Converting a Mamod into a 7/8" scale locomotive.

Bill/Rubery · Post by **Bill/Rubery** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:13 pm

My old Roundhouse 'Millie' is a wonderful locomotive however I wanted a geared 7/8" scale locomotive to go into the companies engine shed. I purchased a Mamod 'Brunel' Mark Two with the improved lower gearing and other things. After much time down the shed 'Jakarna' is now up and running. The locomotive looks very nice from a distance as well as close-up. As the engine only costs around £360+ I now have a great locomotive for a good price....its also FULLY 7/8" scale...no half measures!

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:17 pm

That looks very nice, Bill. How far out does the bucket-on-the-blowdown valve sit? I suspect it could be vulnerable on lines with tight clearances..............

Bill/Rubery · Post by **Bill/Rubery** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:28 pm

Hello Brian, All the lines I visit on/in the new South Birmingham and Soiihull local 16mm Association group now know how much room I need to get around their lines! On my own line there is LOADS of room....

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:23 pm

I thought that might be the case!

Regarding Rubery, my maternal grandmother lived on Kendal Rise Road, two tram stops from the Rubery terminus, and I remember going there on the tram...............

Bill/Rubery · Post by **Bill/Rubery** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:00 pm

Hello Brian, I live within walking distance of that road. Did you walk up the local hills? The hills result in a sloping garden and a raised garden railway!

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:42 pm

We used to walk up Ashill Road through what started out as a building site along what is now Edgewood Road, through to Lickey Road, then past the Rednal tram terminus to the Lickey Hills................

kandnwlr · Post by **kandnwlr** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:45 am

Bill/Rubery:108510 wrote:My old Roundhouse 'Millie' is a wonderful locomotive however I wanted a geared 7/8" scale locomotive to go into the companies engine shed. I purchased a Mamod 'Brunel' Mark Two with the improved lower gearing and other things. After much time down the shed 'Jakarna' is now up and running. The locomotive looks very nice from a distance as well as close-up. As the engine only costs around £360+ I now have a great locomotive for a good price....its also FULLY 7/8" scale...no half measures!

Very nice rebuild. It would be nice to see her in steam!

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:31 am

That drain valve does stick out a lot, and is one thing on my Brunel's 'To Do' list when I fit a Mike Wakefield modified lubricator as I'll probably need to rotate the boiler as well.

Nice conversion Bill. It does show that the Brunel, just like the RWM De Winton, are more suitable for 7/8ths scale.

I guess if we actually had a correct height boiler for these 16mm scale De Winton locomotives it would have a very short running time without the continuous use of a water top up valve.

Chris Cairns

Bill/Rubery · Post by **Bill/Rubery** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 6:51 am

Hello Chris, I find Jakarna has a quite a long run anyway. I paint calibrations on the regulator and gas controls. Doing this I now know exactly how much to turn up the gas without getting 'flame-creep' out of the burner. As the amount of gas used is not much the runs last a long time! I have to hand it to Mamod Ltd. as along with filling the boiler with boiling water the gas runs out with one quarter a inch of water showing on the water level gauge! I suppose things might be a bit different with a heavy load behind the engine as regards to keeping up steam pressure...I will do that after another...say ten runs to get the engine fully run in.

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Converting a Mamod into a 7/8" scale locomotive.

Converting a Mamod into a 7/8" scale locomotive.

Re: Converting a Mamod into a 7/8" scale locomotive.

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