The Home Machinist!

I seem to remember that Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette did a series of drawings of early Virginia & Truckee passenger cars. They might be worth a look. Also the Nevada State R.R. museum in Carson City NV might have plans of those cars.
Ray.

Lion was one of two 'Luggage Engines' (the other was Tiger) supplied to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1838 by Todd Kitson and Laird of Leeds. She was 're-discovered' acting as a stationary pumping engine in Liverpool docks and was first restored for the centenary of the L&MR in 1930. O...

Sorry Fred, but unless I've misunderstood your post, 'Stourbridge Lion' is a totally different and much older loco than 'Lion' a.k.a. "Titfield Thunderbolt". I'm absolutely certain of this as I'm one of the last people to have steamed the full-size 'Lion' before it became a permanent stati...

Hi Fred, I am afraid that I cannot agree with Julian's assertion that there is something intrinsically wrong with the Hunslet's smokebox draughting as designed. Mine steams just fine (in fact too well) without a petticoat or firebox arch. I would suggest that that you open up your blast nozzle a bit...

Hi Fred, have I missed something? I'm really surprised that you are having steaming difficulties with your Hunslet as the problem I have with mine is that it steams too well - I have to run with the damper shut and often the firedoor 'cracked' to stop it continually blowing off. I've even opened up ...

jessebanning wrote:I am not sure Mike, possibly Milner Engineering in the UK.

I can confirm that. I knew the builder and have driven the loco a couple of times - it ran and steamed beautifully.
Ray.

I'm trying to work out a plan to deal with the asbestos once I remove the cab and steam dome. Looking up California law, the engine falls below the minimum square footage that requires a licensed contractor to dispose it so I plan to buy a bunch of painters plastic, roll the engine on it, remove as...

If there's too much 'draw' on the electric blower hold it (or get someone else) to hold it at an angle to the stack. Once the coal has 'caught' put it fully in. Better still make up a stack extension with a blower jet which you can couple to an airline. If you fit a ball valve or needle valve in the...

C.P., This year will be my 50th of driving coal burners, full-size and model, and if the smoke was going to kill me it would have done by now. The only time I suffered any discomfort (nausea/headache) was a couple of years ago when we ran out of our usual Welsh steam coal and had to burn some Polish...

Will's 2882 wrote:Ray PM sent.\Will

... and returned. Many thanks.
Ray.

The basic price of a 'Stafford' is 12,578 GBP including VAT @ 20% so not far off from the OP's original quote of $14,500. True there is shipping and maybe US duty to pay on top. I've seen 'Staffords' under construction at Station Road Steam's workshop and being narrow gauge (the prototypes were 2'g....

Ninety-two bucks plus another sixteen for shipping - wow! They look identical to those sold by Polly Models in the UK for 26.50 GBP (approx $39). Actually I have a set in front of me now, still in the original packing that I no longer need. If you can wait until April I'll mail them from Boise for $...