Model Locomotive Format Matrix

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

I have been debating starting a live steam 5" but find the possible array of options quite difficult to get to grips with in order to make a more refined choice.

Is anyone aware of a spreadsheet that lists things like name/wheel format/valve gear/cylinders/inside or outside/water feeds/designer/plans source/books/articles/casting source etc etc ?

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

A lookup table of models

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I don't know of such a thing, at least not in detail, ether are plenty of summary lists of designs, mostly incomplete.

Is the most important thing choosing a loco you 'connect' with to keep up the enthusiasm when things get sticky or tedious?

Neil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I got a Reeves 2000 Catalogue in with my model engineer at some stage, it has outlines of available locos in 3 1/2, 5', and 7 1/4". Also Steam Waggons, and Traction engines, and steam engines. There is probably a newer Catalogue now.

There is information on each loco.

Ian S C

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

Thanks for these comments.

I will have a look round at Ally Pally and see if Reeves still have this.

Alan

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

Blackgates also list details of loco's in their catalogue … You can download a copy from their website

Dave

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

Hi Alan,

The Reeves website used to include all the details mentioned in the catalogues but has now changed. I would agree that a copy of Blackgate's and Reeves catalogues are indespensible. Both own the copyright to certain designs, with Reeves owning the copyright to all the Don Young designs.

I will trot out my usual advice for a beginner at miniature loco building to avoid something with piston valves and a boiler with a tapered barrel and belpaire firebox.

You did not give any hint as to what you would like to build. As Neil suggested you really ought to be quite taken with a certain loco to keep you going on the project. It also depends on whether you just want something to build or something to run on a club track reliably and efficiently etc.

I have always had a leaning towards a loco that performs well on the club track, especially if it has a copper capped chimney and GWR on the side! Though the rather fiddly current project goes back to the first loco I had a ride behind namely Stepney of the Bluebell Railway, and I have drastically altered Martin Evans' 'Boxhill' design to this end. Others are quite content to produce a loco to a published design without such diversions, and some designs are easier than others.

Ask at a club meeting 'What miniature loco should I build?' and you will get a different opinion from each individual present! Some more informed than others!

Cheers,

Julian

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

Thanks Julian, you seem to be the guru on these matters.

The club I attend has 7/5/3 gauges and the advice is to stick to 5" being not too bulky and not too small and fiddly. I have also been advised on 0-6-0 being more stable to run. This still leaves quite a selection. The next advice was to have as little as possible inside the frames hence my search for more details on each design.

The other problem I perceive from reading the forum is that every published design seems to be beset with errors and omissions that then need chasing down to get an accurate picture of what is to be really built. Even the published books seem to suffer the same problem.

Add to this that everyone you ask has a different opinion with or without hands on knowledge.

Clocks are so much easier …

Thanks again for your comments

Alan

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