Tender locos for a beginner?

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

+1 on Tony's viewpoint. If after 4 forum pages the OP has not made a decision about what to build, they simply need to do more of their OWN research. Plenty of photos, articles,etc on the web – easier than ever to research locomotives, and let's not forget libraries and used/new book vendors.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember12892]

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[William AyerstParticipant @williamayerst55662]

Unfortunately all of my local clubs have been shut since lockdown, so I don't have the benefit of a group of people I can talk to face to face. This forum, for now, _IS_ my local club and I was asking for advice. I'm very sorry if this has made anyone upset, but they are free to simply ignore this thread?

I have found it incredibly helpful to understand my options, particularly around the choice of locomotive and gauge. Thank you all who have contributed.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

William, or anyone else, if you are prepared to accept Zoom as face to face I can give you a link to the Exeter club Friday morning 10am chat which is our replacement for the weekly tea-at-the-track or coffee-at-the-club. You do have to provide your own bacon butties though which has been the big downside of lockdown.

[Tony Wright 1Participant @tonywright1]

Have you considered buying a second hand locomotive ? Cost wise will be very cheap compared to building from scratch !Also you will have something to play with if you diside again to build from scratch. I consider myself a quick builder but my first two locomotives (rob Roy and eagle) took Twelve months a piece to build and my 2 1/2 gauge Evans black 5 seven years ! So don’t be in a rush 😃

Edited By Tony Wright 1 on 31/01/2021 18:39:01

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember12892]

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[William AyerstParticipant @williamayerst55662]

Thank you Bazyle, PM sent. Thank you too BR – I think for choice, I'm basically sorted.

In additon to this thread I've spent a long time reading Mr. Greenly's "Model Railways" and "Model Steam Locomotives" and I am thoroughly convinced to go with 2-1/2" – and less worried about specific prototypical accuracy a long as there is a tinplate-style visual impressionism. I have found a new home to move into and the purchase is in progress. The house itself also has workshop adjacent to a flat 100' x 50' garden which is perfect for a 2-1/2" Gauge railway.

Unless something dramatic occurs to change my mind between now and when I'm moved and have the workshop set up, I will be embarking on an Sir Ironside, a 2-1/2" gauge "King Arthur"-class loco. It is what I really want! If I run into major issues, I will re-try with Ayesha II – maybe this is a benefit of 2-1/2", that I could financially sustain two part built locos!

It is worth noting that my missus would prefer me to build a 5" Gauge loco and run it at the large 5" track at Beech Hurst (5 minutes drive) rather than taking over part of the garden. The Sussex Miniature Locomotive Society appears to be mostly a group of people who come together to run 5" trains for the public, rather than a traditional MES. If this ends up coming to pass (who'd have thought!?) – then it'll be a Maid of Kent (internal stephenson's valve gear) or a King Arthur if I can find one.

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

Edited By William Ayerst on 31/01/2021 21:39:08

[clivelParticipant @clivel]

Coming full circle to your original question – a tender loco for beginners, and even though you have already made your mind up, others may come across this thread looking for advice on a beginners 5" gauge tender locomotive, so I thought that I would throw my tuppence in.

Don Young's 5" gauge 0-4-0 Rail Motor, serialised in ME between April 1968 and March 1969 is considered by many to be an ideal beginners loco. Compact, yet powerful for its size, castings and drawings are available from the usual suspects and it is a relatively straightforward build.

The ME build series describes tender and tank variants of the design. I spent ages vacillating on what of the many designs to build as a first loco before settling on the tender version of the Rail Motor myself.

Clive

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember12892]

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[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Posted by William Ayerst on 31/01/2021 21:37:09:

The Sussex Miniature Locomotive Society appears to be mostly a group of people who come together to run 5" trains for the public, rather than a traditional MES. If this ends up coming to pass (who'd have thought!?) – then it'll be a Maid of Kent (internal stephenson's valve gear) or a King Arthur if I can find one.

Edited By William Ayerst on 31/01/2021 21:39:08

PM sent

Nick

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