3 1/2" Gauge Discussion Group

Just bought a William from a fellow club member. Great engine and light enough to lift out of the car boot and still have pulling power.

Bri

Hi

Perhaps we at the 2.5 Gauge association could help with advise on setting up of your association. We also faced the demise of 2.5 back in the 1970s and a small group held a rally at Cheltenham to see what the response would be. From those early days we have gone on to form the association as it is to day we have rally's from May to September, our main one is at Rugby in the center of the country. Perhaps a joint rally of 2.5 and 3.5 as we share the same rail! what do you think?

Please feel free to visit our website http://www.n25ga.org.uk/

I hope it all comes together Please feel free to PM me if you want any help.

Regards

Simon Clough

Southern Sec N 2.5 Gauge Association

Is anyone building an A4 Pacific in 3 1/2" Gauge ?

hi,

sounds good to me. I have a bantam cock and would like to meet up with other 3 1/2" owners.

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 06/03/2015 10:41:37:

Over the years there has been repeated lamentation of the lack of a society for people interested in 3 1/2" gauge locomotives.

A few abortive attempts have been made to set up a group, or even a forum but none have succeeded.

This thread is an attempt to encourage discussion on a gauge which combines affordability and transportability while still being large enough to haul passengers. This is aimed at electric, steam and other forms of propulsion, which is why it's under the general topic. Also, I hope it could be of interest to those (like me) with wider interests who could find electric 3 1/2" gauge a relatively quick way into this side of the hobby.

If there is sufficient interest participants' could perhaps meet up at rallies or other events, and who knows, eventually a club or society could emerge.

But this is all up to you. perhaps we could start by folks with 3 1/2" gauge models telling us who they are and what locos they have?

sounds good to me.Would like to meet other 3 1/2 owners. I have a Bantam Cock.

Mod edit: rotated photos.

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 25/03/2023 11:14:31

Nice looking Loco, i have also built a Bantam Cock, happy to share experiences.

I am currently building an A4 Pacific and would like to share with other builders.

hi bud,this one was built in 1988 and has never been fired.Hope to do that soon as soon as I can work out the controls??

Terry ! The big handle makes it go. The little screw thingy on the left decides which way. The knob at the bottom of the glass tube is a gauge blow down. The one near the pressure gauge may be the blower. The square nut at the bottom should be the boiler blow down. Top left looks like a feed water control as I think is the bottom left.. Does this help ? Noel.

Hi Noel,thanks for that, There another lever hidden that Ive tracked to the the water cocks on the cylinders and another one just under the cab roof for the whistle. Does the reg. lever have to be fully up or down when firing? Thanks again,Terry

Terry, do try to get along to a club or at least have someone with experience of loco running as there are a lot of little points you need to know to avoid damaging the loco and boiler during start up and cool down.

You should also track down the drawings and articles in ME if you can as they will tell you and show you where the controls are.

Hi, Not really the 'clubby' type tbh? I will try and find the drawings though,thanks.

I also have not run my Bantam Cock, not sure if i will ? Heavily into the A4 Pacific build currently.

Apologies re; orientation of pics

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 07/04/2023 16:41:18

Has anybody run something like a Bantom Cock and can they comment on its performance. I am interested to know because I am over half way through a Rob Roy. I know the performance of a Rob Roy can be a challenge so I am already looking for a second engine when I have finished.

I have two possible routes. The first being a version of Betty (similar size to Bantom Cock). I have castings etc to build one - or even use many of the castings I have to build a bigger tank engine like William. The second option is to build something maybe a bit heavier like a Butch or even a 5" gauge Rob Roy.

I guess my question is that as Rob Roy is a little bit small and light, would I regret the many hours building another 3 1/2 gauge engine?

Phil H

Phil a five inch gauge Rob Roy is basically a Simplex, with my many degrees in hindsight I would build five inch gauge, I have a 3 1/2 Doris black 5 and it goes well enough but I don’t find it as relaxing as a small 5” loco. I have a Rob Roy under the bench that only requires platework to finish, it has sat there for 25 years. In answer to your question, I think you would regret the time and effort.

Thanks Baz for your input. I really appreciate it - comments like yours are very helpful.

I hope you dont mind me asking more. I would imagine that the engines like Doris etc might struggle because of the lack of weight across the axles but do you have the same feeling when it comes to larger 3 1/2" gauge engines - perhaps like 2-6-4 Jubilee by Martin Evans. It looks quite large and has the side tanks. Is there really much difference in performance and lack of adhesion between say Jubilee versus Simplex or Butch?

Phil H

Phil in answer to adhesion that is down to weight of loco on the driving wheels, performance comes down to cylinders and grate area. For me it comes down to relaxed driving, not always having to keep an eye on the fire and the water and the pressure, and of course the signals. I tend to run the 3 1/2 gauge during the week when I have the track to myself without signals, for club running days I prefer a five inch loco, lastly some club members class the smaller gauges as rolling roadblocks, particularly when they are chasing you round on a five inch Black 5 and you are on a small three and a half. Comparing the Jubilee and a Simplex for a start the Simplex will have a grate wider by about inch and a quarter purely because of the difference in gauge. So having said all this what am I currently building.......a 2 1/2 inch gauge Toby 0-4-2. You must build what you like regardless of gauge.

Baz,

Thanks again, another great answer. I think my plan is now to obviously try to complete my Rob Roy but I will go down to my local club and have a chat with some of the members to help guide me towards a second locomotive.

One of the local club members suggested Sweet Pea. I am sure it is a very successful and relatively simple design but I think I would prefer to build something closer to a real engine regarding its appearance. As you say, you need to build what you want. If nothing else, to keep you focused.

Thanks once again.

Phil H

Phil PM sent.

I rotated your pics Richard.