Hi Derek, you have a private message with a possible lead to plans. JD

Hallo Derek,

I don't know what the previous 'poster' said but since it was deleted I can imagine. On a more positive note (and from an entirely different perspective) there are a number of very nice B/L Scotsman out there still and some can regularly be seen running extremely well at Gauge '3' Society GTGs – where (with a long rake of teak coaches) they make a most impressive sight.

All of the versions I've seen (I think) have had meths boilers, so (in my view) these are locomotives more suitable for scenic use (Gauge 3) than passenger hauling (the root of the removed comments I suspect). However, if replacing the boiler, then a coal fired one could be substituted of course. I've not looked at the detail but the boiler from the later 2.5" ME Collins version of the Scotsman could possibly be modified to suit (probably need slightly reducing in size). I have one if you would like some general dimensions to think about and also the associated ME build articles (PM me if you are interested).

However, if you intend to just 'display' the engine then this may be academic (and in which case why not just use a dummy boiler – much easier and cheaper) – although the engines value (both financial and aesthetic) would be greatly enhanced if it was useable.

Finally, the National 2.5" Association may well be able to help with original plans and parts. I know there is a 'build' booklet available but I'm also sure there will be B/L plans out there somewhere with the membership. There are hundreds of members of both the N2.5A and the G3 Society who very much enjoy working in 2.5", who understand the benefits of the 'smaller' gauge (lower weight, lower costs, usually simpler to build) and who get a great deal of enjoyment in doing so – myself included.

So welcome to the 2.5" family!

Regards,

IanT

Maxitrak have the 2.5" Flying Scotsman drawings by Greenly, not being a loco man I'm not sure if they would be of use maybe Ian would know

Jason, I believe that both the 'Greenly' design and the B/L one are to 1/2" scale – so the boilers would be similar in size and both were originally spirit fired I think. The later Collins/Weise 'Scotsman' design is to 17/32" scale, so will be a bit larger.

Although the original ME articles were for a coal-fired version of the Collins/Weise engine, they also later published a "water tube" boiler for it too. I'm not an expert in 'vintage' 2.5" locos and there are other G3 members with far more knowledge than myself of early 'G3' engines (and who own & run them). I do own the Collins/Weise designed version of this famous locomotive though, so can provide more information in relation to that design.

Any boiler not specifically designed for the B/L engine will need some thought and changes to overall dimensions and mounting/connection points but a 'new' design using the same general approach and materials (as an existing boiler design) would provide a very good starting point I would have thought. Personally, if building a new boiler from scratch for this engine, I'd probably prefer a coal (or maybe gas) fired version of it. I'm a bit biased in this area, as some of the (spirit fired) B/L engines I've seen tend to have the paintwork a bit "singed" around the firebox end of the boiler. I'm also pretty sure that I've seen at least one of these B/L engines "re-boilered" for coal firing, so it certainly can be done

However, to just repeat myself – I'm pretty sure that someone in the 2.5" Association or G3 Society will have the original plans for this B/L engine, so if Derek wants to re-build his engine to the original design then it should be possible.

Regards,

IanT

Hi Derick, you could always obtain construction details from **LINK**

OK the link doesn't work so try this http://www.teepublishing.co.uk/books/building-model-steam-locomotives/construction-of-a-bassett-lowke-2-12-gauge-4-6-2-flying-scotsman/

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 18/07/2016 20:53:10

Hi Derek,

Have sent you a pm regarding drawings.

So far as I am aware, the BL Scotsman was designed by E W Twining and had nothing to do with Henry Greenly.

HG did produce some excellent coal fired 2½" gauge designs for Bonds of Euston road which are quite capable of pulling a person or two. It was just Bassett Lowke that seemed to not want to progress beyond simple spirit fired boilers.

John