Aveling Porter Rail Locomotive 15mm / 3 ft gauge

P

persistent_bodger

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You'll have to forgive me as I haven't been on here or posted anything for ages, the only reason being I've been working on my 009 models and haven't had any room for G scale projects. Anyway after taking some of my stock over to a friends for a run on their line, the bug bit again and I have a new project on the go. I said to myself before I purchase any new kits or models I must either finish what I have or sell things to make room. In the big clear out (selling being the preferred option) I found many useful bits that will form a new locomotive build. This has also coincided with the discovery of many lengths of G gauge plastic track that can form quite a lengthy run. I don't have a garden in london but I do have a roof space and balcony where I'll be able to set something up quickly and satisfy my need for a layout. The plastic track is light and doesn't take up any room, so for now I have a trainset waiting for a new battery operated locomotive.

I had considered an electric pickup locomotive but having already built a successfully running battery operated loco I felt I'd have another go and I can run it on what ever track I like (proper LGB track one day in the future) One final decision was made with the discovery of a suitable motor, gearbox and chassis from an old battery operated robot toy, So next was the design?

I made an o gauge Aveling Porter locomotive about 4 years ago and had always wanted a G scale version running as a 3ft gauge prototype. After some searching I decided on the prototype below, basically a traction engine on railway wheels
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/blue_circle.html
Due to the lack of drawings and that this will be narrow gauge, I'll build a freelance version incorporating various details
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The front wheels are from an old wagon I re-wheeled, the back are Backmann Big Hauler centre drivers with a flange added and bearings inserted in the centre. I have 2 Derlin drive cogs and chain, parts from a LGB stainz coupling rod, bits of tubing, a crank modified from an old axle and various small details. I've ordered some rivets and gauges from Cambrian models and I've got a few small sheets of 1.5mm plasticard to build the frames and rest of locomotive. I think this will be a tricky build with plenty of problems but if all goes well I should have a convincing Aveling Porter with working motion, who knows maybe one day I'll try this with a mamod loco.

I've got the evening free so I hope to progress with the frames, If anyone happens to have any pictures of the 3ft gauge version that I think exists in bits at Hollycombe I'd be very grateful.
Best
Tim


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Hello Tim,
looks like a very interesting project.
Good luck and lot of success with it.
Kind regards
Soeren
 
Hi!

There's also one in the LT Museum collection, currently on loan to Quainton Road, I believe. This used to work the Brill branch in the early days. The museum website has some useful pictures.

GH
 
This one was pottering about at Chatham Historic Dockyard the weekend before last...........

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I was just thinking that, must be quite a few making their way into preservation.

Thanks for the links and images everyone, it's very much appreciated. These will be very useful when building the boiler which seems on all to be low slung in the frames. I very much like the small locomotive that is part of the LT museum but its perhaps a little small for the rest of my stock.

I've managed to make some covers for the wheels this evening and begun work on the front chassis/frames. I'll try and get some images up tomorrow when the light is better

thanks everyone

Tim
 
Dtsteam said:
A few more links which may be helpful. The final figure on the last link is reputed to be narrow gauge. Yours is an interesting project and I hope it goes well.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1287524
http://www.australiansteam.com/Polly.htm
http://forum.gn15.info/viewtopic.php?p=79736
http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/16/Frindsbury.htm
Click to expand...
Could well be as the fly wheel sits outside the rail wheels. standard gauge variations are normally the other way round and the fly wheel sits inboard
 
There's also this type - one at Quainton Road, the other in the London Transport Museum, both originally used on the Brill Tramway in Buckinghamshire.
cea7fe8bd9e145f4802d010561f3ef10.jpg
 
Thats an amazing contraption....I like the idea of the flywheel and gearing. They also made a marine version for driving paddle wheels, I'll have to find a picture....
 
Thank you, Some very useful links David, I hadn't seen them before.

The only picture I could find of the Hollycombe one was this below
http://beamishtransport.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/hollycombe.html

After some head scratching I've opted for a standard gauge design similar to 'Blue Circle'. This has substantial frames, so as to hide the motor and looks the most appropriate with the bits I have. It shouldn't look too different from the Hollycombe one only being a little more chunky. Due to the smaller gauge of 3ft I'd guess that the boiler would sit higher in the frames and some of the gearing might appear on the outside of the wheels. The later is a compromise because of space issues but should still add to its charm. I've decided also the best way to treat this build would be to start with a traction engine first to scale and then convert it to a locomotive. This means it will be its own unique design with compromises along the way, I suppose quite prototypical. So tonight I'm going to build the boiler, firbox and rear bunker and graft these onto the gearbox.

Best

Tim
 
I think this was based on the Aveling.I believe the prototype was called Sir Vincent....

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I'd love a live steam version but its way out of my price range.

I progressed a little with the build last night, rear bunker fitted, boiler built up and a trial run of the stretchers to hold the crank and motion. The boiler and rear wheels slide out allowing everything to be painted at a later date. All the work has been done with 1.5mm plasticard and reinforced with box sections, this will be covered in a thin skin carrying rivet detail. The area under the boiler will be paneled over so everything will look more flush and hide the joins between the frame and gearbox.

Tonight I hope to finish the rest of the frames and bunker and begin work on the buffer beams. I've included a picture next to an LGB driver to give a sense of its size
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Tim
 
It's looking good Tim.....:thumbup:
 
Thank you, its getting more like something recognisable than a box of bits.

I made a little more progress sorting out the frames, boiler and rear bunker. The crank and rods have been taken out while I begin work on the cylinders and motion. This will be quite complicated as I'll be bodgeing together LGB rods and 00 cross heads. After looking at various traction engines I've noticed many had quite complex casting and covers over things which I will replicate and hide some of the bodged bits.

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I hope to complete most of the structures and then begin work on the detailed overlays, rivet detail and components

Tim
 
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