2" Minnie.

Hi all. I'm looking at building a 2" Minnie and was wondering if anyone could give me a rough idea as to how much it would cost for all the materials.

Thanks in advance.

If you go for a commercially made boiler then £5-6000, maybe £1000 less if you make your own boiler.

Thank you Jasonb. Are you talking from experience or a estimate? I've toted up the castings to around £3300 and wanted to know how much the other materials. Would the boiler certificate be on top of that.? How long dose a certificate last?

I've built a 1" Minnie and 2" Fowler.

I came to a bit less for the castings etc that Blackgates list but the price list is 2018 and comes in around £2500.

Last time I heard the price of a 2" boiler it was just over £2000 and don't expect the price to drop.

You then have to buy the rest of the materials, sheet, bar, fixings, some boiler fittings say £1000 - 1500

Don't know what machines and tooling you have but expect to have to buy some tooling for specific jobs and certainly cutters, taps & dies etc say £500.

If you are a member of or join a club they will do the testing as part of your membership but are obviously not keen on those that just join for that reason only, you also get insurance via the club. The other options are to have the boiler tested by an independent boiler inspector which would cost a couple of hundred pounds plus separate insurance. Certificate will need renewing each year.

Just a thought I don't exactly what a casting set covers parts wise but would it not be possible to make a good number of the parts from bar stock and save a chunk of money.

Yes it is possible with the Minnie more than most as it is not a Scale engine, could just buy the flywheel and maybe the cylinder.

Thank you Jasonb.

Thanks for the more detailed information. It has helped a lot.

I do anticipate spending on tools or the use of a very good friends workshop.

Time to do some thinking

I can see where you coming from Ron but, I would never get it completed if I did that. It would take me a lot more time.