Live Steam - Next locomotive advice

Huw Jones

Huw Jones

Registered
Evening All,

When I got into garden railways last year I promised myself that I wasn't going to get into Live Steam as the locomotives are just too damn pricey, and I'd be quite happy running electric locos around the track whenever I got it finished.

Well this year has seen a completed track, and now we have electric to that track for running more than just battery locomotives, and unfortunately I allowed myself to be tempted by a too-good-to-turn-down offer on a Live Steam locomotive, an Accucraft 'Ruby'

That has has two effects........
1. I now lust after Live Steam locos
2. I'm frustrated as heck by the Ruby as it does seem to be a bit of a live wire no matter what I do to try and tame it

So........

I'm on the hunt for something new.

Now two options keep coming back to me:
1. An Accucraft Quarry Hunslet in 7/8ths (not bothered about the scale, but I adore the little Hunslets) when one turns up secondhand.
2. A Roundhouse classic range loco, probably a 'Billy' or a 'Lady Anne'

The issues are:
1. The Accucraft although I adore the model apparently will only go round 760mm radius curves. Is that definitely the case? Because my limited space layout only has 600mm R1 curves on it and I'd be scuppered before I even start.
2. The Roundhouse Locos blow my budget! I'd be considering the kit versions. I've built Backwoods Miniatures 009 kits for years so my brass soldering is easily up to the task, and I have a 2.4ghz RC transmitter for one of my RC cars to run an RC version of the locos.

Essentially my wife and I are going through IVF once more, so any train funds have to come out of sales of bits around the house (eBay to the rescue) and I think that once I sell my 'Ruby' and a stack of other assorted bits and bobs, I can maybe hope to have £1000 to play with for the right loco.

So if the Accucraft won't go around the R1 corners which Roundhouse should I go for? I think the 'George' is available as a kit as well as 'Billy' and 'Lady Anne'.

Thanks for any help you may have.
 
Welcome to the dark side Huw. You will now get an avalanche or advise. So as I'm here I'll kick off.

Your choices are limited by the use of R1's. It's going to be a short wheelbase 0-4-0 or nothing. Have a word with Roundhouse, Accucraft UK or a reputable live steam dealer, say Anything Narrow Gauge (just a happy customer). They will at least be able to tell what they know can work with that set up.

Don't dismiss a good second hand loco to help you stretch your budget. Roundhouse is probably the safest bet there, IMAO, as there have a full spares service and everybody understands their range. By the way there isn't much soldering on a live steamer kit. The important stuff, boiler and fittings, is done and the rest bolts or folds up for the finished item.

Oh,and if you aren't already a member join the 16 mm NGM association.They cover just about anything from 7/8ths scale to 1:32 running on 45 & 32 mm track. Main thing is they are the main group for live steam in this arena. Hope this helps, Max.
 
My brother's first live steamer was an Accucraft caradoc which he liked but was kind of hard to control. Later he bought a Roundhouse George loco. This is so much better to operate and the Accucraft loco has pretty much remained unused since the Roundhouse loco appeared.
Based on this I bit the bullet and bought a Lady Anne. Yes she was expensive but she looks great and runs brilliantly.
 
You say your Ruby is a bit 'live wire', is it R/Ced? If it is then perhaps consider fitting a Slo-mo, to bring it under control. It may also not have been fitted with a slower acting regulator, if it was not factory R/C fitted. These are available as a separate item (I forget who from ATM).

Another trick is to run at a lower pressure, it won't pull as much but will be more controllable.
 
Many thanks for the replies folks.

The 'Ruby' is a good little starter locomotive, but to be honest it's not worth spending loads of money on it as it will do nothing for the resale value (it's just throwing money away essentially), and if I'm honest I'm not that fond of American outline locomotives, and inside frames. I've already tried a new regulator in the 'Ruby', and I've tried a multitude of different ways to run it (lower pressure, less movement on the Johnson bar etc) and it still either shoots off like a rocket, or won't get up the slightest gradient. This problem is down to the cylinders apparently, but trying to get hold of the 1/2" cylinders nowadays is like mission impossible.

I talked to Roundhouse on Saturday and they say that even the 0-6-0 of 'Lady Anne will go round R1 curves due to the lack of flanges on the Centre driving wheels.
 
SloMo advice is sound if Ruby can be fitted. Also RC, perhaps that would be your Budget. Another option if you are timid about the changes to your Ruby would be to look at a Geared Locomotive. These will trundle around quite happily and at a sedate speed. I have a couple of Regner Locomotives, Otto and Konrad. Willi and Vincent also fit the bill nicely and pricewise appear to be sub £700 if you can get them. All those 4 are geared and with the Gas Filler Valve changed to a Ronson one (less than a fiver) run and work pretty well. There do appear to have been uplifts in Regner of Price since I got mine,mthough this is probably more likely due to the continued devaluation of the pound against the euro.
JonD
 
Huw Jones said:
Many thanks for the replies folks.
I talked to Roundhouse on Saturday and they say that even the 0-6-0 of 'Lady Anne will go round R1 curves due to the lack of flanges on the Centre driving wheels.
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If Roundhouse say it will go round R1's then it will go round R1's. Just watch out on the coupling to stock round that curve so things don't get dragged off the rails.

I started with a Lady Anne (10 years ago, only just sold it).They are probably one of the best, and most numerous, starter locos you can get. You will be able to pick up a good R/C one for well under £1,000 2nd hand.

The basic design has been around a long time and gone through a lot of development so make sure if you buy to check the age/spec and that it suits your needs. Roundhouse should be able to verify if you can get hold of the chassis #. Max.
 
jae_dunford said:
SloMo advice is sound if Ruby can be fitted. Also RC, perhaps that would be your Budget. Another option if you are timid about the changes to your Ruby would be to look at a Geared Locomotive. These will trundle around quite happily and at a sedate speed. I have a couple of Regner Locomotives, Otto and Konrad. Willi and Vincent also fit the bill nicely and pricewise appear to be sub £700 if you can get them. All those 4 are geared and with the Gas Filler Valve changed to a Ronson one (less than a fiver) run and work pretty well. There do appear to have been uplifts in Regner of Price since I got mine,mthough this is probably more likely due to the continued devaluation of the pound against the euro.
JonD
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The only Regner I've seen in action was very poor. The owner had to tinker with it all of the time. I think it was a problem with the burner but I was distinctly unimpressed.
 
I agree that money spent on Ruby is unlikely to be returned, but then I'm always a 'reluctant seller' anyway. If you like Lady Anne (I do, though I'd prefer a Silver Lady), then go for it. It will come as a kit to keep the price down or as Max says there are S/H ones about. It seems an easyish R/C convert if you can only find a manual.

I think L.A. is a good representation of a typical branch line loco, so gets away with not being prototypical admirably. One is certainly on my list when the whim and funds allow.
 
I have just started in the 'larger scale' having worked in 009 for years so I have very little experience of live steam, but my first live steam purchase was a second hand Roundhouse R/C Lady Anne, - a couple of months ago - so far it has only run on R1 curves, no problems at all.
As someone else said it works like an 0-4-0 as the centre wheels are flangeless. Also a Slo-mo should be available for the Lady Anne this year.
Steve
 
Huw may I suggest a completely different locomotive. It is a 1/32 scale Accucraft S12 0-6-0 Southern Pacific switching locomotive. The blind centre driving wheels mean the it can go around R1 albeit in not the most elegant way as its front and back stick out but it is a fine model and looks really good with a set of box cars or other freight. i reckon you should be able to pick one up second hand for around a grand. I am completely bias on this as i have one but the great thing is that it looks the part if you are ever able to get a chance to run on a big track. Just a thought. Phil
 
chris m01 said:
The only Regner I've seen in action was very poor. The owner had to tinker with it all of the time. I think it was a problem with the burner but I was distinctly unimpressed.
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Have to say both of my Regners run well. Burners can be tempramental in many locs, perhaps the guy was not that experienced or had a loco that he was still getting to grios with. Having said tgat Roundhouse are thouroughly reliable, but without a SloMo can run away. I know have had 4 in my time and none were particularly satisfactory for steady shunting, or running up hill and down hill with smooth adjustments. But now that Jack has a Slomo it is transformed.

I suggested a Regner for the reason that Huw wanted something that was not a 'live wire'.

Oh by the way, I appear to have two sign on's. Must try to loose one somehow.
JonD
 
I have two geared Regner's, a Lumber Jack and an Otto and both as sweet runners. Otto is a dog to light and settle the burner but once settled it's a lovely runner and would cope with R1's fine. The burner on the Lumber Jack is no worse or no better than the burners on the two Accucraft locos I have.
 
You've opened the lid of Pandora's box here, you will get a ton of advice based on everyone's favourite loco's.

I would recommend NOT making a decision in advance.

I would suggest going to as many live steam meets as you can! You're bound to find a fellow enthusiast with a loco that suits you "in the flesh".

Then again networking will probably find you someone prepared to sell you the same.

Anyway best of luck.

I'm up to 7 Live steamers now, but like you started out with track powered electric.

As others have said "Welcome to the "DARKSIDE"
 
Huw Jones said:
.
I talked to Roundhouse on Saturday and they say that even the 0-6-0 of 'Lady Anne will go round R1 curves due to the lack of flanges on the Centre driving wheels.
Click to expand...

Lady Anne, Billy, Katie. George will certainly go round R1 curves, but points are a different story.
From my own experience on R1 points, the finer flanges fall into the frog gaps.
It's possible to shim the opposite check rails, but you can then have trouble with G scale flanges.
R3 points seem OK, probably due to the different angle of attack.

Re Slo-mo, Ruby has inside valve gear, and can not be so fitted. The Slo-mo has to be towed in a wagon or tender.

Don't mean to preach doom & gloom, but I've been there with Stanley.
 
I had the great good fortune to pick a Roundhouse 'Atlantic' as my first complete beginners venture into garden railways - and to this day it remains my favorite loco.

Since then I've aquired futher live steamers from Roundhouse, Bowande and Accucraft and they all have their good and bad points - but if I want a nice relaxing trouble free session on the track, I will invariably pick a Roundhouse loco.

They just - 'do what it says on the tin' - with non of the hassle and fiddling about that I experience with all the others. Just perfect for a newcomer to live steam who's not looking to have their operating skill challenged all the time.
 
I had a Regner Lumber Jack I built from a kit and it ran perfectly. Being a geared loco it can run very realistically without RC and climb grades. I am building a RH Billy and will be adding the slo mo and rc. I built a Billy in the 90's and it was an excellent steamer. I read they can pull 28#.image6.JPG
 
Thank you all so much for the advice.

Thanks for the pointer on the Southern Pacific loco Phil, but one of the reasons for not doing all the work on 'Ruby' is because I'm not a fan of American outline locomotives. I grew up in Wales with dinky little quarry locos and that's where my first love will always be.

I was very tempted by a 'George' kit from Roundhouse, but then a gentleman got in touch about this.......

E5FE2D61-AC89-48FF-A496-782D23F44EC0.jpg


Sorry......but I'm a sucker for Quarry Hunslets

Now to work out if I order nameplates in brass for 'Winifred', or (after the astounding news today!) do I get some made up with 'Nesta' on them? Either loco will need lining in Penryhn colours to finish them off
 
Great choice, Huw. I see it has draincocks fitted so possibly owned by an enthusiast. Mine is fitted with a modified burner, Train Dept. gas control and regulator and double 'O' ring pistons.
Just make sure it runs nice and slow without stalling; some (mine included) had to go back to Accucraft for remedial work but is now superb. Accucraft are very helpful and will carry out the work at no cost; not even carriage.
Here is a photo of my Hunslet fitted with a Simon Harris cab and radio control.

Dave.
 

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