12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Discuss park gauge trains and large scale miniature railways having track gauges from 8" to 24" gauge and designed at scales of 2" to the foot or greater - whether modeled for personal use, or purpose built for amusement park operation or private railroading.

Moderators: Glenn Brooks, Harold_V

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Topics may include: antique park gauge train restoration, preservation, and history; building new grand scale equipment from scratch; large scale miniature railway construction, maintenance, and safe operation; fallen flags; track, gauge, and equipment standards; grand scale vendor offerings; and, compiling an on-line motive power roster.
Glenn Brooks
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Searched high and low bit could not find the video I was looking for. However, Here are a couple of links that come in a close second, regarding designing to sit in the loco.

https://youtu.be/_PGDff1fkTw

https://youtu.be/wEdKg0KfpF8

Of course there are all kinds of well proportioned 1/4 and 1/3 scale equipment in 15” gauge, and somehow the English live steamers have managed to scale up 7 1/4 and 10” gauge for some nice, well proportioned ride in locos, - mostly steamers.

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
0351
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by 0351 »

That 12” gauge steam locomotive is sweet looking! Mesmerizing watch the running gear operate so smoothly.

Regarding more leg room in the cab, initially I played with idea of making the longhood 6” shorter, and lengthing the cab by 6”, for a total cab length of 24”.
However the proportions looked off, so I settled for a correct scale cab length of 18”,
along with making the rear cab wall removable.
Comprised on the leg room, but the trade off is a much more prototypical looking locomotive.
1st photo is the proposed 24” cab length,
2nd is the correct length at 18”.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 (KJV)
rkcarguy
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Location: Wa State

Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by rkcarguy »

Nice find on the louvers!
Is engineering from a riding car out of the question? I'd have to be greased up and get a run at a space 18" wide to fit in it lol.
Glenn Brooks
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by Glenn Brooks »

I’ll bet you will regret making your seating area and door way that small. Take a look at the second video again, and look for the little short engineer seat extension built off the rear of the cab. It’s hardly noticeable, and doesn’t interfere at all with the cab proportions. Basically a rear platform with a small box attached. Very well done. It gives the engineer all the leg room he needs to comfortably sit snuggled up inside the cab. And he fits much more proportionally to the engine size.

Plus he scaled up the whole loco to fit the roof line of the cab up to his shoulders and collar bone. So he fits perfectly down in the loco when running. No compromise on proportion. Genius, really.

Try making a simple cardboard or plywood mock-up of the cab, maybe the whole body. Then sit it and see how it really looks and functions. Much better than locking into a scale drawing on a small piece of paper.

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
0351
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by 0351 »

I’ve done a rough mock-up of the cab and seating. I’m 5’-10”, 195 lbs. It’s tight squeeze but doable.

With the rear cab wall removed and a small seat mounted to the rear walkway the seating area measures 27”W x 36”L (including the extra foot room under the longhood).

If I change out the G4200 hydrostatic transmission in favor of an Eaton #11 hydro/trans I can take at least 12” from inside the longhood.

An engineer car isn’t out of the question, but it is last resort. I only have enough wheels for 3 cars and a caboose. Hate to burn a car to engineer from, also would like to drive the loco itself without being tied to an engineer car.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 (KJV)
0351
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by 0351 »

The first rail car in the works is a 3” version of the Alamosa Trash Gon. Previously I’ve worked on fabricating the brake wheels, ratchet, spawl, upper mast, and stirrup.

Had considered casting the needed parts, but it proved to costly for the 5 sets needed.

I went with an unique option, and had the wheels, ratchet and spawl laser cut from 3/8” plate. Unfortunately there were a few blowouts in small holes around the wheels on the bottom side. They can touched up tho.

The upper mast and stirrup i made out of steel at my shop, using an angle grinder, belt sander and drill press. Sure could use a lathe and vertical mill!!!!! Took more time than I’d thought.
So far I please with the looks.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 (KJV)
0351
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by 0351 »

Assembled parts shot in rustoleum gray primer. Which happens to be a good match for the DRGW mow color.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 (KJV)
rkcarguy
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Location: Wa State

Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by rkcarguy »

Looks good! Those gondola's are mostly wood construction, correct?
The blowouts will happen when laser cutting small holes in thick materials. As a rule most laser cutting machines can only cut a clean hole the same diameter as the material is thick. I will humbly :wink: brag though that our machine at work switches to a different blend of assist gasses when piercing holes, and with some test holes ran and carefully tweaking the power settings we have been getting good results down to around hole size = 1/2 of material thickness.
0351
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by 0351 »

Yes it’s an all wood car. However itv was used much. Great looking car tho, at least to NG fan m, and a fairly easy first build.

The Alamosa Trash Gon “was rebuilt using the Flat that CONX 15's tank rode the C&Sng on and then received gon sides from the D&RGW. It is called the Alamosa Trash Gon because it was the gondola used by the
shop crews in Alamosa and it sat outside the shop where it was seen by railfans / photographers whenever they were in Alamosa. Except for times when it was full
and had been attached to a train to be taken away to be emptied, the car was a fixture e of a kind car. It was rebuilt using the Flat that CONX 15's tank rode the C&Sng on and then received gon sides from the D&RGW. It is called the Alamosa Trash Gon because it was the gondola used by the
shop crews in Alamosa and it sat outside the shop where it was seen by railfans / photographers whenever they were in Alamosa. Except for times when it was full
and had been attached to a train to be taken away to be emptied, the car was a fixture there. The photos show the door in the side as well as the rest of the car. there.”
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 (KJV)
0351
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by 0351 »

Steve Nelson built a great looking 2.5” version of the trash-gon. Some of his pictures give a better representation of what I want to achieve in 3”.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 (KJV)
rkcarguy
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by rkcarguy »

Oh ok I thought it was one of the red ones, but I was close!
Those will be easy to build and paint (in my opinion) due to being wood, carriage and lag bolts, add some steel "jewelry" and you're done.
0351
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Re: 12” gauge DRGW Inspired RR

Post by 0351 »

Trash gon has shorter sideboards.
I do plan to build 2 of the high side Gon in the future. Probably the red ones you’re thinking of.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 (KJV)
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