Beginner's locomotives

[delticspotter]

I was wondering if anyone body would be able to give me some advice over a suitable beginner’s locomotive. I have looked at several 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 designs but each design seems to have several disadvantages over performance and the amount of skills needed. The design I feel most likely to build is a 5” gauge 0-4-0 based on a pecket design. I was wondering if any one has experience of building one of theses locomotives and could they offer advice on such things as casting availablility and cost. Many thanks in anticipation.

[alanstepney]

This topic crops up regularly so is of perennial interest.

There are many "beginners locomotives" all appeal to some people more than do others.
Of course, "beginner" covers a wide range of people some of whom might be skilled engineers who have never built a loco, whilst others might not even have seen a file or hacksaw before.

Any beginners loco will have disadvantages, indeed, any locomotive will have, and that applies to full size as well as models, which is one reason why we have such a variety of prototypes we can model.

You just have to accept the disadvantages whichever one you build, and make No 1 a learning experience, which will enable you to select your second model with far more experience to go on.

One thing that is useful is to have detailed instructions. That means selecting a model the complete build of which has been described in ME or EIM.
LBSC's as the past master at giving simple and detailed "words and music" that enabled a complete novice to start with some bits of metal and end up with a working engine.

His smaller designs were, with the exception of Pansy (GWR pannier tank) 3 1/2", which is no bad thing. Simple and cheap to build, and whilst they dont have massive hauling capacity, they do work and work well.
Tich is often suggested as an ideal loco for beginners, but I disagree.
Juliet as far better, easier to make, and has reasonable power.
Molly is another option.

Martin Evans designs are also described in ME.
Simplex (5")<not as simple as the name implies>, Metro -GWR 2-4-0T (5"), Rob Roy (3 1/2"),

Others include, Don Youngs Rail Motor (5"), Hackfly(3 1/2"), Sweet Pea (5"), Ajax (5") which would be my choice in 5" gauge, and many others.

In fact, most people have their favourite(s) and I am sure some will be posted here.

In my opinion, ignore the possible disadvantages, and also, to some degree, your own personal preferences.
The most important thing is to end up with a working engine so, for most beginners, the availability of complete instructions can, perhaps should, be the prime consideration.

[Shawki Shlemon]

If by performance you mean power / traction then I suggest the Australian 0-4-0 Blowfly in 5" G ,Reasonably cheap , simple , and powerful plus how to build instructions . Check AME for suppliers .

[delticspotter]

Many thanks for the constructive advice; I am particularly drawn to the Juliet design mainly because of its accompanying articles. I was wondering if anyone could offer me further advice in where to purchase the drawings and castings as prices seem to vary from one site to another.

[alanstepney]

My entry into model engineering was a couple of failed attempts at engines that were far too complex for my abilities (as well as exceeding my schoolboy pocket money!), and after being told several times by experienced guys, I built a Stuart 10v.
An ideal entry model.

Then a Juliet, which to my great pleasure, ran and ran well.
Then followed Maisie, an excellent engine albeit not really a beginners loco.

And after that, well....

Therefore, from my own experience I can state that Juliet is easy to build, that when complete they run, and although the haulage capacity is limited, they are still a lot of fun, and give valuable experience.
Not too long a task either.

Reeves, Blackgates, or GLR all can supply castings etc for Juliet, and drawings from the same source, or from ME themselves.
Mine came from Kennions, now long gone so that isnt much help. GLR did take over Kennions, but whether or not they are of the same quality, I cannot say.

[spurley]

Hi there

Tich is probably the best described 'beginner's' loco but being 3 1/2" gauge and having the choice of walshaert's or slip eccentric valve gear it is a tricky one for your first engine! There are plenty of part finshed Tichs around and I would say that far from being the best introduction they may well put you off! The one advantage of these is that they are fairly common, therefore cheap, and there will always be someone who has started one, if not completed it, to get advice from.

I have a Tich at air chassis running stage with a, small, boiler, that I have built and has passed an hydraulic test at my club. It has taken me about three times as long as I expected to get it to this stage. I have had several attempts at some parts but if you follow the 'words and music' things go well.

I think my advice and recommendation to you would be to go for a 5" gauge engine, probably one of the railmotors, (0-4-0 so only one coupling rod per side and only two wheel sets to quarter) handsome rugged engines when finshed, fairly cheap and more 'tolerant' to newbies! You might want to try the 5" Tich too? As far as I can tell the Simplex isn't!

Cheers

Brian

[delticspotter]

Many thanks for the continued advice I will no doubt continue weighing up the pros and cons while I am equipping my workshop.

[Deleted]

Having done all the soul searching and had great advice from this forum I am no futher forward, was determined to build a Super Simplex as there are dozens about and they are well documented and well supported with bits, but then I bought the book on Sweet Pea by accident and having read it from cover to cover am tempted to back track on my earlier resolve, as I see it Sweet pea in a 0-4-2 form is a fair starting engine and one which has value at the end. great advice build a sationery engine first.

[alanstepney]

I have never felt that Simplex was simple. In fact, the club loco at Chichester was renamed "Complex".

Sweat Pea is, as you say, a fair engine, although I personally dont like the marine type boiler.

As for Tich, I have never built one, although I did drive one once. I feel that they are slightly too small as firing them takes a great deal of concentration and some practice. I find tha something slightly larger is easier to drive.

[John Lee]

I can never really understand why "Simplex" was described as a beginners locomotive, other than, perhaps cynically, as a marketing slant for the design. It is really no simpler than any other 0-6-0 in 5" gauge to my mind.

Any "chunky" 0-4-0 in 5" gauge would fit the bill, the Don Young designs as mentioned above, Dougal has been mentioned before although I don't have personal knowledge. Scamp is about as easy as they come, I have one and its a lovely little loco and easy to fire and drive. Inside gear is less fiddly in 5" gauge so you need not be limited to the lowest common denominator (IMHO) such as Sweet Pea. Although, having said that, they do run very well if that is your aim and many have lots of fun building and running them.

The best choice is the one that makes you say "I want one of them"; because thats the one you will finish. Unless you pick a Dutchess and then all bets are off ;D

Regards,

John

[jones]

The best choice is the one that makes you say "I want one of them"; because thats the one you will finish.

I started a Super Simplex on this idea. I really want a tank loco with outside Walschaerts (spelling?). I agree that the Super Simplex is definitely not the idea beginner loco, but I know that if I started something like a sweat pea or a blowfly I think I would always be a bit disappointed with my choice. (But I would probably be steaming a lot earlier which may offset that)

Andrew

[alanstepney]

I really want a tank loco with outside Walschaerts

Ajax, or the 0-6-0 version of it, Achilles, is the obvious (to me) alternative.
Simpler than Simplex, and a well established design.

[ron]

I think Alan's comment about the term 'beginner' covering a wide range of people from out and out beginner to skilled engineer who has never built a model is important, if people posted how much of a beginner they are when asking this question they would possibly get an answer more suited to their requirements.
I'm about half way through a Simplex rolling chassis and about the same way through the boiler [though I have had experienced help with that] and I can't say I've found anything particularly difficult about it, though that's probably a dangerous thing to claim!
I did post on an earlier similar thread that although I'm an experienced engineer as a beginner model engineer I found the Stuart Turner engines a good if somewhat expensive introduction to model engineering.
Ron

[dscott]

I spend my work time showing almost total beginners how to make bits of sculptures, so it was with this in mind I embarked on S.I.M.P. having posted the idea on this site, have had lots of looks, encouraging comments, and have now almost finished the drawings.
As there are no castings used, all the parts come from stock material, continualy cast iron bar and mild steel sections, so if something goes wrong in machining it is cheaply replaced.

Keeping the milling to a minimum it is designed round a 400 pound lathe and a 40 pound drill
with very basic accessories, and the building notes are based round fitting one part into another, and starting with very simple turning with the 3 jaw chuck, progressing to the 4jaw when more confident and its needed.

The boiler a 6" virticle comes in at about 900, so this has put up the total price a bit.

I have even managed to source some ready machined wheels for about 10 each.

Then again starting with something that you always wanted gives you a great deal of satisfaction during the build. This is what I call all my projects.

I have enjoyed the designing and the machining so far, and has been a rest from more demanding models.

David.