Ballymena & Larne #6, #106

[tommy]

Building my first 15mill. model of an Irish narrow gauge locomotive.  I'm using a Bachmann "Big Hauler" 4-6-0 motor block.

 

I could use some help identifying some of the "plumbing" fixtures. For instance, purpose of the tank mounted to the rear of the cab?....also the long and thin pipe on the outside of the cab. The driver's right hand rests on it....

Did they appear on other Beyer Peacock locos??

thanks in advance for any suggestions/help.......Tommy

 

 

[Mayner]

Possibly a reservoir and piping in connection with the automatic vacuum braking system. The BNCR most likely fitted the locos with automatic vacuum brakes and enclosed cabs after the takeover of the Ballymena & Lane railway.

The Bachmann Big Haulier chassis is reasonably priced for G Gauge and extremely useful for scratchbuilding, will you be using track or on board battery power?

[tommy]

Thanks Mayner.......I figured the tank would be part of the braking system but didn't know if a compressor would have been needed for a relatively short run, (by US standards). In other words, was the tank filled at the start of a run and it would last the entire run?  I'm familiar with vacuum systems as they were used by the various Maine 2' railways but the engines always seemed to be fitted with an engine mounted compressor.

If the tanks were fitted later in life......then perhaps that tall, thin column at the driver's door was part of the braking system??

I also noted the piping running along the footboard forward to the brake hose at the front end (and I assume the cab end)

I will be using RC/battery. Haven't decided on what system to use just yet.......have to make a decision on "sound" first.

Now I will want to build up some rolling stock to run with it!

thanks again......tom

 

 

[Mayner]

The vacuum on Irish & British steam locomotives was created by an "ejector" part of the drivers brake valve, that used steam to suck the air out of the brake system to create & maintain a vacuum.

Generally on vacuum fitted locos there is an external pipe to exhaust steam from the ejector in the cab to the smokebox. The ejector pipework may be on the opposite side of 106 to the photograph.

http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r143.html

Edited August 6, 2018 by Mayner

[PaulC]

I’ll follow this with interest Tommy. Having embarked on a layout that will incorporate Ballymena Railway station, albeit in OO gauge to your 15 mil, this will fascinate me. 

Paul

[tommy]

An update on my loco build......been working on the plumbing and other details.

The handrails are brass wire held in place with small cotter pins.  The smaller line to the smokebox is the exhaust line from the vacuum braking system.

The twin safety valves are pieces of aluminum tubing mounted on an old piece of plastic "kit" sprue. The mount for the whistle is a piece of wooden dowel. (the small plastic "do-hicky" is a fill in until I can figure out what was sitting next to the whistle!)

The tank on the cab end is the reservoir for the vacuum braking system (thank you Mayner!). The thin, white cylinder at the cab entrance may be part of the braking controls??

Any suggestions or thoughts on this??

I fitted water lines from each tank to a wooden dowel representing a pump taking water to the injectors.

The cab steps are styrene angles.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with how she is turning out.....still need to fit the sand boxes and the tool chests to the front end footplate......

Then it's close enough to consider her livery.......can someone recommend her "colors" when she was in NCC service in the early 1930's?  Was maroon and black a standard color for all NCC loco's regardless of previous ownership??

Thanks in advance for your comments......Tommy

[tommy]

Fitted the final appliances to the front end......the tool boxes came from the original Big Hauler cut down steam chests and I created the raised sand boxes with blocks of wood covered in sheet brass and styrene.  Fashioned simple actuating rods for the sanders.

[GNRi1959]

Class bit of work Tommy, making great progress

Tony

[tommy]

Started the painting process following LMS guidelines. Found a rattle can maroon that looked pretty close. Next will be the masking for the various sections of black edging/footplate/smokebox etc. I'll trying lining using waterslide HO scale yellow stripes.

After that, it's time to decide on a RC/battery/sound control system........thanks for your interest and comments......this "first Irish" project has been great fun for me.....Tommy

[jhb171achill]

That is looking VERY nice.

Lining was yellow and black. Check just about anything in British LMS livery.

Lettering was gold, shaded red and black. I strongly suspect the cylinders were black, but I'm not 100% certain. Cast numberplate backgrounds were red rather than maroon.

 

 

Edited August 23, 2018 by jhb171achill

[airfixfan]

Did this model ever get finished?