inside framed locos

[Brandon F]

I've been looking through the current offerings in 16mm, and it seems that most of the locos that are available represent larger prototypes. This is understandable considering that a larger loco is much easier to engineer and fit with radio control, etc. However I've always preferred the tiny, inside framed locos, in particular the engines of the Talyllyn and Corris Railways, yet there seem to be relatively few locos available that fit my taste. because I plan on modelling a slate railway, I'm trying to find an available loco that fits my criteria of being an inside framed engine with slide valve cylinders and is either an 0-4-0 or and 0-4-2, or at least a loco that would be a good starting point for modification to create such a loco. Besides maybe a roundhouse basic series loco, or a Mamod, is there any available model, be it second hand or being currently produced, that has these features, is relatively small in size, and has the potential for RC to be fit?

[funandtrains]

The now discontinued Roundhouse Tom Rolt would be one of the few locos that are of that size, there have been /are other made by small makers with prices tags to match. If you can one a Roger Marsh / Maxwell Hemmens Ogwen would be a good option but not having been made for 20 years are quite sort after.

[Sir haydn]

You are quite correct in your findings, there are not too many inside framed locos on the market. The nearest to what you are looking for would have been roundhouses 'Tom Rolt' which is now a discontinued model but you may pick one up through a supplier such as brandbright. The best way to go is a bertie chassis, my dad has built and marketed corris huges Nos 1,2 and 3 as well as 'Sir Haydn' built on this chassis which works out quite well. If you are so minded roundhouse will sell you the hackworth valve gear and inclinded cylinders for you to build corris/TR 4, again its been done. If you are feeling really adventurous Roundhouse may still supply you with the taliesin power bogie which is a very nice bit of kit! With a little shortening you can build TR No1 on this chassis or a full valve gear corris huges. If you look on the second hand market a John Prescott 'Robin' would be the loco to look for, or Simon Whenmouth had a full RC well chuffed 'Archie' which would suit your desire.

[Brandon F]

Thank you for your advice! If I were to go the route of building my own engine, I'd really like to have a model of TR No. 1 in the condition it arrived in (0-4-0, no cab) I've always really liked the way the engine looked like that, and it seems that a Taliesin power bogie would be relatively easy to fit RC to as you would have control of both regulator and reverser, which can't be said for Roundhouse Basic engines

[Sir haydn]

Yes, you can fit Tony Sant 'Dolgoch' wheels to the chassis to give them the correct appearance too! The reverser servo sits between the frames then you just have the squeeze the rest in the cab. Our No 1 really is a squeeze but it works and its all nice and neat.

[Brandon F]

If I may ask, did you have to produce a new boiler for your model? I understand that bodywork, smokebox, bufferbeams, etc would have to be machined, but is there a proprietary boiler that would be suitable?

[funandtrains]

You would be better off switching to 45mm gauge track and using 7/8 scale, you could then use the relatively low priced Accucraft Ruby and Regner Frieda chassis.

[Sir haydn]

My dads boilers are all built to his own drawings by Tony Sant at finescale engineering. His bufferbeams on No 1 are wood with metal braces as on the prototype, the rest was all turned and metal bashed.