Garden Railway Forum

My Bertie arrived today, and it came with many nice surprises!

The box was somewhat bigger than I expected...

I opened it to find

1 x Bertie (all I was expecting)
3 x coaches (nice ones an all!!)
1 x large steam oil
several spares, including an unfitted sight glass (need to check it is all there and then see how easy it is to fit).
1 x pressure gauge (fitted, but not working???)
Water fill bottle
Large syringe
Instructions
Gas fill adaptor

I am one very happy boy! Read through the short but clear instructions while eating dinner and went out to run it. Just ran the engine on its own, and it is fantastic. Derailed a few times, but it is mamod track sat on bark, so not surprised. I need some practice driving, and think it will be happier with something to pull (maybe those 3 free coaches).

The fitted pressure gauge doesn't work though, just stayed at 0 despite the pressure gauge popping. Any ideas?

Excuse me while I grin...



Photos tomorrow hopefully.

BLOODY HELL thats one BIG bargain you got there!!! 3 free coaches too, blimey! That's one hell of a good buy!!! Pics, pics, pics!!!

Looking forward to seeing these coaches! Blast the pressure gauge with compresed air?

Some quick pics...

Fantastic, a neat little train there and an absolute bargain

You're right that GVT coach is beautifel

SillyBilly wrote:You're right that GVT coach is beautifel

lol at least its better than mine!!!

wow great bargain there

Chris wrote:The fitted pressure gauge doesn't work though, just stayed at 0 despite the pressure gauge popping.  Any ideas?

Almost certainly not the pressure gauge at fault, but needs checking. Do you have access to another loco that you could try it on?

More likely to be a blockage in the pipe on the back of the boiler. You will need a stiff piece of wire to clear it, may need to bend the pipe a bit too but do not break it while doing so! Could also be worth filling the boiler with vinegar overnight to see if that will dissolve out any chalky desposits in there, but rinse out thoroughly first before steaming again.

Ran my Bertie again today, only the second time I have ran it. It was towing three carriages, but unfortunately I had a derail and lost one of the joining chains so continued with just two.

Anyway, here we are.

wow nice runner there Chris I like that very much.
thanks for the video

Thanks Graham,

I am so happy with it. I ran it again later in the day towing my mamod rolling stock.

I am getting better at driving it. With my last run the safety valve was just popping occasionally, rather than the whole time, and it was pausing every so often while it built up pressure again, then it would pull away with a chuff-chuff-chuff.

Most expensive steam thing I have bought (by a long way), and I know it isn't very fancy compared to some others, but for me it is fantastic.

Sorry the quality of the video isn't better. My camera doesn't do a very good job, then photobucket makes it a whole lot worse.

Chris the secret I think is to get the burner to the right setting to keep it making steam but not too high to run out of gas and water quickly.
the vid was great mate

It is a very good secondry level loco (like myself with an 'Edrig). If you consider adding some personalised bits may I recomend you purchase Tag Gorton's live steam workshop book very helpful when going around these things for the first time.

ACLR wrote:Chris the secret I think is to get the burner to the right setting to keep it making steam but not too high to run out of gas and water quickly.
the vid was great mate

Indeed, it is surprising how low the burner can be turned down. I nearly had it turned right off for my better last run. Has the added advantage that it makes the burner very quiet so you can hear the steam better.

It actually does a couple of laps or so of my short track after the gas has ran out, just on the pressure left in the boiler.

Chris wrote:Indeed, it is surprising how low the burner can be turned down.  I nearly had it turned right off for my better last run.  Has the added advantage that it makes the burner very quiet so you can hear the steam better.

It actually does a couple of laps or so of my short track after the gas has ran out, just on the pressure left in the boiler.

Fantastic to see it running Chris!! Will bring you many years of pleasure! My Edrig will run nicely at 20psi with the burner turned VERY low, I fitted mesh around the burner as a temporary mod until I get round to making/purchasing a uprated burner, and it makes it a lot quiter (you can only hear it when you put your ear about 20cm from it when its low!!) and spreads the heat more so it keeps steam up.

Oily Rag wrote:Damn! Blast & B%**^^=!

Another £5.00 bid and it would be all mine!

Well done mate! You must be grinning ear to ear.

Roundhouse rules. Hee! Hee!

Eric

If only I had known I would have bid less...

...no, sorry, can't make that sound sincere!

Is a great little loco. Need to sort out the pressure gauge and try and fit the water gauge that came with it, but got other things to be doing at the moment.

WOO-HOO, had a great run with Bertie today on my very little railway, and the pressure gauge worked. Must have just been something blocking the pipe that has now cleared.

Saves me having to try and sort it out anyway.

excellent, any piccies?

great news Chris
yes pics would be great mate