Advanced Beyer-Garratt built in Australia

Richard Stuart has built free lance "ride in" Beyer-Garratt for 7.25" gauge. 

Coal fired with many advanced features

Updated July 10th 2004

Richard's wife demonstrating the driving position

 

Hinged tanks to access the engines

 

The assembled LemPor exhaust Nozzle

 

Detail Components of the exhaust

 

Boiler mounted on cradle

 

Drivers view of the "office"

 

Note reversing linkage for front engine

 

Rear Tank

 

Water valves

 

Alternator

 

Alternator drive mechanism

 

Boiler with partial cladding, note "slots" in the side of the firebox for the Superheaters to cross over the fire .

 

Painted rear tank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 26th 2004

 

January 26th 2004

Of the two levers on the RH side of the cab. The outer lever is the reverser, the inner is the throttle.

First Steaming

 

First Steaming, June 2004

 

First Run!

The following sequence of photo's were taken at the Castledare track in Perth, Western Australia on Saturday July 10th 2004 by Russell Dunn

 

Lighting up for the first run July 10th 2004 Yep she is coal fired......

 

 

 

The arrangement for the valves shown here is described by Richard below.

 
Immediately downstream of the dome is an air operated, fail closed, shutdown valve.  It opens automatically when the regulator is first cracked open, via a micro-switch on the regulator handle which operates the air supply via a solenoid valve.  An emergency shutdown valve is part of my oil industry culture, and the philosophy is to be able to isolate the pressure as close as possible to the source.  The electrics which operate the solenoid valve are controlled by a key switch.  There cannot be many steam locos which need an ignition key to make them go.
 
The main regulator valve is downstream of the Superheater and mechanically controlled by the regulator handle.  The regulator valve itself is partially hidden behind the reversing lever.
 
The blower steam diverter valve is mounted on the side of the boiler below the dome.  When the regulator is closed, blower steam is diverted through the Superheater element.  The theory is that the blower steam helps to keep the Superheater cooled.  The diverter valve is air operated and controlled by the same microswitch and solenoid valve as the shutdown valve.  When the regulator is open, the blower steam is diverted directly to the blower nozzles in the usual manner.
 
The drain cocks are also air operated and controlled via an electrical switch in the cab and another solenoid valve.
 
The alternator field coil is energised by a microswitch attached to the reversing lever.  The alternator is only electrically energised when the loco is in forward gear (I don't know if alternators work when spinning in reverse).
 
Time will tell whether these complications are a useful innovation or unreliable nuisance.  I still need to do a few finishing off tasks before the Garratt can be put into passenger service at Castledare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richards wife has a  turn.....

 

 

 

The inspiration!