Choices  more  

Choosing a locomotive is difficult

There is so much choice of Steamers or....

Battery Electrics or....

Mamods or....

Other special types like Real Coal Fired.

Running a Steamer

You need Gas, Water, Steam Oil, Engine Oil, a Lighter, a Locomotive and a Box (for carrying everything).

There are many manufacturers of our scale of Locos but the main ones are...

Accucraft

.... and ....

Roundhouse Engineering.

The cost of live Steam locomotives can be EYE WATERING.

So how do you make a choice?

 

There are two main magazines to help you choose. 16mm Today (Published by the 16mm Association) and Garden Rail which is an independent magazine.

Both magazines have reviews and, of course, lots of ads for dealers and manufacturers

There are many clubs and associations that you could join (including ours).

 

The two main ones for garden railways are the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers and...

The G Scale Society

Both provide many benefits of membership. The main benefit of both is to put you in contact with thousands of other modellers around the UK and the world.

You don't need to join either of these to become a member at Butterley

There are several, very popular, public SHOWS around the UK throughout any year.

You could ask our opinion. Between our membership we own a wide range of locos.

Large or small and cheap or expensive.

Buying a Locomotive

You can buy an NEW Roundhouse Live Steam Loco from around £800 upwards. A new Accucraft from upwards of £1400.

Both manufacturers update their ranges regularly but Roundhouse has a very good value BASIC RANGE of simple but high quality engines.

There are many dealers in Second Hand locos but a second hand in good condition can command a good price.

From our point of view this is good because a loco in well maintained condition is worth almost the price when we bought them.

Almost a good investment

Simplified Steamer Preparation Instructions

Roundhouse Radio Controlled Lady Anne

  1. Plastic battery holder
  2. Brass battery box
  3. Battery connector
  4. Reversing servo
  5. Safety valve
  6. Boiler filler plug
  7. Gas filler valve
  8. R/C switch
  9. R/C receiver
  10. Gas tank
  11. Gas regulator
  12. Gas burner
  13. Steam regulator servo and linkage
  14. Lubricator drain screw
  15. Lubricator filler cap
  16. Pressure gauge

Image and captions (c) RoundHouse Engineering , Lady Anne Owners Manual

  1. Top up water through (6)
  2. Oil moving parts with Engine Oil
  3. Drain steam oil (14) and fill with fresh steam oil (15)
  4. Fiil gas tank (10)
  5. Turn on gas (9) and light over funnel
  6. Adjust gas to get a steady burn
  7. Wait for 40psi running pressure(16)
  8. Turn gas down (9) to stop safety valve (5) blowing
  9. Emgage forward and (4) open regulator (13) to move off slowly

Ask us if we can help to explain.

Steamers are complicated but SO SATISFYING

Simplified Battery Electric Instructions

  1. Get Loco out of box and place on track
  2. Turn on radio control
  3. Turn on Loco
  4. Have fun

Elliot builds THUNDERBIRD

Battery Electrics are SO SIMPLE

Simplified Mamod Instructions

Mamods are WONDERFUL but....

Mamod Locomotives have been in almost continuous production since 1979 but....

Mamod locos are made by M.S.S. and no longer made by Mamod but....

Mamod still makes rather nice Locos that are very different to the original Mamods but....

Mamods are very inexpensive (you can buy a kit for £240) but....

Standard Mamods don't really run very well but....

There are many suppliers of bits and pieces, spare parts and upgrades but....

Getting a decent running Mamod comes at a cost BUT....

Mamods are STILL WONDERFUL

There are very many Mamod fans and they have produced a huge variety of support material.

There is a wonderful Mamod handbook if you click here.

http://www.eagleassist.com/hglw/Mamod%20Handbook.pdf

There is also the huge topic of "MAMODIFICATION"

Mamodification is all about modifying the humble Mamod into something NEW.

Underneath is a Mamod

Both of these locos are based on Mamods.

So finally....Running a Mamod

  1. Liberally oil everywhere.
  2. Fill with water up to the level.
  3. Fill with Meths, gas or stinky burner tablets.
  4. Light.
  5. Wait........many strange gurgling noises........safety valve lifts.
  6. Move reverser to forward...not too fast...not too slow...very hot...burn fingers.
  7. Chase loco.
  8. It stops in the most inaccessible spot then starts unexpectedly and zooms off.
  9. Achieving world record speeds.
  10. Then you watch it fly spectacularly off the track.
  11. Or...it suddenly stops and disappears in a huge steam cloud.
  12. Or...it runs beautifully to much applause.

Mamods are FUN

Mamods are SO FRUSTRATING

Simplified Coal Firing.

Coal firing is strictly for the experienced enthusiast.

Its not difficult but it takes practice.

Blink and you'll miss it ... Elliot's quite amazing video tutorial on The Art of Coal Firing (in 30 seconds).

At the back of your mind is always HOW MUCH THE LOCO COST and how easily it could get damaged.

Alan's video of our Coal Firing Day (October 2022). (3:33 mins)

Always spectacular in the dark.

Coal Firing is rarely relaxing.

Please take a look at more Visitor Pages.

There's lots of information about us, our layout and our style of Garden Railway modelling.

Social Media

Visitor Pages

Website