SWEET PEA

Hi Brian

I have spent a lot of time going round in circles deciding on which loco to build. Like you I started out looking at a Sweet Violet (3.5 version of the Sweet Pea) I even bought a set of drawings. It seamed at the time to fit all my criteria. I have been lucky that I have been able to survey ISABEL at Amerton Farm railway which is an original Bagnall Margaret class 2ft loco. (over 250 photos) when compared to the sweet violet drawings it was all very scalable. The two items that immediately stood out as wrong were the solid wheels and the valve gear (Isabel has Baguly valve gear which is as far as I know the only remaining working example of this gear) Oh and the tank. all very solvable. After designing Baguly gear to fit I abandoned the idea as too complicated and resorted to Walschaerts gear. (not sure if I have spelt Baguly correct)

I visited the Sweet Pea Rally in Nottingham last year and talked to loads of people with experience of jack Bucklers engines. All were unanimous in that I should build a Sweet Pea (5inch gauge ) not the Sweet William (3.5in gauge) It was very little extra work, very little extra cost and ran far better. It has taken me over 6 months to change my mind and plumb for the 5inch version and I am now changing all my drawings to suit (with lots of cosmetic changes to the original design to 'Bagnallise' it.

I've got a friend here with a Sweet Pea, and a Conway, both in operating condition.

The Conway's about half of the weight, pulls well, and is not so tricky to fire with the Sweet Pea's very shallow firebox.

We lifted the Conway out of a basement, and it was an easy lift. Lifted it out for a New Years day steaming - here should be a link to a youtube video:

If this does not work, youtube search for "canada new years day steam conway"

My vote would most certainly be the Conway, or equivalent, but whatever you choose will of course be correct.

JohnS.

Edited By John Alexander Stewart on 29/05/2014 13:09:51

Edited By John Alexander Stewart on 29/05/2014 13:20:49

Hi, Sweet William is a 7 1/4 gauge IIRC

Coincidentally I have the following for **sale**

Hi guys

I have just started to build a sweet pea also ..... made all the easy turned parts the pins and studs etc

Just started the brass work

Catch you later

Paul

Hi guys

I have just started to build a sweet pea also ..... made all the easy turned parts the pins and studs etc

Just started the brass work

Catch you later

Paul