Two-axle Welsh narrow gauge freight cars

[Benjamin Maggi]

I am interested in building a riding car for my Sweet Pea engine, which is a Welsh narrow-gauge design (my engine is technically a Sweet William as it will ride on 7.25" gauge track) and I want to construct a Welsh 2-foot narrow-gauge inspired car to use as a riding car/tender. Essentially, I need help designing a sturdy 2-axle chassis which I can stretch and modify for a variety of cars, with details added to suit the prototype.

I looked around and saw that Cannonball Limited (bobber caboose) and Little Engines (Crab riding car) both offer 2-axle cars, though it appears both are only available RTR. I want a simple frame that I can adapt and use as a basis for building a body on top of. I realize that visually both have different styles of springing than the Welsh narrow gauge cars I plan to copy from.

Does anyone have experience with the LE crab car? Can someone take a picture of what you get? Their catalog/online website shows a pretty blurry picture. I also have a backissue of LS where J.E.N. built some quick and easy cars like this, if I recall correctly.

Thanks.

[makinsmoke]

Cannonball offers these...

http://cannonballltd.com/products_img/pt21310.jpg

[SZuiderveen]

Reeves has this. It would be cheaper to make patterns and have the parts cast here, but maybe the drawings would help.

http://shop.ajreeves.com/7-14-gauge-4-w ... -158-c.asp

Steve

[Bill Wilkins]

Nothing wrong with 2 axle cars.
I took the axles off of a damaged Bobber Caboose and built this "Bobber Boxcar" with hinged roof.
Bill W.

[steamin10]

The biggest obstacle to getting started, is getting started. Buy some wheel blanks and start turning a set of wheels, then the axles with the shoulders to fit the wheels.. When you have 4 complete sets, you should have sketched or drawn an idea of what you want. Start with a piece of plywood that could be the floor, say 3/4 inch, and get a full sized feel for how its gonna go together. Leaf springs can be dummies out of bar stock, or actual industrial leafs from a cord winder clock spring, or some die springs of a weight chosen from a supply house. I like junk shopping. From here you can go crazy imagineering the details and making them work. I like the turn of the century stuff, becasue most of it was built for the need by that particualr rail operation, and usually had a homey feel, and family llook.

Roll off dead center and enjoy tinkering with your ideas. For me its the most fun, even creating a story of why things were done a peculiar way.

[Benjamin Maggi]

Cannonball offers these...

http://cannonballltd.com/products_img/pt21310.jpg

Not only is that a good place to start, but I bet I could turn them on my small lathe! Thanks. However did you find this? I don't see it on their catalog. I see the parts listed, but not a picture. And it looks like more is included in the picture then shown online. I will give Cannonball a call this week to confirm, but thanks for your help everybody!

[makinsmoke]

Hi Beej,
If looking at their catalog pages and an item is boldened in blue, it is a link. Click on it to bring up a photo.

You can also buy them RTR...

Take care,
Brian

[Bill Wilkins]

Hey Ben M,
Did you ever get the Ride Trains Davenport project completed or is it a WIP?
Bill W.

[Bill Wilkins]

Maybe it was the Box Cab I was thinking about, not a Davenport.
I found a pic of construction of the Box Cab to force me to remember. I liked that engine drawing.
Is it a WIP, work in progress, or do you have it complete ?
The little boxcar I have is light, I can pick it up by the couplers pretty easy. Once on the track I load in the water jug and snacks for the day, makes a little heavier. I have had no track problems with it.
Bill W.

[Benjamin Maggi]

Bill: It was a Davenport chassis and I built a boxcab body for it. I ran into a problem that I am working out, but hope to have the body completed next month.