Garden Railway Forum

Need to know where to put the water in

Welcome Frank.
I'm afraid that to answer that question, we would need a fair bit more information. The model loco manufacturer, the prototype name ( if there is one) or the model name, would be a start. Is it a tender loco or a tank engine, that might give those who know about these things a clue to answer your question.

tank locomotive

Thanks, you are a big help.

There is a check valve on the boiler visible in front of the side tank. One side or the other should have a pump handle fitting to pump water into the boiler. I have a 3.5-inch gauge "Tich " by LBSC and this is how mine works. The tank hatch on the right side of my engine has a pump hand fitting and you attach an extension on the pump and away you go. My pump was used to do a hydrostatic test for leaks, and it pumps up to 120 PSI for the test.
Charles M

Great Info....Now I know where to look.
Do I need some external pump to fill the boiler with water. How would l get a pump like that?

It looks like I have a “Juliet” an LBSC 0.4.0 Steam Locomotive. Any info on how to add water to it. and how to add a pressure gauge?

Frank, I know very little about the intricasies of kit built steam loco's, but looking at the state of yours from that photo, I would say that it needs a fair bit of work before you could even think about steaming it.
From the very sensible questions you've asked I'm guessing that it has no instructions or other paperwork, especially a boiler test certificate? Without having the boiler test I think it would actually be illegal, and possibly suicidal, to steam it up.

If you haven't already, do a google search for simply " LBSC Juliette" and you will get loads of hits from companies selling them in all sorts of stages of build, and/or the drawings and photos, and /or components like gauges.

Or, if you have a Model Engineering Society track somewhere near, you could take it down to them and I'm sure you'll be welcomed and get tons of expert advice.

Rik

Frank,
At 24 seconds into that video also at 2 min 11 secs you will notice what appears to be a pump handle sticking up from the near side tank water hatch indicating a pump fitted inside the tank. At a guess I would also say that looking at the loose fit of the steam dome there may be a filler cap underneath for the initial fill of the boiler.
Rik's info about at least a hydraulic test on the boiler is sound advice.
Grant.

Good advice.
I wasn't planning to steam it up I just wanted to attempt to clean the water gauge out so planned to added some white vinagar into the boiler to let it dissolve sediments.

LNR wrote: ↑Fri Sep 05, 2025 8:09 am Rik's info about at least a hydraulic test on the boiler is sound advice.
Grant.

Thanks Grant
But it was Philip who suggested the boiler test

Rik

Thanks Philip, for all your help

ge_rik wrote: ↑Fri Sep 05, 2025 6:02 pm

LNR wrote: ↑Fri Sep 05, 2025 8:09 am Rik's info about at least a hydraulic test on the boiler is sound advice.
Grant.

Thanks Grant
But it was Philip who suggested the boiler test

Rik

well, excuse me for making a mstake..I didn't know how to add a comment to a particular user but only after the last comment. You are too much

Frank, Don't take offence, please.

Grant mistakenly attributed the comment that I made about a boiler test, to Rik.
Rik then corrected Grant. Nobody criticised you at all.

However, fyi, if you want to quote a portion of somebody's post in a reply simply click the little inverted comma's icon [ " ] at the top rh corner of the original post first. Then you can delete anything you don't want to quote and write whatever else you want to add, as long as it is outside the [/quote] .

FrankWest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 05, 2025 6:22 pm well, excuse me for making a mstake..I didn't know how to add a comment to a particular user but only after the last comment. You are too much

Hi Frank. It wasn't a criticism of you at all. I was responding to Grant's message. I didn't want to take credit for the suggestion about getting the boiler tested which Philip made.

Rik

ok, I was enjoying this forum until I was corrected, In every forum there is always someone there to spoil the fun.

FrankWest wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 1:31 pm ok, I was enjoying this forum until I was corrected, In every forum there is always someone there to spoil the fun.

Hi Frank
I honestly don't think anyone has corrected or criticised you as far as I can see.
Please carry on enjoying the forum. We're generally a happy and helpful bunch on here.

Keep asking questions and someone is bound to be able to offer advice. Would be great to see that loco in action.

Rik