I had my first loco running on it's own steam in 23 months, or about 1380 hours. It is not finished, but, I have been having a great time learning to operate it while I finish things up like plate work. I expect I will have about 2500 hours in it by the time it is really finished.
Here were my requirements for a first time locomotive build:
-Proven design, lots of running examples to witness (don't spend time inventing a miniature loco)
-Build articles readily available
-Drawings readily available (with few errors)
-Castings available at reasonable costs (several suppliers had what I wanted)
-Straight barrel boiler (can be made from stock copper pipe)
-Round top firebox (fewer stays)
-Real locomotive type boiler that a person could make himself using only propane and silver solder (no extra special equipment needed)
-Outside cylinders and real reversing gear, (no slip eccentrics or need to push the loco backwards to change direction, also real reversing gear allows for "notching up"
-Reversing gear and all motion works must be on the out side of the frames for easier service and I want to be able to see all of the hard work I have done!
-Tank engine (no tender to build)
-Freelance design (detail level can be determined by the builder, rivet counters need not apply)
-0-6-0 (all wheels are powered for reasonable traction, but, not too many wheels and axles to make)
I have made several changes from the drawings to make for easier service. Cab is separate from the water tanks and running boards. Axle pump can be removed without dropping the wheels. All the piping is easily addressed from the bottom of the loco. Julian helped with a few changes to the boiler and smokebox. The boiler was built entirely by myself using propane and the techniques described by Julian in another forum. My boiler passed it's first hydro in May of 2017.
I also re-gauged this loco from 5" to 4-3/4" to run on the 1" scale tracks in the United States. This required a little re-design of the firebox and the saddle.
The locomotive is of course, a Super Simplex designed by Martin Evans. It runs quite well and notches up nicely. Can't wait to get it to the track this spring.
On last thing, is locomotive building fun? Not really, at least not for me. Much of it is dull, boring, and quite tedious. I am a experienced machinist and this is not the first long time project I have started and will complete.
For me, is is certainly NOT the journey, it is the destination. Operating a real live steam locomotive is everything I imagined and more! It is so fun raising steam, listening, smelling and seeing a sleeping locomotive come to life. It is a thrill for me every time. Then, cracking open the throttle and this little beast has enough power to pull you and a few friends down a miniature railroad track. That is the real fun. I am a patient person, and I knew the work would be well worth the destination.

