facilitas 3.5 gauge

hi was at my club this morning and have identified the engine i am building as a facilitas in 3.5 inch gauge would like to know if anyone has built this loco and what problems they have encounterd and any info would be appreciated thanks

Peter,

I am quite familiar with many of the 3.5" gauge designs but I have never heard of Facilitas. Any photos?

Phil H

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Simplex perhaps - translated into ??

The only Facilitas I know of is a freelance 3.5" gauge Pacific built by H.E White in the 1950s. It was exhibited at the Midlands show maybe 5 years ago. I think it was a one-off, and no design was ever published.  There may though have been some descriptive articles in the M.E.

Edited By Redsetter on 16/05/2021 14:25:53

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Hi All, if you go to the following website - https://modelengineeringwebsite.com/Midlands_2015_2.html - and have a look at the thumbnails of the photos that come up. The 4th down on the right hand side should show you what Facilitas looks like.

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hi have taken pictures off the drawings i have they are at least 60 years sorry can some one tell me how to upload the photos

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Hi Bill,

I had a look at this loco today, its a 3.5g 4-6-2 with Facilitas on the side of the engine on the GA. As Peter said the drawings are old with no sheet descriptions etc. It looks very similar to the picture you posted.

The frame, motion work, wheels and cylinders etc. have been completed for the most part and the boiler looks like it’s complete but not fitted. A couple of interesting points that had me stumped...

1. There is no wetheader in the smokebox(according to the boiler drawing), it looks like the steam line to the cylinders is from the steam dome?
2. There are 4 flues for superheaters, the boiler is rather large with a long barrel and wide firebox. Seems a little excessive.
3. Both the petycoat and chimney are internally parallel.
4. For a typical loco like this, are all the steam lines from a turret or should they be on the backhead?

I’m curious to know if anyone has seen this loco in steam. Looking very quickly at the proportions and drawings it looks like it will be one hell of a steamer…

Ps, Peter I hope you don’t mind me adding this in…

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Thanks Keith.

Yep I agree, and it should be a decent hauler. Its going to be an interesting build, I'm looking forward to see the loco take form.

hi have put the drawings up thanks to everyone

Edited By JasonB on 17/05/2021 07:18:02

If the picture of the completed one seems to match the drawings and parts you have the obvious step is to contact the Rugeley Power Station MES to get in touch with that owner.

Come on, is there no member of that society who reads this forum?

thanks to all who have commented i am pushing in with the build and trying my best to work as close as i can to the scale and am having to make minor ajustments as i go along will keep posting my progress

Spareys amateurs lathe has a reference in the 1948 1st edition

Edited By Ady1 on 17/05/2021 13:45:48

You should stick the drawings through a decent scanner to preserve them

Peter,

That looks like a really nice engine. There must be common parts available from other engine designs for wheels etc or do you already have castings?

Are you trying to get a fresher set of drawings or can you work with those that you have. If the details are visible perhaps a print of a print might be worth considering?

Phil H