The Home Machinist!

While I am focusing on my tender right now, I am putting together a notebook with ideas/advice for my Allen mogul engine itself. I saw a picture of an Allen ten-wheeler owned by Al Wishart's and it had Walshaert valve gear. I would love to put outside valve gear on my mogul when the time comes but have no idea how. Several members of my local club have discussed it because no one has done it so far, and it almost seems "hush hush." Is there a big secret to it? Have plans ever been published in Modeltec or Live Steam showing how to do it?

Being new, I would prefer plans and drawings over theory. Also, is Al Wishart a member on this forum? I searched for him but didn't come up with anything. If anyone could PM me with his contact information I would be most grateful.

Thanks.

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"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"

Im currently attaining parts (have 80 laser cut items, drawings, valves, pumps etc) for a popular New Zealand model designed by Dave Giles called the Phantom a 1.5 scale, based on the early Candian mogul 2-6-0 (8 wheeler ? in yankie tongue) not a 4-6-0 as you call a ten wheeler.

there are over 50 of these built in NZ and numerous more hopefully being built in Australia. His design factor though was to have Walshaert valve gear for the ease of maintenance and the wow factor for looks of all that motion gear in view (though not prototypical for that era)

here are a couple pictures




mine will have a modern twist with a larger boiler and such similar to this

I've sent you a pm on Ed Wishart's address as I don't know if he'd want it posted in a public forum. But his engine is a beauty and runs great, too. Ed is a true gentleman and I'm sure he'll give you as much help as you need.

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Greg Lewis
Eyeball Engineering — Home of non-interchangeable parts
Our motto: That looks about right.
Turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap since 1983.

Clive Catchpole also added Walschaerts valve gear on his Allen Ten Wheeler. He made the steam chests to drawing and added a rocker to get the motion from the ouside of the crosshead to the inside to line up with the valve stems.

Gene Allen of Allen Models has drawings available for Baker Valve gear which is also outside gear.

"Locomotive Valves and Valve Gears" by Yoder and Wharen and reprinted by Camden gives detailed instructions on designing Walschaerts valve gear.

Thanks for all of the replies so far.

AusDan- that is a cool looking and unique engine that you have going. I think I prefer the green engine myself over the yellow, not just for the increased boiler size but also for its striking color. Of course, there is no sneaking up on anybody with a solid yellow train!

Greg & Marty: thanks for further contact information. I will follow up on your suggestions. (I saw on another website that his name was "Al", not "Ed." Which is correct?

Bobb: Strange, I am surprised Allen offers Baker's valve gear because I don't think any of his engines (maybe his consolidation) uses it. I don't remember it in the catalog. I shall give him a call next week.

Dick: I love good books and will search that one out, but I am so inexperienced that I really need something that doesn't require deduction at this point.

ALL: So, have any articles covered this point of installing outside valve gear on an Allen mogul/ten-wheeler?

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"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"

Designing Walschaerts gear isn't all that much work if you decide to do it.

Don't be scared of the project, just move ahead.

Look at many pictures of how others have mounted the gear and the reversing lever and figure out how you will do the same on yours.

Once you have things mounted, then the dimensions are straight forward.

If you need help, let me know.

There is a fellow on the Allen Yahoo Group that built an A5 using Allen castings etc: with Walschaerts gear. It will give you a good start.

a friend here has Baker on his Allen Mogul.
fred v

AusDan,
In yankee-speak, an "eight-wheeler" would be a 4-4-0. So far as I know, "mogul" is the only name for the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement.
Dan

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Dan Watson
Building IC mikado in 1.5" scale

Allen has Baker valve gear on his Consolidation prints only. But I have seen Walscherts on a number of Allens. From what I understand Baker is the most complicated to build.
I myself prefer Stephenson because of its slimplicity and due to the fact it will have less error. Downside is its all internal.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Dochstaders (sp?) program on the valve gears. Its all about the geometry and it will show the numbers you need to know. Its really fun to play with but is also a very useful tool.
I too also recommend Locomotive Valves and Valve Gear. Printed in 1921. Authors Yoder and Wharen. I found two, one used and one new. It was either Amazon or Ebay, very reasonable.

Ausdan, and Fender: Wheel arrangements are classified by the White system, and the original wheel arrangements were given a name, 4-4-0 Is an American, 2-6-0 is a Mogul, 4-6-0, a Ten Wheeler. and so on, Jubilee, Conslidation, Pacific, Northern, each has its own White Designation by lead, drive, and trail wheel arrangement, with its pet name. Industrial Locomotives, even heavy switchers, were usually balanced over the drivers only, without lead and trailing trucks that gave problems on shuttle moves in the yards and rocky trackage of mills and industries, and are simply switchers.

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Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.