Gauge 3. The forgotten gauge for live steam

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main131

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Gauge 3 has been around for over 100 years and still a mystery for some
The video shows a Bassett-Lowke Flying Scotsman (all fired up) and is itself over 50 years old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuklxoABETw
The other engine seen running was made by a member ten years or so ago.
I would be happy to communicate any info. on this (forgotton) gauge should anyone be curious.
bbe534fa345742f0b082b873ec2c24d5.jpg
 
main131 said:
Gauge 3 has been around for over 100 years and still a mystery for some
(snip)
I would be happy to communicate any info. on this (forgotton) gauge should anyone be curious.
Click to expand...
Not forgotten around GSC, I think. Checkout YB281's latest transfer siding on the WGLR.....
This link is worth a look: http://www.gauge3.org.uk/
There also GRS' perennial Gauge 3 set of offerings: http://www.grsuk.com/index.asp?dept/dept.asp
 
Very impressive. Am I right in thinking that gauge 3 is as big as you can go before the driver has to 'ride on'?
 
Whilst I am open to correction that looks suspiciously like Grange Road although some considerable changes have been made since my last visit a few years ago.
railwayman198 said:
Very impressive. Am I right in thinking that gauge 3 is as big as you can go before the driver has to 'ride on'?
Click to expand...
There are some people who use their 3.5" and 5" gauge railways as 'scenic' lines but I believe in general G3 is considered the largest scenic scale where locos are designed and built purely for scenic running rather than for passenger hauling.
 
whatlep said:
main131 said:
Gauge 3 has been around for over 100 years and still a mystery for some
(snip)
I would be happy to communicate any info. on this (forgotton) gauge should anyone be curious.
Click to expand...
Not forgotten around GSC, I think. Checkout YB281's latest transfer siding on the WGLR.....
This link is worth a look: http://www.gauge3.org.uk/
There also GRS' perennial Gauge 3 set of offerings: http://www.grsuk.com/index.asp?dept/dept.asp
Click to expand...
As Peter says, I always wanted a gauge 3 interchange siding on my railway and have achieved it recently. I only have an 8' siding, but am looking forward to accumulating more rolling stock.

G3 has it's own society who have an annual exhibition.
http://www.gauge3.org.uk/
 
There is also The National 21/2" Gauge Association of which I have been a member for a few years which build locos for passenger carrying. My reason for joining was that I was given a set of frames some partially finished pistons and various wheels, it would seem that the frames were for an Atlantic [4-4-2] but with outside valve gear.I don't think any of the railway companies had an outside valved Atlantic so this is probably someones experimental idea, which makes sense as all the oiling is outside as opposed to crawling between the frames.
I have now bought most of the materials for the boiler and a set of wheel castings plus a set of plans for Ayesha [LBSCs first coal fired passenger hauling loco for 21/2" gauge] which it was based on. When I get the time I will carry on where who ever it was left off.

Shaun.
 
Oh, the LNER had one Shaun, a Gresley rebuild of an Ivatt. It had 4 cylinders, but I think was rebuilt again with 2.
 
Yup:--

In 1914, http://www.lner.info/eng/gresley.shtml < Link To Gresley rebuilt No. 279 (LNER No. 3279) with four 15in diameter cylinders using simple expansion. A new front end was fitted. All four cylinders drove the rear coupled axle. A second-hand boiler was fitted. This had a 24-element Robinson superheater fitted, and the boiler pressure was reduced from 175psi to 170psi. The boiler needed replacing in 1928, so the boiler from No. 3292 (withdrawn in January 1927) was fitted. A completely new boiler was fitted in 1932, with a deep firebox, 32-element superheater, and Ross pop safety valves. A final rebuilt occurred in 1937, when it was decided to convert No. 3279 as a two cylinder locomotive with http://www.lner.info/locos/K/k1k2.shtml < Link To K2-pattern (20in x 26in) cylinders and modern steam passages.
 
Thanks for that Neil, I will look for some pics so that I can see what I am up against.
Shaun.
 
Found a picture of it as LNER 3279 thanks for the info.

Shaun.
 
yb281 said:
Just wondering - as Gauge 3 is the standard gauge "brother" of G, would it be an idea to have a standard gauge section on this forum? Maybe to also include G standard gauge rolling stock?

Just an idea.
Click to expand...

I like that idea. I have put it to the other Mods for their opinions. The work to add a new section requires Paul, so it'll depend on his workload.
 
whatlep said:
yb281 said:
Just wondering - as Gauge 3 is the standard gauge "brother" of G, would it be an idea to have a standard gauge section on this forum? Maybe to also include G standard gauge rolling stock?

Just an idea.
Click to expand...

I like that idea. I have put it to the other Mods for their opinions. The work to add a new section requires Paul, so it'll depend on his workload.
Click to expand...

Fair play mate, thanks.
 
TLR said:
Thanks for that Neil, I will look for some pics so that I can see what I am up against.
Shaun.
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

Sorry for drifting the thread, Trevor!:nail:
 
ceejaydee said:
Whilst I am open to correction that looks suspiciously like Grange Road although some considerable changes have been made since my last visit a few years ago.
railwayman198 said:
Very impressive. Am I right in thinking that gauge 3 is as big as you can go before the driver has to 'ride on'?
Click to expand...
There are some people who use their 3.5" and 5" gauge railways as 'scenic' lines but I believe in general G3 is considered the largest scenic scale where locos are designed and built purely for scenic running rather than for passenger hauling.
Click to expand...

Chris
You are faily accurate with you comments here although the venue is not Grange Road anymore. Same railway but moved two streets away!
The thing to remember with Gauge 3 is the track gauge which is 63.5mm, (more or less 2 1/2") With the resurgence about 20 years ago some members ran locos and stock to 1/2" scale, and some still do to this day. Bing, Carrette B/lowke Leeds Model...collectors pre WW2 models mostly spirit fired. The big change came mainly with new drawings by LBSC namely Curly Lawrence, coal fired and to 17/32 scale which being larger were easier to fire. The 2 1/2" Society harnessed the extras power, built raised tracks and drove them sitting behind on a trailer.
The old G3 carried on with a scenic situation and drove from the cab
More recently electric versions have been available from GRS and referred to as G64 and you will see the influence of this on the present G3 website
The forgotten gauge that I refer too is mainly the exclusive live steam 'meets' which is illustrated with the Scotsman and the video. This was in fact a boiler test day for standards set by the Southern Federation
 
Gauge 3 is not (quite) the forgotten scale down here. I started building a Gauge 3 layout because I have a G scale, narrow gauge layout with buildings, etc. and I wanted to run some standard gauge next to the narrow gauge. Gauge 1 would have been easier but would have looked out of scale. So Gauge 3 it was although I have to buy all my kits and bits from the UK.

The photo shows my Gauge 3 layout as far as it has got so far. I have another five Brunel viaduct piers to build before extending into a loop.

1522f550a9814b36b3fcec049ec79736.jpg


The other photo shows the power bogie for a GWR Steam railmotor I am building by converting a GRS autocoach back to the railmotor the prototype started as. The boiler is from Finescale Engineering and most of the other bits are Roundhouse.
414e1a6660fa4268a9894fa12dface1c.jpg


Peter
 
Glendale Junction has 2 G3 GRS loco's on its secondhand section at the moment
http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/Secondhand.html < Link To http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/Secondhand.html
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]4F Tender Loco [/font]
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]& [/font]
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]British Rail Pannier tank Loco[/font]
[font="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"]Both look very neat from the pic's[/font]
 
Rob s said:
Glendale Junction has 2 G3 GRS loco's on its secondhand section at the moment
http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/Secondhand.html < Link To http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/Secondhand.html
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]4F Tender Loco [/font]
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]& [/font]
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]British Rail Pannier tank Loco[/font]
[font="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"]Both look very neat from the pic's[/font]
Click to expand...
Must admit I'd have gone for the pannier tank were it not for the pending arrival of the Countess.
 
yb281 said:
Rob s said:
Glendale Junction has 2 G3 GRS loco's on its secondhand section at the moment
http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/Secondhand.html < Link To http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/Secondhand.html
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]4F Tender Loco [/font]
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]& [/font]
[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]British Rail Pannier tank Loco[/font]
[font="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"]Both look very neat from the pic's[/font]
Click to expand...
Must admit I'd have gone for the pannier tank were it not for the pending arrival of the Countess.
Click to expand...
Whilst I may have popped into Glendale earlier today ;) I daren't look at either loco; the Pannier is very practical and the 4F is one of my favoured classes but if I saw them in the flesh then I would not be able to resist regardless of whether I could afford or not 8D

I think I may still go for a 48DS kit when I've sold a few other bits (smaller scales and other hobbies) then maybe I'll get around to assembling those wagons I have.

G3 will be a(nother!) retirement project for me I think.
 
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