C2 0-6-0 Goods Tender Engine
No 522
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When
this loco first appeared from the dark recesses of my work-bench, sometime around 1987, it
was fitted with a tender drive, via two universal joints to the engine chassis. My main
reason for doing this was to maximise the space available in the engine itself for filling
with lead, to make sure there was plenty of traction available.
This worked well and the engine has run successfully for many years, but unfortunately was known as 'the coffee-grinder' because of the noise of the spur gears in the tender. Without the tender body the loco was reasonably quiet, but adding the body seemed to amplify the noise. My attempts at deadening the sound were a complete failure.
A couple of years ago, I decided that a major refit was the only solution, and the pictures below show the new chassis.
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This
was the original layout, as shown in my articles for MRJ nos 19 and 20. The spur gears are
mounted on a paxolin base, and there are two universal joints, one between the tender and
engine, and the other immediately aft of the worm and wheel gearbox.
The tender has split
axle pick-up. There are no pick-ups on the engine chassis. The drawing below shows the
original layout.)
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The
engine chassis has been reconstructed as split-frame, with my usual copper-clad paxolin
frame spacers, to insulate the side frames. The wheels have 10thou phosphor-bronze wire
soldered to the tyres at one end, and poked into the axle hole at the other. When the axle
is pushed into the axle hole in the wheel this holds the wires in place, and provides the
connection from the tyre to the axle.
I'll post some photographs of this at some point.
This photo also shows my latest acquisition - a 'Bachrus' rolling road. Not cheap, but definitely a worthwhile investment. I bought four sets (three shown here). The concept is very simple. All you need is a length of straight track, adjust the gauge of the rolling road to the track, and position them under the wheels. These rollers will fit any gauge from 11mm to 23mm (TT to S gauge).
Current is picked up from the rails, so no further connections to the loco are required.
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Another
view, showing a bit more detail. I've had to reverse the compensation, by putting the side
beams at the front, to give enough width to fit motor between the frames, in the fire box.
The motor is a small Mashima can, with a Branchlines gearbox.
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A
three-quarter rear view..
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Photographs can be very
cruel, but are also a useful way to check detail. I have now straightened out the bent
lamp iron in front of the chimney, and the safety valve springs! I still have to adjust
the relative heights of the loco and tender.