Gauge of interest: MGWR A class/ GSR CIE D5 4-4-0

[GSR 800]

Evening all,

I've been considering commissioning an MGWR design from Killian following the completion of the 800 project.

The 'flagship' locos of the MGWR were the class A 4-4-0s, the largest express passenger locomotives in Ireland when built. They've a long lifespan, interesting variations and liveries to boot! To my eye the locos in their CIE guise were some of the most handsome engines on the system.

 

 

Aesthetics aside, we come to our first major hurdle. Almost every rtr 4-4-0 on the market has 6'8 or 6'9 driving wheels, compared to the MGWRs big 4-4-0s with 6'3 drivers. 

Here I began some experimentation. I purchased a D16/3 alongside some B1 driving wheels and black five bogie wheels off peters spares.

Out went one wheelset, the crankpins were swapped, and in went the new set. Ditto with the bogie wheels. Drawbar was adjusted slightly to accommodate. Brake shoes and sand pipe were cut back slightly to avoid fouling the track. Pickups were gently persauded to align with the smaller wheels.

The patient is at full health following her operation, runs smoothly.

Quote for designing the loco and tender is roughly 400-500 euros, which I believe is more than fair for the time and effort Killian puts into it, and the attention to detail. If there are other customers I am told the design price could be brought down. 

This is a gauge of interest. Obviously a bit more work in terms of the chassis compared to the 800s. New wheelsets have to be bought, etc. Took under an hour to swap everything out and make the necessary adjustments. 

If anyone is interested let us know.

 

Edited December 11 by GSR 800

[Killian Keane]

Oh dear perhaps I oughn't to have done such an adequate job on the 800 LOL but no if we get enough backing Id love to do this

whats the rule of thumb? 'if you have a 4-4-0 and an 0-6-0 you can run 99% of Irish steam era trains' or in the earlier era a 2-4-0 and 0-6-0

[GSR 800]

17 minutes ago, Killian Keane said:

Oh dear perhaps I oughn't to have done such an adequate job on the 800 LOL but no if we get enough backing Id love to do this

whats the rule of thumb? 'if you have a 4-4-0 and an 0-6-0 you can run 99% of Irish steam era trains' or in the earlier era a 2-4-0 and 0-6-0

And then the 2-4-0s outlasted a lot of the 4-4-0s...Atock would have been delighted.

 

[Mayner]

Fair play Harry I have been planning to build a fleet of Midland engines since I was a teenager and it took me 40 years and several false starts to build a successful Ks/650 Class. I still have wheelsets stashed away for a Cattle Engine, Standard Goods, 650 & Achill Bogie.

Fitting B1 wheels under a D16/3 (Hornby ?) is a nice bit of latteral thinking as its becoming increasingly difficult to source loco driving wheels from traditional sources like Markits & AGW.

Having used a professional 3D modeller to design most of my 3D models, Killan's fee for designing the A Class appears reasonable. 

By the way 544 in the photo of the train arriving at Broadstone is one of the ligher/shorer C Class equally deserving of being modelled

I am heavily comitted to 21mm gauge and working in metal, but its looking increasingly unlikely at this stage that I will get around to building a 21mm layout and may have to compromise on OO to build a layout.

Well done for showing such initiative

[GSR 800]

35 minutes ago, Mayner said:

Fair play Harry I have been planning to build a fleet of Midland engines since I was a teenager and it took me 40 years and several false starts to build a successful Ks/650 Class. I still have wheelsets stashed away for a Cattle Engine, Standard Goods, 650 & Achill Bogie.

Fitting B1 wheels under a D16/3 (Hornby ?) is a nice bit of latteral thinking as its becoming increasingly difficult to source loco driving wheels from traditional sources like Markits & AGW.

Having used a professional 3D modeller to design most of my 3D models, Killan's fee for designing the A Class appears reasonable. 

By the way 544 in the photo of the train arriving at Broadstone is one of the ligher/shorer C Class equally deserving of being modelled

I am heavily comitted to 21mm gauge and working in metal, but its looking increasingly unlikely at this stage that I will get around to building a 21mm layout and may have to compromise on OO to build a layout.

Well done for showing such initiative

John,

Your plans and advice have been invaluable, I'm happy to have one of your 650s, and my plans would stay plans without Killian's wizardry! The talent lies with him, and he puts up with my mad ideas!

I'm hoping my 650 will be complete shortly.  Markits seem to be on hiatus. Other sources seem to be drying up also, quite difficult getting wheels for the 650. 

D16/3 is indeed Hornby. The B1 drivers slot straight in, and have the same bearings and gear. The only thing that needs to be changed out is the crankpin, the geared set on the B1s has crankpins for walschearts, so Killian had the idea to pop them out and the ones from the old wheels were popped in. 

Pickups were persuaded into place easily, was just a matter of trimming length off the brake shoes and the sand pipe.

Will have to change out that C for an A!

 

Edited December 10 by GSR 800

[GSR 800]

Just to add, actual loco + tender shell would cost around 55 euro