DL3 is alive

Finally close to completing my 5" gauge petrol loco modelled after Queensland Railways DL class. Been a long process with lots of new things to learn but with several successful tracks tests the beast is now 95% complete. Have added a headlight and cooling fan since photos were taken, still need to add a few cosmetic items but they are jobs for another day. Pulls me quite happily at a decent speed, could probably pull 2-3 adults but not tested that yet. Now on to the next project, hope it doesn't take as long as this one!

Looks good

What engine and transmission are you using?

Looks like the sugar cane trains that chug past my place in the "crush" season, just south of Cairns, only the DL was much bigger of course. The same ganged counterweights outside the wheels. I hear rumours there is still a DL in use out on the Normanton line. Or was a few years back anyway.

She looks good, anyway. Yes, surprising how much work goes into such things. And they never really are done with. There is always something...

Edited By Hopper on 15/12/2022 10:57:14

Roger B, engine is 25cc 2-stroke out of a line trimmer positioned longitudinally, repositioned the carby and made a custom exhaust to fit inside the hood, retained the centrifugal clutch then 2.5:1 reduction chain drive to a drive shaft leading to an angle grinder gearbox to drive the wheels. With the custom exhaust it doesn't sound much like a line trimmer. The exhaust actually discharges through the exhaust pipe you can see in the picture, which is able to be rotated 90 degrees so it doesn't blow in my face when driving. Tried making a forward/reverse gearbox but did not work reliably so that's an upgrade project for another time.

Hopper, yes of the 4 locos built to this design all are still in existence. DL1 is in running order at the Ipswich Workshops Museum, DL2 is mounted on a plinth with an awning over it in the town of Forsayth which was the terminus of the line these locos were built to operate, DL3 is in working order at the ARHS Rosewood railway, and DL4 is in operating condition at Normanton and used regularly to haul the 'Gulflander' tourist train.