Sweet William steam locomotive discussion
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:39 pm
So, let me say up front that I already have way more projects on "the list" then I can possibly accomplish and this thread is more for investigation and research then serious planning. But, my wife has been taken with larger scale (2.5, 3.75, etc.) engines running on 7.25" gauge track. And I love British-outline engines.
From what I understand, the Sweet William is the Sweet Pea designed to run on 7.25/7.5" track. Some variations have tenders, some don't. Occasionally they have a third driving axle, a trailing pony truck, or both. Some rarely have a different form of valve gear. Also, some have saddle tanks, occasionally they have other arrangements. After having read the recent (past year or two) article in Live Steam and seeing how simple they appear to be I am interested in learning more. I have a couple of questions, though:
1.) Can the design be used for coal firing? I thought I read somewhere that if "yes" then the boiler had to be changed to a standard-design boiler. Probably not an issue aside from cost/manufacturing, but can anyone comment on this?
2.) Can someone point to any builders who have constructed the engine with the tender? A google search pulled up one person in Britain, and no one here in the USA. For such a popular design, surely others must have them.
3.) A few vendors sell laser-cut parts for the engine both here and in the UK. I have also seen plans for sale. Aside from the cylinders and wheels, are their any other critical castings that need to be purchased or is it mostly just fabricated from stock?
4.) Finally, I am most interested in a small-tender engine variation with preferably side tanks (like a Roundhouse live steamer, such as "Lady Anne", "Charles Pooter", "Russel", an Accucraft "Edrig", etc.) Can anyone point me to pictures of such a creation? I am not a big fan of saddle tank engines... and yes, I know a tender is somewhat silly with an engine with saddle or side tanks but oh well.
I have access to the book on the construction of the Sweet Pea from the local live steam library, though I wish I could find a copy to purchase myself that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I also applied to the Yahoo group but in looking through their back posts there weren't a lot on these subjects.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Ben
From what I understand, the Sweet William is the Sweet Pea designed to run on 7.25/7.5" track. Some variations have tenders, some don't. Occasionally they have a third driving axle, a trailing pony truck, or both. Some rarely have a different form of valve gear. Also, some have saddle tanks, occasionally they have other arrangements. After having read the recent (past year or two) article in Live Steam and seeing how simple they appear to be I am interested in learning more. I have a couple of questions, though:
1.) Can the design be used for coal firing? I thought I read somewhere that if "yes" then the boiler had to be changed to a standard-design boiler. Probably not an issue aside from cost/manufacturing, but can anyone comment on this?
2.) Can someone point to any builders who have constructed the engine with the tender? A google search pulled up one person in Britain, and no one here in the USA. For such a popular design, surely others must have them.
3.) A few vendors sell laser-cut parts for the engine both here and in the UK. I have also seen plans for sale. Aside from the cylinders and wheels, are their any other critical castings that need to be purchased or is it mostly just fabricated from stock?
4.) Finally, I am most interested in a small-tender engine variation with preferably side tanks (like a Roundhouse live steamer, such as "Lady Anne", "Charles Pooter", "Russel", an Accucraft "Edrig", etc.) Can anyone point me to pictures of such a creation? I am not a big fan of saddle tank engines... and yes, I know a tender is somewhat silly with an engine with saddle or side tanks but oh well.
I have access to the book on the construction of the Sweet Pea from the local live steam library, though I wish I could find a copy to purchase myself that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I also applied to the Yahoo group but in looking through their back posts there weren't a lot on these subjects.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Ben