BR 55 or G8.1 5" gauge plans

Hi,

I am keen on building a BR 55 0-8-0, I havent found any plans. I think a Nigel Gresley 2-8-0 will be suitable to modify for a BR 55, I did a quick estimate of wheel size and they would seem to be very close also the valve gear looks to be the same.

I have some magazines coming, one has the BR 55 article in it. I will also use a H0 Fleishmann Model to model off.

The question is do I have the patience for this...

Has anyone built a BR55?

Thanks. Ian

Hello,

You may wish to try posting on Panki's Forum - if you have not already done-so - here.

Hans Wittmann has a few plans of German(ic) prototypes for live-steam, mostly in 5". garba.de , I have checked and they do not provide BR55, but the drawings for a suitable tender may be available. Maybe worth an email - perhaps you already know the tender designation(s?) as fitted to BR55?

Live steam service in Germany has castings for some popular 5" gauge German locos but does not 'do' drawings so far as I am aware, but if all else fails may be able to give some leads.

Regards,

Phil.

Thanks Phil,

I have checked out the garba.de, but had not found the Live steam service.

I am a bit green and did not know that tenders had designations as such. When the magazine arrives, I hope it has some good info in it, such as tender designation.

The Tender is a 3 T 16.5

Hopefully your drawings you have are adequate to produce something that looks like the Baureihe 55, but if not - or you want further info' then it may be worth getting in touch with the German Railway Museum, Verkehrsmuseum Nurnberg, as well as trying Panki's Forum for leads. There are some detailed 'picture books' on the class of course as well as t'internet pics and youtube videos.  Basic drawing on this page for example (scroll down).

As you are probably aware, the 16.5 in the tender designation is the maximum water volume in cubic metres, it is very close to some other tender types, so maybe an adaptation of another type will serve you, and/or some common parts like underframe. So, by careful checking and reference you may be able to use or adapt other drawings for the tender if those you have are not adequate.

There may be some reasonably detailed drawings around in 5" gauge/scale as there are some models to this gauge around.

Best of luck,

Phil

Edited By Weary on 24/01/2019 22:29:16

Edited By Weary on 24/01/2019 22:34:43

As an addendum:

Zander-Heba have general arrangement drawings drawn at 1:40 scale of all the Prussian Br55 variants in their catalogue.

The 8.1 is here.

The 3 T 16.5 tender is here.

I only had a brief scan-about, but may be worth you having a good look round the site if you think the drawings may be useful, as, as written above, all the Prussian variants seem to be there.... example. I have not spotted the later DR 'heavier'(??) type, but I expect it may well be there somewhere. Maybe it is one of the types listed on this page showing equivalent classifications and a search in the 'Prussian Freight Locomotives' for the correct Prussian equivalent will turn-up suitable drawings. Alternatively you can ask Zander-Heba of course.

There is this copy of Eisenbahn Journal which is relevant if you do not have it. Click on the lower thumbnail labelled in red 'PDF Dateien' for an list of contents and an excerpt to show you what is in the mag' (Apologies if 'teaching grandmother to suck eggs'!). Maybe worth seeking out a copy if you prefer paper to an e-book..

The (seemingly!) definitive book is listed on this page. At a variety of prices - postage shown is within Germany, ask for UK rate. There is one listed on abebooks in the UK at present at just under £40 p&p included.

This site may whet your appetite. Look down the list on the left and click on 'lokliste', then click on Bundesbahn-/Reichsbahn-Dampflokomotiven & scroll down to the '55' section for a couple of pics of 5" gauge Br55.

And, lastly, there is this 5" gauge kit of the Br55, also available finished in 'Prussian' KPEV livery by Zimmermann. Don't know if they might be prepared to sell drawings, parts, whatever, etc.

Regards,

Phil

Don't you just love the German language, a passenger truck is a sitzwagen

I got sucked into the links above and found a model of a German Turbomotive T18 1002. I know it's a long shot but does anyone know anything about the model, how successful etc.

There is info on the full size one at **LINK**

Thanks Weary, useful info.

I have in my hands the Eisenbahn Journal with the BR55 article, some great pictures and some drawings with basic dimensions too.

That steam turbine loco looks very interesting!

I have acquired drawings form the Heba site and started to cad up the locomotive.

I have some questions about the horn block and axle block and would be thankful for some insight into the design. Why the wedge and adjustment screw? Maintanence? take up wear? other?

I have attached a picture with arrows pointing to what I am asking about, I hope it is clear enough.

Also, it is hard to see in the drawing exactly the makeup of the axle block, it comprises of a number of bits. Anyone have more information on the design and purpose?

Thanks in advance.

Hello Ian,

The adjustable 'wedge' on the axle-box horn face is to take up wear. I recall that some British built locomotives were fitted with them too.

Off-the-top I have no source of detail drawings of DR/DB axle-boxes. Are there any particular issues needing clarification? Panki's forum may be the place to ask, though there are other forums too, of course.

Pleased to see that you are progressing the design.

Regards,

Phil

Don Young in the series of articles remembering his apprenticeship at Doncaster Plant was clear about the issues that arose when lowering a set of loco frames onto the axleboxes if the wedges were not firmly fixed.

They rode up and jammed the whole process if it was not carefully carried out.

Just re-read the articles a bit back. Worth a look! ME vols 136/137

Thanks for the info. Now I have started to search for info on axle boxes I found some informative information and most importantly some pictures (pictures say a 100 words!) . Here was an interesting PDF .

This picture helped me see what I have been reading...

So with this in mind, I will have another look at the drawings. 

Edited By Ian Baxter 4 on 06/03/2019 21:31:14

This the loco I want to end up with. I like this one because, 1 the colours and 2 all the auxilaries make it look industrious and interesting. I will be trying to make the model the same.

That looks to be finished in the KPEV colours, don't know if you are aware but there is a lined-out in (off-)red version too. Pic. That pic shows the full extent of the lining as the tender is lined only on sides and not on rear surfaces.  Less good pic here - colours overexposed.

Regards,

Phil

Edited By Weary on 06/03/2019 22:24:46

Thanks Phil, yes it is KPEV, I like the one you posted but I guess I am not sure if it is appropriate to paint the number version loco in the lined scheme?

thanks

Ian

Another 55 62 engine that ran in Oldenburg

Compound locomotive from oldenburg

I am thinking of changing to building a BR56....... anyone seen plans?

Thanks