5 inch gauge petrol electric locomotive

Hi chaps, I am thinking of making a 5 inch gauge petrol electric loco.i know that 7 1/4 would be easier but I don, t have the space.so my question is.does anyone know of a narrow petrol engine that will drive an alternator from a horizontal shalf.the inside measurement of the frames are 8 inches wide.thanks, michael

I think lots of strimmer engines would fit that size. larger ones are 35cc. Be sure to leave lots of room for the silencer, and another silencer, and another one.

Quite a lot of the 25 cc motors end up in large scale model aircraft, and boats. I think there is a C 130 Hercules flying around Canterbury with 4 of these engines, They have to put in a flight plan with the control tower at Christchurch airport for each flight. ian S C

Brighton & Hove Soc. Min. Loco. Engrs/ aka Hove Park Rly., used to use a 5"G "diesel" HST loco., I think bright yellow, to haul passenger trains in the Park a few years ago. I thin Mick Funnel owned it. I was told it had a 90cc petrol strimmer engine. Went like a scalded cat.

90 cc is big for a strimmer, but is the size of the little Villiers that powered many lawn mowers, I'v just decommissioned a Villiers powered alternator, with any load on it, it used to seize after 20 minutes, problem, no forced cooling. New alternator is being built at the moment with a 3hp Kawasaki industrial motor, but it would be too big for your use.

It would be nice if you could find a small 4 stroke, it might sound better than a 2 stroke, and easier to silence. MikeW is right about building your self if that were possible. Ian S C

Thanks chaps for input.sometime back I made a loco in 5 gauge using a moped engine and direct chain drive.pulls very well, but cant get away from the moped sound.strimmer motors will be to low powered for my use.maybe I need to think of using the riding car to take the motor and alternator.this would allow me to use a good honda 4 stroke motor.so I am thinking a 7 1/4 body on 5 inch gauge running gear.not really sure if I like the idea of sitting on the engine.michael