Garden Railway Forum

So yesterday I bought myself a PDF Models GVT tram off Fleabay, which has been detailed very nicely by the seller. I've been contemplating about getting the kit but when they were taken off the website I gave up until a new owner came along, then I saw this beauty on eBay and I just couldn't resist (anyone who's watched Spongebob when it first aired will know the scene where he NEEDS water, that was me but with this loco).

Ever since my Dad mentioned that there had been a tramway in the Glyn Ceiriog valley when he drove me to a friend's house, I've always been interested but forgot about it for years and years. That is until lockdown caused me to look it up again, as I had remembered what my Dad had told me and soon I found the pictures and I was HOOKED.

So now I'm the new owner, just waiting for it to be delivered and then I can begin running it. Shame though that I don't have a garden line of my own, being part of the 16mm Association helps but I can only get to places by public transport or with a lift off my friends and I only know of a couple lines near me (Acrefair, Wrexham). One day though I'll get a line, even if just a small one.

I did spot that on eBay. Looks like it's been finished really well. Be interested in hearing about it when it arrives.

Rik

ge_rik wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2024 8:22 am I did spot that on eBay. Looks like it's been finished really well. Be interested in hearing about it when it arrives.

Rik

Hopefully should be here next week, shame though its only 32mm (so it couldn't run with your loco 'Cholmondeley' for example), but I've already got a re-gaugeable Friog Punch so that's fine. I haven't got any GVT stock yet, but I'm looking to get a couple of the brake vans and closed vans for my Mid Sodor stock.

So it arrived safely and is SO nice to look at. Plenty of Trenarren Models brass parts and Light Railway Stores name and works plates, its quite weighty and has a speed controller so it can run at a scale speed.

Just got to find somewhere to run it now...

It does look a beaut!

Rik

Certainly does! I've taken some photos outside in the garden (which isn't very big)

This shows the garden in the snow (I think 2022?)

Don't see many of these GVT locos, Nice to see the builder put some effort into finishing and detailing a 3D-printed kit.

Old Man Aaron wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 2:25 pm Don't see many of these GVT locos, Nice to see the builder put some effort into finishing and detailing a 3D-printed kit.

It was certainly worth it, I just fell in love with it as soon as I saw the photos on eBay. Hopefully the charger I have from a previous loco will work though!

tommygander1941 wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 6:17 pm

Old Man Aaron wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 2:25 pm Don't see many of these GVT locos, Nice to see the builder put some effort into finishing and detailing a 3D-printed kit.

It was certainly worth it, I just fell in love with it as soon as I saw the photos on eBay. Hopefully the charger I have from a previous loco will work though!

It is indeed a thing of beauty. I think I prefer this version with the upswept front roof supports

Rik

Question about this type of loco, what was the reasoning behind covering up the wheels?

GAP wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:59 pm Question about this type of loco, what was the reasoning behind covering up the wheels?

The usual explanations I have heard are to protect passers-by from the connecting rods and motion when running in the road, and to prevent startling horses from the sight of the same. Condensing equipment was also often mandated for the same reasons. I don't know how well that worked but I have also heard that on some tramways it was unofficial common practice to run with the covers open or removed for easier access.

drewzero1 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 3:01 am

GAP wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:59 pm Question about this type of loco, what was the reasoning behind covering up the wheels?

The usual explanations I have heard are to protect passers-by from the connecting rods and motion when running in the road, and to prevent startling horses from the sight of the same. Condensing equipment was also often mandated for the same reasons. I don't know how well that worked but I have also heard that on some tramways it was unofficial common practice to run with the covers open or removed for easier access.

Yes, quite right. The condensing apparatus was removed from the Glyn Valley locos very soon afterwards as it adversely affected the locos' performance. Also, horses very soon became inured to all things mechanical especially as traction engines and horseless carriages took to the roads.

Rik

ge_rik wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 8:29 am

drewzero1 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 3:01 am

GAP wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:59 pm Question about this type of loco, what was the reasoning behind covering up the wheels?

The usual explanations I have heard are to protect passers-by from the connecting rods and motion when running in the road, and to prevent startling horses from the sight of the same. Condensing equipment was also often mandated for the same reasons. I don't know how well that worked but I have also heard that on some tramways it was unofficial common practice to run with the covers open or removed for easier access.

Yes, quite right. The condensing apparatus was removed from the Glyn Valley locos very soon afterwards as it adversely affected the locos' performance. Also, horses very soon became inured to all things mechanical especially as traction engines and horseless carriages took to the roads.

Rik

I had thought the skirts were a requirement for locomotives running on or alongside public thoroughfare. I have also (perhaps naively) thought that this also defined 'trams'?

The Wantage Tramway had an England 0-4-0 WT and a Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST, neither of which had any wheel/motion coverings and both ran along the roadside from the Wantage town terminus to Wantage Road station on the GWR, a distance of approx 2 miles. (they did also have a couple of 'skirted' locos)

I think the requirements were relaxed after a while. In much the same way as early road vehicles were originally required to have a man walking in front holding a red flag.

Rik

Thank you all for the explanations.
Now its back to the original thread apologies for the drift.

GAP wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 9:11 pm Thank you all for the explanations.
Now its back to the original thread apologies for the drift.

To be fair it wasn't too much of a drift, more a tangent related to the prototype. In reality it was the requirements of the 1870 Tramways Act (unfortunately most of which has been overwritten in recent times, so there's no real place to find the original conditions that had to be adhered to), whereby everything must be covered from view to 4 inches above the rail level