GWR prairie compensated brakes

Hi,

Building Evans' 2-6-2 Firefly. I have the chassis fundamentally finished and would like to finish and fit the brake components, at least temporarily. I have the drawings for the steam and handbrake at the rear of the loco also the linkage below the controls. Also for the brake hangers and blocks which are now in place. What I can't find anywhere is a diagram for a compensated linkage between the controls and the beams.

Does anyone have a diagram or just a couple of good photos of a similar brake set-up ?

Chris.

... or maybe they are just carefully linked and adjusted, not compensated at all ?

Hi Chris,

GWR Standard brake layout, so worst comes to worst, find any old preserved GWR loco to see how it's done. I'm sure that other designs of GWR locos published in ME in days gone by, will have shown the brake layout. Sorry can't be of much further help

John

Loco brake is only useful for parking. I'd not bother with the compensating stuff or the steam brake.

If you go on to the Reeves 2000 Website and have a look at the 5" Gauge Prairie, you can view the individual drawings in low resolution.The far right drawing of the bottom row of four, has the brake gear. This should point you in the right direction.

Nick

Thanks all. I reckon I know what to do now.

I have the steam brake already and it's not a big deal to fit so I'll put it on anyway. I can see how the hangers/beams/rods all fit now.

TY

Chris, something to consider is how the Ashpan is removed (or opened) to remove (or clear) the Firebox Grate. I believe both M.Evans and D.Young avoided the Brake Compensation in some designs in order to ease Ashpan / Grate removal.

Hi Bruce,

Yes I spotted that. No beam across the back pair. Thanks for pointing it out though, could have saved me a lot of heartache.

Chris.