Locomotive Transport

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Locomotive Transport

This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 31 January 2022 at 07:40 by Dave Wootton.

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28 April 2021 at 16:08 #542076
Speedy Builder5
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@speedybuilder5
What ideas and methods do you have for transporting a 5" gauge loco. How do you lift / move them from your workshop to your car / trailer / track?

My SPEEDY is getting a bit too heavy to lift with one person. I have an RSJ in the workshop which allows me to get it from floor to bench / storage area, but now need to think about getting it to the garden track which is 200 meters away and for the future, how to load it into the back of the car?

Do you have a transportation box? How sturdy do you make these?

I suppose the same problems must exist for moving traction engines.

This is my lifting gear in the workshop, the 'trolley' is home made with a bit of 'U' section and a couple of ball bearing races. The full load is taken on the buffers which are cast iron – do you think this is a 'Safe' idea (Ie cast iron in shear).

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 28/04/2021 16:10:31
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28 April 2021 at 16:08 #2030
Speedy Builder5
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@speedybuilder5
How do you transport your models?
28 April 2021 at 16:43 #542090
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
I've given up the unequal struggle and am making a lighter loco. I used to be able to pick a 5"g loco up, but it's only a matter of time before I either drop one or do my back in. Not helped by having steps up to the only convenient door and a drive on a steepish slope.
28 April 2021 at 16:59 #542096
Luker
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@luker
I'm way to lazy to pick up a loco! Hopefully these pics of my transport 'system' will give you some ideas…

The stand with hoist…

The common transport frame for all locos…

Loading for a track day, all points interlock to prevent mishaps…
29 April 2021 at 08:11 #542208
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
I like the idea of your hoist. I was thinking about an overhead track system, but still have the problem of workshop to field track. How do you "Tie down" your loco to the flat bed ?
29 April 2021 at 09:24 #542216
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
My loco rolls into a ply box from one end. The end door hinges at the bottom to make a short ramp to help roll it down onto the track or bridge a gap onto my haydralic lifting table or its low level dexion in-workshop stroage troley. the box has handles each end for a two man lift.
I rather like this invention by St Albans club member Tim which is a combined transport and maintenance stand. The loco is held by the end clamps over the buffers. If you wanted full enclosure plastic like Corex sheet used for estate agents signs could be held on by magnets. Once you have this metal frame it could also have quick bolt on transprot wheels, handes etc. (as in the picture it also allows the loco to be put to bed when naughty)
29 April 2021 at 12:54 #542237
Luker
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@luker
Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 29/04/2021 08:11:06:

I like the idea of your hoist. I was thinking about an overhead track system, but still have the problem of workshop to field track. How do you "Tie down" your loco to the flat bed ?

A-frame + transport frame maybe?

All my loco's have different couplings so it varies, but a simple clamping system to the tracks is used for all of them. The engine has a more substantial support than the tenders but essentially the same.

Talking picture…
30 January 2022 at 18:05 #583158
Speedy Builder5
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@speedybuilder5
I have followed Bazyl's formula. The wooden bars can be positioned to :-

1/ clamp the loco down to the rails for transport, or

2/ lift the loco off the tracks for running in free air.

I have a length of 20mm all thread which bolts between the two ends. This has a couple of nuts either side of the C of G (which changes as to wether the loco is dry or filled with water). A block and tackle is used to lift the loco and frame off the bench and onto the garden trolley.

thanks Bazyl

Bob
30 January 2022 at 20:42 #583181
Roger Best
Participant
@rogerbest89007
Hi guys

I am not trying to preach too much, but there is a reason for my approach on transport of engines.

A few years ago I was sideswiped on the way how from a show. I transport my toy engines in crates with soft packing and they were all fine, but a metal tray I use to steam them on was bent between the inertia of light toys and the sudden movement of the car as an SUV ploughed into us.

The accident is on my Youtube channel:

skip to 1:50

The point of this anecdote is that a small tap at 30mph can do an enormous amount of harm and damage, 8K of damage to my SMAX plus injury claims, the front of the Kia SUV was plastic so generally smashed.

I don't see much above that will take 3g lateral load let alone a real bang, the box frames look very promising but wing nuts are often a bit soft and wood batten is limiting.

Watching my fellow members secure their beloved engines it was obvious that an accident was not an option. Small screws fixing the loco to not a lot.

Who has survived a real accident with their loco contained safely?

What did you do to hold it down? That would be a good starting point.

Cheers

Rog
31 January 2022 at 07:40 #583233
Dave Wootton
Participant
@davewootton
some years ago I worked as a mobile engineer for a company that made large refrigeration machinery, we all had Mondeo estates and for the mechanical guys the back luggage area was full of heavy tools, vacuum pumps, refrigerant reclaim units. One of our engineers had a head on collision caused by an idiot coming the other way overtaking on the brow of a hill.The tools in the back broke the catches on the rear fold down seats and burst forward, he was injured not by the impact of the other car (air bag worked) but by being hit on the head by a flying vacuum pump. Fortunately not too seriously, but if there had been a front seat passenger they would have been hit with a heavy casting that wrecked the dashboard on the passenger side.

The short term answer was we were required to fasten the rear seat belts acreoss the rear seats, and remove all our equipment before using it as a private car with the family in it, which was a pain. Long term a fixed barrier cage was installed, like a dog guard, which then prevented folding down the rear seats. the point of the waffle above is that unless restrained something like a loco can become a projectile in an accident, and you can't rely on rear seats to contain it safely.

Dave

Edited By Dave Wootton on 31/01/2022 07:42:30
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