Saw an article in the Australian Model Engineering magazine about your loco Ken. Awesome setup you have. Filled me with ideas and inspiration about building my own private railway like this in the future. Loved every aspect of it. Love the little carriages you have as well. Saw your other locos in that article as well, Jack the Diesel & Katie the steam engine. Every young mans dream to have a railway like this. You have obviously worked extremely hard to have all this which at the end of the day is what it is all about. The very achievement of achieving all this is wonderful and you must feel great at the end of each run and said, “Wow! I built this!” Kudos to you for an excellent job in creating this private railway. I’m going to build locos & stock in 5 inch & 7-1/4 inch gauge soon. But one day I would love to build something in the bigger scale of model engineering like this is. Great video and thanks for sharing with us. Cheers Caleb
Thank you Caleb. I have always loved the larger scale railways, possibly started when I was a kid and had a colouring book based on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway.The locos have a real presence about them.Merlin can cope with a driver and fireman in the cab, often a learner driver under instruction. Did you see the new video of the building of the directors saloon?
No I haven’t yet mate. I’ll watch it soon though. Sounds pretty interesting. Should build a Pullman coach or two mate. Preferably the British Pullman cars, those are by far my favourite out of all of them.
@@Hank-the-Writer Hi. At either end of the cylinders there are drain cocks that are opened when the loco first starts. These are opened to drain water out of the cylinders so avoiding the trapped water from causing damage as the piston advances. Usually the drain cocks are opened initially then after a short time closed. Hope this answers thee question. Regards Ken
I noticed the little curved trestle bridge doesn't have safety rails in case of derailing, is that something you guys are yet to fit if you haven't done so already? Merlin really is a great little loco and built with a lot of attention to detail, would be great to see it and the Lynton railway in person one day 👍😎
@@kentate435 thanks Ken, I was recently introduced to John before lockdown 6 started, seems like a nice fellow. I am interested to get involved with the railway at the MSTC once I finish tuning the waste oil burner for the Lyttelton display, it's been a headache of a task and lockdown stopped the progress, anyway I will have a chat to John about your railway 😊
There were no real drawings. The loco was built from a photo. The boiler is a maxi lucky 7 with some mods. The frame was drawn up and all the components laser cut.
ken tate thanks. I’ve been wanting to branch out into a larger gauge someday when I get my own land that I can build tracks on. 12” gauge seems to make more sense that 15”.
Hi David. The loco is 2.6 m and the boiler 1.2 m. You are welcome to come and have a look. We are in the Yarra valley in Victoria if you are on this part of the world.
David Downes Hi David, the chap in the uk that makes lovely locos has a business called Exmoor steam railway. Examples of his work are scattered over the uk. It would be a great idea to find a railway close to where you are that has one of his locos as they are rugged and simple built.Exbury gardens has a great railway with some of his locos, they are made 10 1;4 able to be regauged to 12 inch gauge and 10 1/4 to 15 inch.
@@kentate435 I am familiar with the exmoor locos. Your caught my eye as the proportions are just right it really does fool you into thinking the loco is bigger than it is. Do you have any more details specifications for it?