Class 400 B2 Gauge O Repair Works

[murrayec]

This lovely B2 model was on the bench recently, it's very nicely built but had a mishap and needs repairing, some upgrades to. Not sure of the kit make and the builder but I will follow up on that;-

Motor & Gearbox replacement

Valve gear rebuild

Break gear repair

Pick-up upgrade

Tender draw bar assembly upgrade

This is how the model came to the workshop.

So first up was to start on the new pick-up system, a pcb board and brass angle mountings were prepared. The brackets were soldered in between the frames and M2 nuts soldered in to hold the pcb board.

With the board setup I next repaired the break gear so I could install this assembly and make sure the wire pick-ups do not interfere when soldering them onto the pcb board. The break gear is the 'Sprung' on type, it fits onto the hanger shafts off the frames and is held in position by it's own springy force. The shafts are .9mm brass wire with sleeve over to hold the hangers out from the chassis- one of these was missing so a replacement was made and the break rodding was repaired.

Break gear on and now the .45mm NS wire pick-ups are bent to shape

Then soldered to the pcb board

Wires to the motor were then soldered on. The pick-up wires will be bent and trimmed to the wheels when the motor is installed and running.

The motor and gearbox now installed, a flat was milled on the axle to take the axle gear wheel grub screw and a couple of brass washers were installed between the gearbox and frames to limit side play and centre the wheels.

Just before that I made the tender draw bar assembly- a ex 6mm brass spigot was turned up on the lathe for the loco end which was soldered into the chassis and a large cable tie was chopped n holes drilled for the draw-bar.

Next was to install the valve gear, but first I added a bit of detail to the coupling rod knuckle join by drilling and inserting a 1mm steel rivet. Then the gear was cleaned up and installed.

All on and waiting for the Loctite to set.

Later a test run to see if all runs OK, and it's OK!

Main work done I then installed the bogie truck and fitted the body

Done.

The loco needs a small bit of work to be done by it's crew, but it looks cool as it is.

I really like this class loco, it's very sleek and looks the part for speed! but I believe they weren't very successfully, later they removed two cylinders and made a mess of the footplate lines when changing the valve gear and still they couldn't get it running right.

This may be a sin but I think! I like this one more than the 800.....

Eoin

 

 

 

 

Edited October 5, 2019 by murrayec

[Mayner]

The loco looks like a model of 402 following its re-build into a 2 cylinder loco in the 1920s. 

The whole saga of the re-building of the 400s was prolonged and complicated, the original locos were supposed to have been heavy on coal and expensive to maintain. The GSR scrapped 3 of the 4 cylinder locos (apparently as surplus to requirements) and gradually re-built the remaining locos into 2 cylinder form between 1928 & 37.

The 1st  3 three rebuilt were basically completely new locomotives apart from using the existing boiler and bogie, 402 was unique among the rebuilt engines with its straight running board the next two engines rebuilt 401&406 had low running boards and Caprotti valve gear,

The final four re-builds were more-economic retaining their original frames and driving wheels and introduced a step in the running board above the motion bracket.

 

 

 

 

The rebuilding of the 400 Class into two cylinder locomotives appears to have been successful with 402 remaining in service into the early 60s.

 

[Galteemore]

Intriguingly, a similar model appeared this very week in an online O gauge mag I subscribe to....and I do agree, Eoin, it’s a very impressive loco. I do have a soft spot too for those 4-4-0s with the outside framed bogies...

Edited October 6, 2019 by Galteemore

[murrayec]

31 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

"Intriguingly, a similar model appeared this very week in an online O gauge mag I subscribe to"

@Galteemore

I believe this is the very same model, the client is a member of the IGOG and I first saw the model at the meet mentioned in your attachement

Eoin

[Galteemore]

Thanks Eoin - it did seem a bit of a coincidence! 

[Mayner]

Harry Connaughton was a Dublin based professional model maker who  produced (mainly O Gauge) models of Irish locos and stock mainly in the 1970s, he passed away during the mid 1980s.

His models included batch built GNR Compound & JT 2-4-2T in 4 & 7mm scale and various commissions in O Gauge including a number of GNR (I) T2 4-4-2T, CIE J5 Midland Cattle Engine, J19 Midland Standard Goods, & 650 Class 2-4-0, GNR non-passenger and goods stock including bogie Parcel Vans, Bread Vans, Goods Brake and a large fleet of GNR cattle wagons.

One of my first introductions to railway modelling was watching Harry shunting of scratchbuilt O gauge cattle wagons and non-passenger stock with a pair of GNR 4-4-2T at an early MRSI exhibition in Phibsborough, the most striking thing was the sense of momentum and smoothness of operation compared with contemporary OO.