Every little helps

The locals giving a hand weeding the embankment on the approach to Buddleia Pond.

With the wagon almost full, it was time to call it a day.

Billy Chassis - Stage 6

With the valve chest covers in place and the painted cylinder cladding fitted, it was a good opportunity for the chassis to be test run on air. To achieve this an air line was attached to the superheater and air was pumped via a bicycle pump. Plenty of oil was applied to all working parts. Any slight unevenness  in running can normally be overcome by minute adjustments when the locomotive is running under it's own steam.

If all okay at this stage, the return cranks are drilled and pinned to ensure that they are held in place for when in service.

Roundhouse recommend that if the superheater hasn't yet been fitted, and therefore the chassis is untested, do not pin the return cranks in place, but wait until you can carry out a test run.

Coal Train

Working it's way through Buddleia Pond station.

Past the bandstand and approaching Buddleia Pond tunnel.

Eastbound via the forget-me-nots.

Approaching Homestyal Halt.

Nearing the end of the day and passing by Buddleia Pond signal box.

Billy Chassis - Stage 5

The return cranks were now fitted but will be finally pinned into position after the valve gear has all been assembled and tested. At this point they were each clamped together with a steel screw and nut. It's a good idea when doing this to hold the return clamp jaws together with a pair of pliers whilst tightening the screw and nut.

The weigh shaft, expansion links, eccentric and radius rods were all now fitted.

The assembly was now checked for a 'smooth running' prior to the fitting of the lifting arms and links.

Finally at this stage the steel reversing rod was fitted, clamped and the valve gear set to ensure that the radius rods lift at the correct time and position.

The valve timing was then checked and the valve chest covers finally fitted. (Not shown in photo.)

Buddleia Pond

Railcar waiting patiently whilst a passenger train approaches.

Freight train passing through.

Passenger train on it's final bend before approaching the station.

Freight train crossing Buddleia Pond Bridge.

Looking down the line from Buddleia Pond embankment.

Billy Chassis - Stage 4

The outside cranks were now fitted, observing the 'quartering' rule of having the right hand side lead by one quarter of a revolution.

As my model is to run on 45mm gauge (G Scale), the wheels were adjusted accordingly and secured onto the axles using the wheel grub screws.

Coupling rods fitted.  These took a while for the wheels to rotate easily without any tight spots.  A little filing with a small needle file was required to slightly elongate the coupling rod holes.

The cylinders were then fitted to each side, leaving the covers offset to the outside of each chest.  This will allow for the adjustment of the slide valves later in the build.

As I already had the 'Boiler Kit - HBK3', it is recommended that the superheater is fitted to the steam inlet pipe on each cylinder.

The connecting rods were now fitted to the piston rods of each cylinder, resulting in a slight resistance when the wheels were rotated.

Next stage, the Walschaerts type valve gear.

Billy Chassis - Stage 3

After two coats of Halfords enamel black gloss spray paint, the chassis was left for 24hrs to harden.

Buffer beam overlays were added, followed by the centre buffers (each to be painted later).

The wheels and axles were then fitted, after first cleaning any paint from the brass axle bushes.

Next stage, cranks and coupling rods.

Billy Chassis - Stage 2

At this stage with the buffer beams fitted, it is recommended that the chassis is painted.

Firstly I applied Isopropyl Alcohol cleaner with cotton wool balls to remove the engineering oil, followed by a hot water and detergent bath. The chassis was then dried using an electric hair dryer set on hot.

Once cleaned I put on a pair of latex gloves to prevent greasy fingerprints appearing later in the finish.

With the chassis now ready for spraying I applied one coat of U-Pol etching primer followed by two coats of Halfords enamel grey primer.

Next stage, the top coat.

Spring approaching....

Yesterday was a good day to tidy the garden, on and around the line. Leaves, leaves and more leaves, twigs and rotting vegetation occupied the ground. Wind blown debris had settled on heavy  sodden soil and mushy lawns squelched underfoot. But this is the dawning of Spring where juvenile shoots and buds emerge, signalling the beginning of the Garden Railway season - all a board!

DR Tender Steam

After the war, many of these narrow gauge locomotives found their way onto several German narrow gauge railways.

An exceptional model equipped with two drive motors powered by eight wheels and four pick-up shoes.

This recent addition to H.L.R. arrived analogue and will be converted to DCC once it is ascertained how to open her up and fit the decoders (Engine & Tender).

Length: 450mm Weight: 2350g