Brian McKenzie
Western Thunderer
Barclay's #1270 of 1912 started life as an 0-4-0ST on a 3' 6" gauge forestry line in New Zealand. It proved rather heavy for the track, so was hacked about and extended in length to accommodate pony trucks at both ends as a 2-4-2ST.
It operated in that configuration until 1924, until sold on to the next industrial user, who discarded the pony trucks. This - now - ungainly duckling worked and waggled onwards with its 30.5inch front frame extension, and 18inches extra at the rear. With only a 5ft wheelbase - hooking up the centrally mounted coupler above any track curvature might have been tricky.
The loco is getting cylinders, and a lump of coal for Xmas.
The cylinders mount to the frames on pins (rock hard 1.6mm stainless welding wire), which won't get marked up by the ends of the M1.2 locking screws, tapped through the steam chests.
The real loco has long retired to 'preservation' at Auckland's Western Springs Railway, based at the Museum of Transport & Technology (MOTAT). The firebox is being renewed onsite - with much manual flangeing effort using wooden mallets and gas torches. The Western Springs Railway (photos at the end of that page).
The model is to 9mm scale which exactly represents 3' 6" gauge on 'O' gauge track. The gearbox made for it is shown at Scratchbuilt machined gearboxes
-Brian McK.
It operated in that configuration until 1924, until sold on to the next industrial user, who discarded the pony trucks. This - now - ungainly duckling worked and waggled onwards with its 30.5inch front frame extension, and 18inches extra at the rear. With only a 5ft wheelbase - hooking up the centrally mounted coupler above any track curvature might have been tricky.
The loco is getting cylinders, and a lump of coal for Xmas.
The cylinders mount to the frames on pins (rock hard 1.6mm stainless welding wire), which won't get marked up by the ends of the M1.2 locking screws, tapped through the steam chests.
The real loco has long retired to 'preservation' at Auckland's Western Springs Railway, based at the Museum of Transport & Technology (MOTAT). The firebox is being renewed onsite - with much manual flangeing effort using wooden mallets and gas torches. The Western Springs Railway (photos at the end of that page).
The model is to 9mm scale which exactly represents 3' 6" gauge on 'O' gauge track. The gearbox made for it is shown at Scratchbuilt machined gearboxes
-Brian McK.
