Locoworks - Bagnall 2-8-2 (wip part 3) - Centring up....

The first attempt at a tender coupling...

was not a success;  the main problem is the way the back of the loco swings out round a curve  - too much for any simple coupling to cope with.

Looking at the real loco this model is based on shows the main drive wheels are more in the centre  the original builder had them too near the front.  Changing it would reduce the cab overhang as it rounds a curve and the 'travel' required for the tender coupling.

Oh well here goes (fingys crossed)... working out the new position.....

Improvised cradle to work on the loco body. More of the under frame had to be removed...

added some chassis positioning and under frame re-inforcing pieces

The chassis re-fitted, now sitting nicely in the middle...

A lot of work, but it looks better and more balanced. A unexpected side effect was to level up the footplate (one more thing off my snag sheet 😀 ).  So now I'll have to redo the the connectors for the front and rear bogies (sigh 😢 ), before I can go back to the loco-tender coupling conundrum.

This loco is definitely a challenge, I like tricky problems ... plenty of tinkering and fettling left to do ...😎

Locoworks - Bagnall 2-8-2 (wip part 2) - Rear Bogey ...

 Decided to have a fiddle with the rear bogey to see if I could fix the last of the clearance problems for tight curves.

cut back the side frame for a bigger slot (easy when the material is plasticard)

then cut a somewhat uneven bit out to allow for better play, to stop it getting stuck as it swings ...

lengthened the connecting bar by 2.5mm so that bogey wheels are centred in the swing gap

Corrections were basically a success, tests on the garage layout gave me mostly free running, a problem with it catching in a couple of other places at extreme edge of the swing as it cornered was easily fixed with a few snips out of the plasticard underframe.

Next job is the tender coupling .....

Locoworks - Bagnall 2-8-2 (wip)

 A first visit to the workshop for the 'big loco'..

The loco which I bought is actually based on a real loco - a Bagnall 2-8-2 similar to this one

(India Railways - Mysore Iron & Steel Company, Bhadravati -2-8-2 steam locomotive Nr. 12 [Bagnall Locomotive Works E2903]).

Taken apart and checking how things fit round tight curves...

front wheel catches and jams a bit.... otherwise looking good

a couple of twisted wires (from an old on/off switch), need sorting out.

The frame, you can see the wear where the wheels rub as they go round. The frame restricts movement so it doesn't go round tight curves....

Part of the plasticard frame marked up and scored ready for removal

all gone....

body refitted and plenty of room for the wheels to move from side to side....

The front wheel problem sorted and the wires soldered; out for trials on the garage layout ....

The loco goes round the tight curves, but the tender won't go with it - the coupling need re-working, also a few other little snags to fettle. Loco back on the shelf for a while - for a 'bit of looking at', while I decide best way to connect the tender.

Line side changes and bolster wagons...

 I felt the telegraph poles I added were a bit too busy, so I cut the top part off. It looks better, before and after pics below...

  

Water tower added to the main station....

Work done to make enough clearance in one corner for the new 'big loco'; walling removed...

marked out new position ...

walling replaced and checked the clearance - about 1cm, enough for the 'big loco' cab to swing out and not touch anything.

Two bolster wagons obtained (off Ebay); I've wanted some for some time but never got lucky and was always outbid. Finally my luck changed and picked these up for £40 each (the last pair I missed went for £75 each).