a some photos of the Simplex I purchased around a year ago. Once I had finished my Nothumbrian I set about refurbishing it.







As you can see it was a complete strip down cleanup and remake of a lot of parts

• Tidied up two holes that had been in the front frame stretcher to give access to the the pump eccentric for lubrication.
  
• Re-centered pump eccentric, re-made the eccentric rod and coupling yoke that were bent probably because the eccentric was off centre
  
• Removed all the fittings from the boiler and pickled to remove scale
  
• Replaced rusted 6ba steel steel bolts on regulator flange with 4ba stainless. The the 6ba bolts just sheared off so had to be drilled out.
  
• Made new gaskets and seals for all boiler joints and flanges
  
• Pickled boiler and then re-lagged and refitted cleading.
  
• Remade mounting brackets for motion plates
  
• Remade pistons, rods and rings with cast iron pistons and rings
  
• Honed existing cast Iron cylinders and re-surfaced and lapped valve faces
  
• Made new crossheads using gunmetal castings rather than Martin Evans fabricated types
  
• Replaced crosshead bars
  
• Replaced main driver pins
  
• Remade all bronze bushes
  
• Rebored all steel pin holes in the motion to next metric oversize and remade all the pins and case hardened all links
  
• Rebuilt motion and setup valve timing
  
• Replaced displacement lubricator with ratchet pump lubricator on front running board
  
• Replaced whistle valve
  
• Made and installed Super Simplex braking system on driver and rear wheels, (there's no room for the linkage on the front wheels
  
• Re-routed some parts of the plumbing to enable brakes to be installed
  
• Replaced individual manual drain cocks with steam drain cocks. Fortunately the steam plumbing was already there
  
• Refurbished all plumbing joints, some nipples had dezincified so it was needed
  
• Repaired ash pan (this is going to be replaced with the Super Simplex variant as the Simplex version can't be dropped)
  
• Replaced the round windows in the cab with GWR style windows
  
• Repainted
  
  

First steam up and a brief run up and down the GL track




I've had it running at the club for a couple of weekends now.

Pete

[nigelh]

Well done, Pete - she looks wonderful!

[Deleted]

It looks lovely: I still have a way to go yet!
JB

[peteh]

Well done Pete, thats now two fine looking locomotives that you have.

Pete

[doubletop]

Thanks guys

I purchased this so I had something I could roll out when I wanted to go and play and that would be able to pull a few people around. I can then plan my serious long term project, maybe something in 7.25", and be able get it right without wanting to rush to get it running.

Jan 6, 2013 12:34:06 GMT peteh said:

Well done Pete, thats now two fine looking locomotives that you have.

Pete

Three; this is what started me off 3 years ago. A Rob Roy my father had started in the 80's and he gave to me to complete. It sat on my shelf for 10 years before I felt I was ready to tackle it. The last time I had used a lathe was 45 years ago, on failing O level metalwork.





That story is here

www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/f31/rob-roy-8800/

Pete

[peteh]

I'll sit corrected

[ianb]

Hi, Very nice looking, I like your choice in colours.
Your engine with the lower tanks and bunker suits the engine very well and gives it that sort of Boxhill look. I know what you mean about not wanting to rush next time, I was very keen to get mine ready and will do things differant next time with what I learnt.

Again very very nice.

Ian.

[doubletop]

Thanks Ian

The colour is Deep Brunswick Green straight out of a rattle can from Wattyl paints. Its an epoxy enamel and I'm very pleased the way it came out. There was some discussion on another thread that the epoxy enamel discolours with heat but I've had no problems with after 6 hours or so in steam.

The loco layout is somewhat bigger that the original Martin Evans design. Its 10.75" wide and the rear frames have a 3" extension to accommodate the bigger bunker and well tank. The pannier tanks are longer and wider than Martin drew them.

None of this I can take credit for as it was build in the early 90's and I've only had it a year.

Pete