The objective of this book is to share the pleasures provided by miniature railways of all sizes and encourage anyone wanting to build an engine or railway to ’have a go’.

The book describes how the author embarked on such projects with great enthusiasm and passion, but with little knowledge. It confirms that ‘where there is a will, there is a way’ and knowledge will follow. The author found himself on a ‘voyage of discovery’, supported by joining clubs, talking to people, asking questions and then simply ‘having a go’. You don’t need to be an engineer to make a start and many outstanding engines and railways have been built by people from all walks of life. How to choose the most appropriate design and what equipment will be required to succeed is discussed.

Steps are presented for building a steam locomotive, an electric locomotive, rolling stock and finally track, all illustrated by photographs and drawings to inform, guide, and encourage.

It reviews some published steam locomotive designs and shows how they can be modified to perform better, using modern analytical techniques.

Operating a miniature passenger hauling railway is great fun. Lessons learned are shared through all the activities in the book. Everything can be achieved by enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a commitment to overcome challenges.

Have a read, join a club, cut metal and embark on your own ‘voyage of discovery’!

And remember -- Engineering is a great and exciting profession!

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Some Basic Points to Consider
  • 1.1 Choosing a locomotive design to build.
  • 1.2 Workshop Equipment
  • 1.3 Safety in the Workshop
  • 1.4 Basic Essential Skills
• Chapter 2 Getting Started
  • 2.1 The Chassis
  • 2.2 Horns and Axleboxes
  • 2.3 Wheels, Axles and Crankpins
  • 2.4 Quartering the Wheels
  • 2.5 Bringing the Parts Together!
  • 2.6 The Bogie
• Chapter 3 Cylinders and Motion
  • 3.1 Cylinders
  • 3.2 Slide Bars and Crossheads
  • 3.3 Coupling and Connecting Rods
  • 3.4 Making the Motion
• Chapter 4 Design Criteria for Steam Locomotives The work of Jim Ewins
  • 4.1 Background
  • 4.2 A Locomotive to Do What?
  • 4.3 Balanced Design and Some Critical Relationships
  • 4.4 ‘E’ Numbers
  • 4.5 ‘E’ Numbers – their equations and significance
    • 4.5.1 Summary of E Number Results for twelve Engine Designs
  • 4.6 Other Useful Formulae
  • 4.7 Front End Draughting Design
  • 4.8 Superheating
  • 4.9 Other Jim Ewins Engines
• Chapter 5 An Introduction to The Computer Simulation of Locomotive Valve Gears and Valve Events by Simon Bowditch
• Chapter 6 Analysis by Simulation of twelve published Locomotive Designs by Simon Bowditch, unless otherwise stated
  • 6.1 2.5in Gauge Locomotive Valve Gear Analysis
    • 6.1.1 GWR 4-6-0 Purley Grange by LBSC
    • 6.1.2 L M S Class Princess Royal 4-6-2 by LBSC
  • 6.2 3.5in Gauge Locomotive Valve Gear Analysis
    • 6.2.1 3.5in Gauge Hunslet Narrow Gauge 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Lilla by Ross Harrison Modifications to the Outside Admission Stephenson’s Valve Gear
    • 6.2.2 3.5in Gauge BR Class 7MT 4-6-2 Britannia by LBSC Modifications to the Walschaert’s Valve Gear
  • 6.3 5in Gauge Locomotive Valve Gear Analysis
    • 6.3.1 ‘Simplex’ 0-6-0 Tank Locomotive Valve Gear: Outside Admission Walschaert’s
    • 6.3.2 Speedy 0-6-0 Tank Locomotive by LBSC Improvements undertaken by Professor Hall
    • 6.3.3 GWR 48XX / BR 14XX 0-4-2 Tank Locomotive Didcot by Neville Evans with modified Outside Admission Stephenson’s Valve Gear by Don Ashton.
    • 6.3.4 BR Class 2MT 2-6-0 by Don Young. Modifications to the Inside Admission Walschaerts Valve Gear
    • 6.3.5 G.W.R. 78XX “Manor “Class 4-6-0 with Outside Admission by Martin Evans Modifications to the Valve Gear by Don Ashton.
  • 6.4 7.25 inch Gauge Locomotive Valve Gear Analysis
    • 6.4.1 GWR 48XX/BR 14XX Class 0-4-2 Dart by Martin Evans Modified Outside-Admission Stephenson’s Valve Gear
    • 6.4.2 B.R. Class 2MT 2-6-2 Tank by Dick Stockings Modifications to the Inside Admission Walschaerts Valve Gear
    • 6.4.3 LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0 Highlander by Martin Evans. Inside Admission Walschaert’s Valve Gear as modified by Don Ashton.
• Chapter 7 Steam Locomotive Boiler Design information
  • 7.1 General
  • 7.2 Boiler Design Formulae
    • 7.2.1 The Barrel
    • 7.2.2 Flanged Plates
    • 7.2.3 Types of Stays
      • 7.2.3.1 Side Stays
      • 7.2.3.2 Longitudinal Stays
      • 7.2.3.3 Crown Stays
    • 7.2.4 Calculating the Pitch of Stays
    • 7.2.5 Number of Smoke Tubes
    • 7.2.6 Number of Superheater Flue Tubes
  • 7.3 Using Cadmium Free Silver Solder
    • 7.3.1 Equivalent Products to Silver Solder Containing Cadmium
    • 7.3.2 Changes in Brazing Techniques
  • 7.4 Testing of Locomotive Boilers
  • 7.5 The Cleaning and Maintenance of a Steam Boiler.
• Chapter 8 Injectors by Richard Linkins
  • 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.2 The History of the Injector
  • 8.3 How Injectors Work
  • 8.4 Model Injectors
  • 8.5 Experiences with Injectors
  • 8.6 Fitting Injectors
  • 8.7 Identifying Problems
  • 8.8 The Linden Secret, Re-starting and Lift
• Chapter 9 Bob Underwood
  • 9.1 Introduction
  • 9.2 Fixing Firehole Doors
    • 9.2.1 The Assembled Unit
  • 9.3 Forming Seats on Ball Valves
  • 9.4 Lubrication
  • 9.5 Fabricated Cylinders
  • 9.6 Cutting Multi Start Threads
  • 9.7 A Removable Smokebox
  • 9.8 Tender Mechanical Water Pump
  • 9.9 Modified Regulator
  • 9.10 Steam Injector Valve
  • 9.11 Safety Valve/Top Feed Assembly
  • 9.12 Steam Manifold
• Chapter 10 Battery Operated Locomotives
  • 10.1 Introduction
  • 10.2 The Chassis
  • 10.3 The Electric Motors
  • 10.4 The Control System
  • 10.5 Batteries
• Chapter 11 Building the Railway
  • 11.1 Making the Track
    • 11.1.1 Types of Rail
    • 11.1.2 Types of Sleepers
    • 11.1.3 Bending, Fixing Rail and Joining Rail
  • 11.2 Earthworks
    • 11.2.1 Laying out the track
  • 11.3 Steaming Bays and Movement of Engines
    • 11.3.1 A turntable that elevates
  • 11.4 Making Turnouts
    • 11.4.1 The Crossing Nose
    • 11.4.2 Machining the Switch Blades
    • 11.4.3 Machining the Stock Rails
    • 11.4.4 Assembling all the parts
  • 11.5 Controlling the points
• Chapter 12 Making Rolling Stock
  • 12.1 Wagon Construction
  • 12.2 Coach Construction
    • 12.2.1 The Chassis
    • 12.2.2 The Superstructure
    • 12.2.3 Bogie design
    • 12.2.4 The Buffing System
  • 12.3 Commercial Coaches
• Chapter 13 The Future of Model Engineering and the Development of Tomorrow’s Engineers
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements
• Appendix 1 Design Simulators by Simon Bowditch
  • 1.1 Using Professor Hall’s Program
  • 1.2 Using the Dockstader Program
• Appendix 2 Data Input and Valve Event Tables
  • 2.1 Purley Grange
  • 2.2 Princess Royal
  • 2.3 Lilla
  • 2.4 Britannia
  • 2.5 Simplex
  • 2.6 Speedy
  • 2.7 Didcot
  • 2.8 Class 2 78xxx
  • 2.9 Manor
  • 2.10 Dart
  • 2.11 Class 2T
  • 2.12 Black 5
• Bibliography