Hi All,
Crook Street's working timetable calls for three trip services so, as I like 0-8-0s I thought I'd sneak in a D tank. As the name suggests, these were tank versions of the D class 0-8-0 designed under George Whale's superindendence and were one of a very few LMW engines to have the company's initials displayed on it's tank sides. It's going to be unlined black as there's a photo of the one I'm going to model, 2277, at Huddersfield in plain black. According to the same source it was allocated to Springs Branch in 1919 so that's the one for me!
As usual, one of the first tasks is to assemble the coupling rods as these set the dimensions for the chassis assembly and subsequent running quality, so it's worth taking care with these:
As it's a tank engine I can get away with all sorts of dodgy deeds on the chassis so suspension on this is simply brass wire soldered to the bearings in elongated axle holes:
The chassis went together without any hitches - note the generous joggle in the frames to the rear to accomodate the swing in the radial trailing axle. It's greater than the prototype but then, my curves are tighter than the prototype. Considerably. So I for one am very grateful:
The next action was to clean, polish and true up the wheels and axles. Again, worth spending some time on this as it will contribute (hopefully) good running when assembled.
...And lo... I had a push-along:
Once the trailing axle was installed I made sure it would go round my curves without derailing or shorting:
Fortunately it all worked well under DC power. I'd like to say it was all due to my diligence but those familiar with chassis building will know that it doesn't always work out that way despite due diligence...:
Flushed with success I barrelled on with the three dimensional intelligence test that is the brakes, what could possibly go wrong... Well, looks like I failed... I soldered wire into the holes that should be clear to take the hangers and the pull rods so had to unsolder them, then I did the same with the actuation bars. So lots of soldering and unsoldering later, I got the brakes installed:
Finally, today, I installed the sand pipes. These should both go outside the brake hangers but I was wary of clearances to the coupling rods on my tight curves so I placed the ones for the second pair of drivers behing the brake hanger. Well, I reckon the fitters might have done similar... maybe...
That's it for now.
Cheers
Allan
Crook Street's working timetable calls for three trip services so, as I like 0-8-0s I thought I'd sneak in a D tank. As the name suggests, these were tank versions of the D class 0-8-0 designed under George Whale's superindendence and were one of a very few LMW engines to have the company's initials displayed on it's tank sides. It's going to be unlined black as there's a photo of the one I'm going to model, 2277, at Huddersfield in plain black. According to the same source it was allocated to Springs Branch in 1919 so that's the one for me!
As usual, one of the first tasks is to assemble the coupling rods as these set the dimensions for the chassis assembly and subsequent running quality, so it's worth taking care with these:
As it's a tank engine I can get away with all sorts of dodgy deeds on the chassis so suspension on this is simply brass wire soldered to the bearings in elongated axle holes:
The chassis went together without any hitches - note the generous joggle in the frames to the rear to accomodate the swing in the radial trailing axle. It's greater than the prototype but then, my curves are tighter than the prototype. Considerably. So I for one am very grateful:
The next action was to clean, polish and true up the wheels and axles. Again, worth spending some time on this as it will contribute (hopefully) good running when assembled.
...And lo... I had a push-along:
Once the trailing axle was installed I made sure it would go round my curves without derailing or shorting:
Fortunately it all worked well under DC power. I'd like to say it was all due to my diligence but those familiar with chassis building will know that it doesn't always work out that way despite due diligence...:
Flushed with success I barrelled on with the three dimensional intelligence test that is the brakes, what could possibly go wrong... Well, looks like I failed... I soldered wire into the holes that should be clear to take the hangers and the pull rods so had to unsolder them, then I did the same with the actuation bars. So lots of soldering and unsoldering later, I got the brakes installed:
Finally, today, I installed the sand pipes. These should both go outside the brake hangers but I was wary of clearances to the coupling rods on my tight curves so I placed the ones for the second pair of drivers behing the brake hanger. Well, I reckon the fitters might have done similar... maybe...
That's it for now.
Cheers
Allan
