Newbie wondering about 5" loco's worth!?!

Hi all,

Sorry to jump in with both feet here but - I'm considering jumping in with both feet! My names John Edge and I've been a railway modeller in the smaller scales for the past 37 of my 47 years!

I've had a long term love affair with the GWR and steam locos in general to the extent of owning an 0 gauge live steamer and was contemplating gauge 3 (2 1/2" at several times! I'm a member of Manchester Model Railway Society and have been involved with our display at the Northern modelling exhibition (this w/e!) where I have been seriously introduced to large scale modelling! Sorry to mention this (banned?) show but this is where all this happened!

I'm particularly captivated by a GWR 42XX 2-8-0 loco in 5" gauge, especially as the current owner says it will negotiate 16' radius curves, meaning I could actually build an oval of track in my garden to run it on! I'm becoming rather besotted with this loco, hence my haste in researching it!

I hate being ripped off in any way but I have seen some prices of 5" gauge stuff at around £20K so in terms of that - this loco is reasonable (less than half!) BUT - I am very, very green indeed!

I have next to no real engineering experience although I am capable enough to have been able to start producing my own graphite tools business, milling blocks of graphite with a brand new (self taught) CNC desktop milling machine, I am a fairly capable modeller but I appreciate that 'model railways' is a big jump from 'model engineering'.

My questions;

Does anyone think that this loco is worth the asking price (below £10K)?

Does anone think that a newbie shouldn't jump in with such a loco?

I must add that building the track to run this on, won't be too much of a problem, I have the space and the finances (given that I will cancel a different project!).

Many, many thanks indeed if you've read this far and for any responses whatsoever! I will listen even if you say I'm completely mad to consider this!

Thanks again,

John E.

Edited By John Edge 1 on 02/03/2012 23:46:34

John,

You need to get along to your local Model Engineering Society for a face to face chat with someone who can advise you. You won't have to join to get advice as model engineers are an irrepressively friendly bunch. It is likely that the seller if local is a member of one of the local clubs. Manchester being a big place has more than one in the vicinity. You will need to join one anyway to get a serious running track and a boiler certificate. If it doesn't have a current cert walk away.

2-8-0 on 16ft curves - only if you know how to make some new wheels next week. Even if the mid 4 have no flanges the rest will be damaged fairly quickly. Tempting though it is it would be far far more sensible to start off with an 0-6-0 for <3k to learn on.

If you can find a model engineering exhibition to go to locally, say THIS WEEKEND hint hint, it would probably give you a chance to meet some club members and get more advice.

Hi John, Firstly welcome to the forum, Like Bazyle say this will be to big for a track you are planning start with a 0-4-0 or 0-6-0 make sure it has a current boiler cert and all the current paperwork. As sugested you should be able to pick up a nice loco for <3K.

Also as you are a member of a local club ask around.

Bob

Hi Gents,

Many thanks indeed for your wise words and kind welcome! I have now made contact with my local, friendly engineering society and will pop along to visit them shortly. I haven't made any rash decisions regarding this loco yet except that if I were to go ahead, it would only run up & down a fairly straight track at my house, or at a society track!

I actually like the idea of a 5" gauge 'Inglenook'! especially as I love the look of those 5" gauge wagon kits, Mmmmm!

Cheers, John.

"model engineers are an irrepressively friendly bunch"...this is sarcasm, right?

Please, this is NOT sarcasm in any shape or form but..........do your very best to get as much advice as you can and......ask to see the chosen locomotive actually running under steam, or under hydraulic pressure before you part with ANY money. We have at my own club just witnessed yet another purchase that is riddled with faults, just because the buyer did not ask first for an opinion nor a steam run. Boiler certificates are all well and good but can be provided by the unscrupuplus amongst us. Would you buy a motor car without seeing it or running the engine and going for a test drive. Mind you that is not always the answer.

Hi John,

Take as much detail/info as possible from Boiler Cert., contact issuer and verify details. This should show up any fraudulent/stolen cert. Maybe your next step could be to contact Police.If loco stolen and no/out of time cert., it will be much easier to sell with a "new" (forged) cert. If apparently OK, think about joining a club get advice preferably from more than just one member and maybe take one along with you to view loco. Another thing, better you go to venders home rather than other way round. You wouldn`t buy a car from someone parked in a layby with mobile phone, would you? Take care, not everybody is a crook but we never know who is till its too late!! Good luck,John.

Hi John

Don't know where you are but if you are in the vicinity of Manchester, there will be a few of us running down at Urmston tomorrow (Saturday) - Chassen Road, next to Flixton station. I believe there are one or two GWR engines.....

Diane