Want Live steam but

Garden Railroading
1

I bid on a Mamod O gauge but lost the bid (thanfully) after hearing on another forum of all the Mamodifications I’d need. The fuel pellets sound like Lionel Postwar.

I’m guessing there are no O gauge live steam locos as good and as inexpensive as Ruby, & I want live steam in the worst way.

So, although my entire layout is O, I’m thinking of adding G to the garden just for Live Steam. It’s such a shame there’s no O gauge live steam at reasonable prices with Ruby features.

BTW, I’m wondering why there’s no such thing as Live Diesel or Live Gas (doodlebug)??? Although I think steam locos are way more fun, it would seem that someone by now would be able to market live diesel.

2

It sounds like you have the same idea. I was looking at O.S. engines web site and was thinking of the two year warranty they have on some of their engines, and was wondering how many hours of run time that would be. So far I have it narrowed down to a helicopter engine or one of the liquid cooled boat engines and a permanent magnet motor that could survive being ussed as a generator. The next step would to be finding a loco large enough to fit it all into. It really would be nice if someone made a diesel about the size of an O.S. engines fs-120 four stroke, so far the smallest diesel engine that I know of was a 3.5hp Yanmar

3

David, Not only do they make them -but I have a fellow club member who owns one of them (a Tradesman). http://pilgrimlocomotiveworks.co.uk/ Have look at the Roundhouse web site for the 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 kits. As to running with solid fuel bricks -it is very reliable provided you store the bricks in an airtight tin -but most people now use Meths or Gas. Alternatively you coould use the IP Engineering Mamod spares to produce your own 'One piece at a time"… regards ralph

4

I’ll take a look back through my CTT’s, but I thought I saw an add for a fuel powered O-gauge doodlebug. Just seems a little risky for indoors, but there are folks running live steam indoors. Hot running, independently powered objects are not something I’d want to derail and need to chase down before it went under a couch!

Rich F.

5

Just ordered the Ruby kit, pressure gauge, 4 flat cars, 120 feet of brass code 332 track, railbender, 2 10’radius turnouts, and they threw in some free oil.

Expect me back on this part of forum pestering everyone with questions!

The guy I spoke with convinced me 332 will look good, btw.

6

The Ruby is a lot of fun. I haven’t finished the track laying yet, but have a similar amount of supplies as you bought. Have you gotten started yet?
cheers- Scott
(ps 5000+ posts!?!)

7

Hi Scott,

I’m still working on the frame. Some parts of Ruby were tight fitting and Accucraft has graciously sent me some parts that didn’t go together well. Some guys on the other forum suggested tapping out the holes to clear them, but they use metric fine taps that I may never have a need for again and am on limited budget so I’ll just keep trying to put it together.

In the meantime, I may make some scratch turnouts. It’s not like I’m running out of stuff to do by any means!

I’ll be attending my first live steam layout this weekend, looking forward to meeting others.

8

Hi .

I too am a novice Live steamer. I started with a Ruby and had the same “fit” problems, but, Cliff at Accucraft was extremely accomodating with regards to supplying better parts The engine is now up and running and is a great little steamer.

I recently ( at the “big Train Shsow” at the Queen Mary, Purchased the Aristo Craft Live steam Mikado. It too is a fine engine. I will get a 2 truck shay from accucraft next. Ilve steam is a hoot!!

Also, I am building a Live diesel powered Aristo Dash nine. It is large enough to put all the stuff (diesel engine and generator) into. If you are going to do this project, it is worht the hunt to find an aircraft diesel engine to power it with, as the sound and smell will amaze!

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Who/where did you find the diesel engine from? I’ve started to design mine around a cox .049 engine…

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I have had it since the days when I flew model a/c. But a search of ebay, yahoo auctions should work.

If not, try craigslist.com. If that turns up nothiing… try some long established (circa 1950-60’s) they ought to be able to help.

I would stay away from the cox engines for 3 reasons.

  1. They sound horrrible

  2. They spray goo all over the inside of the car body

3.They turn too fast when developing power.

The beauty of an a/c diesel is that it turns slower when developing power and they ALL use muffler systems which serve 3 purposes.

  1. They direct the sludge of exhaust out of the car body.

  2. they give the correct amount of back pressure.

  3. Thsy sound awesome!

And what would a diesel-electric loco be without the diesel?

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That should have said " Long established hobby shops"

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The cox engines I bought were cheap, so I figured if I burn one up (or both)in the process, who cares. Besides I havn’t decided on a diesel loco yet Going to do that this weekend at a local hobby shop.

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Let us know how it works out.

14

I went looking for a diesel loco yesterday and got to see some really neat trains, but the one that hooked me was an LGB 22382 MTS Xmas trolly that was running around on the overhead track in the store. I must have watched that trolly for a half hour as played its xmas music. Well anyway, to make long story short I now have an LGB xmas trolly to watch this season…
btw
what would be a good power suppy to run my trolly? This is going to be an inside only train.The directions say analog or MZS/MTS. And no, I’m not going to dieselfie this one.
-dh