I model the PRR in HO scale, but lately i've been kicking around the idea of getting a G gauge live steam locomotive. I took a look at was available, and I'm amazed at how much some of these locos cost!
I don't have access to a machine shop, and I don't have the required skills anyway (no need in HO scale). I was looking for a cheap live steam loco that can pull a few cars. I don't have any G gauge track or anything at all in G, I just want to run a live steam loco.
I was considering getting an 0-4-0 "Ruby" kit for a bit under $500.
I'm looking for a locomotive that is cheap, requires only "minor" assembly (no soldering, welding, etc), and can pull 1-4 cars. I plan to use 4' diameter turns and sectional track. I might handlay the track on plywood sections depending on cost.
I would consider making minor modifications to the kit, provided that it involved nothing too complex. I can solder reasonably well, and I'm very handy with CA. I also have some JB-Weld that I might be able to use.
Does anybody have any suggestions or tips for someone who wants to get into live steam?
Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!
Instead of a Ruby kit, have you considered their fully assembled "Mimi" that comes with a tender, if it's still available. The Mimi is exactly the same as a Ruby except the add-on tender.
The biggest limitation to a Ruby is the short run time on a water and butane gas fill.
Assembling a live steam loco kit is quite a different story from assembling an HO scale loco. Don´t forget, you will work with fire, water and hot steam in a pressurized system, which you don´t want to blow up in your face. If you are completely new to live steam operation, I strongly recommend to go for a R-T-R model.
Regner of Germany makes some nice entry level live steamers, which are just pure fun to operate. Granted, they are a little pricier than the Accucraft Ruby kit, but you get a high quality piece of machinery and an excellent service with it.
Check this page:
Regner Live Steam R-T-R
I would suggest Mamod/MSS kits, they are very easy to assemble, and there under $500. They come in two flavers, running either on 32mm track or 45mm. There are great products.
http://www.dreamsteam.co.uk/mss-mamod-live-steam-garden-railway-locomotives/side-tank-loco-kit.html
Modeling the Bellefonte Central Railroad
Fan of the PRR
Garden Railway Enthusiast
Check out my Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PennsyModeler
if I converted the pounds to dollars right thats about $274.00 thats not bad dont know what shipping would be.
When I read about the evils of drinking I quit reading.
Thanks for the suggestions. My buget is about $500 for the locomotive.
The "Konrad" looks good, but is too expensive.
I read up on the "Ruby", and I heard that you could fill the boiler all the way to resolve the "more gas than water" issue. Aparently the Rubys are very durable.
The MSS locos look good, but shipping would be an issue (how much does it cost to ship 4 pound across the Atlantic?)
I cannot recommend to go for a Mamod/MSS kit. They are cheap in the double meaning of the word. Their alcohol burner imposes a tremendous hazard, does not work properly when there is a minimum of wind around, the heat supply cannot be controlled and a low speed performance is not existing.
Features you should look for in a live steam loco:
Here is a review of Accucraft´s Ruby
Thanks for the tip about Mamod/MSS locmotives.
I'm hesitent to get a gas fired loco because of availability of fuel. Can you get the butane from lighters?
Alternatively, could the "Ruby" be converted to burn alcohol instead of gas?
Mamod locomotives ARE gas fired. Mamod locomotives can be put together with only a screw driver. Also, Dream Steam makes a higher pressure boiler with gas tank with a regulator:
http://www.dreamsteam.co.uk/mss-mamod-upgrade-parts/ceramic-gas-burner-set.html
Cost alot, yes, but it still ends up cheaper than a Ruby. Also Dream Steam has parts and upgrades for Mamod locomotives, a following the Ruby doesn't have.
PJM20 Mamod locomotives ARE gas fired. Mamod locomotives can be put together with only a screw driver. Also, Dream Steam makes a higher pressure boiler with gas tank with a regulator: http://www.dreamsteam.co.uk/mss-mamod-upgrade-parts/ceramic-gas-burner-set.html Cost alot, yes, but it still ends up cheaper than a Ruby. Also Dream Steam has parts and upgrades for Mamod locomotives, a following the Ruby doesn't have.
I have to correct my statement - recent Mamod steamers are gas fired. They used to be alcohol burners.
To the OP: There is absolutely no advantage in alcohol burners. Again, I think, they are a much greater hazard than gas fired locos.
You can use the gas bottles intended to refill lighters. There are also adapters available for those small bottles you use for camping stoves.
A few years ago some local stores in my area had 8 oz cans of Sun Flame butane gas cartridges on sale. The filler spout on them is the same as that used to refill a butane cigarette lighter.
Go with the Ruby kit for these reasons;
1. It is easy to assemble, Screwdriver is about all you will need.
2. You will learn how an engine works.
3. It is safe, the boiler is assembled and pressure tested for you.
4. Gas firing is not hazardous.
5. You buy butane ronson lighter refill cans at the store, easy to get.
6. And the most important, You Will Have Fun.
p.s. One note you MUST use distilled water in these small engines to keep them clean.
Thank you everyone for your help. Please keep the advice coming, as I haven't decided which one to get yet.
S&S
rbott Go with the Ruby kit for these reasons; 1. It is easy to assemble, Screwdriver is about all you will need. 2. You will learn how an engine works. 3. It is safe, the boiler is assembled and pressure tested for you. 4. Gas firing is not hazardous. 5. You buy butane ronson lighter refill cans at the store, easy to get. 6. And the most important, You Will Have Fun. p.s. One note you MUST use distilled water in these small engines to keep them clean.
Roundhouse offers kits of most of their locomotives. You guy the chassis kit, get that put together, then the boiler kit(boiler is soldered) and a cab/accesories kit. Just go to their web page and you can see those. It will end up costing more than your $500, but it is spread out over a period of time.
Jerry
web site:
http://thescrr.com/
Mamod vs Ruby
Mamod uses oscillating cylindars, Ruby has piston valve cylinders.
If you later want to add rc it just bolts in on Ruby but cannot have reversing on the Mamod because the reverser is on the front beam in front of the boiler, no place to put a servo.
These after market products will double the price of the Mamod.
This company has not been making this engine forever. Mamod went belly up some years ago.
Someone bought the rights to the design and started to produce them again and had quite a few quality problems with the product. Not sure if all of the problems have been worked out yet.
The ruby is a proven design that works, there are many that have been kitbatched into beautiful little engines. You should go to some of the live steam forums for more info.
Try this one http://www.7-8ths.info/index.php
Thank you for the suggestion with respect to a good live steam forum. I took a quick look, and I found some pretty neat projects that people are working on.
I also observed that all the add-ons would significantly increase the cost of a Mamod locomotive.
Thanks for the tip about being unable to add RC to Mamod locos. I'm not planning on having RC installed from the start, but I would definitely like to add it at a later date.
I also found something that said that you could refill the Ruby's boiler without having to wait for it to cool and then unscrewing a plug. Is this option available on other locomotives and how does it work?
The refill unit you are asking about is called a Goodall Valve, it replaces the fill plug and you fill the boiler under pressure using a spray bottle with a tube on it.
Join that group and read all the posts, you will learn a lot. One or two of the members on there sell goodall valves.
If $500 is your limit then you will be very limited. Also dont forget that Accucraft is coming out with the new Dora for under $400. I have seen it run in videos and it looks like a good engine for the price and will have endless kitbash possabilties. In some ways it is better then the ruby. One way the Dora is geared while the Ruby is not. A geared engine will handle grades much better and you dont need RC because they will maintain speed. The ruby without RC will stall on a hill so you need to turn the throttle up but then on the downhill it will take off on you. RC is almost a must unless you run on level track. If you get the Ruby make sure you get the larger cyclinder uby. I think its the Ruby 5 that has them but the price will bring you over $500. Also go with the Kit, it will teach you how the steamer works and it will be easier to adjust and fix. The water issue is easily solved by getting a goodale valve. Just add water every ten minutes or so until the gas runs out.
For a few hundred more you can get a Roundhouse Sammie, Regner Konrad, Lumberjack and a few others (all geared). I would stronly recomend anything from Roundhouse or Regner.
Get a copy of Steam In Gardens March/April 2013 issue. A great article on live steam for beginers.
http://www.steamup.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=106
To give you an idea here is a video of my Accucraft Forney without RC. The Forney has the same cyliders etc... as the Ruby. This was the speed I had to set it out without stalling on my grades. Dont forget the Ruby can be made into a Forney.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwS3INBXSI
With RC and modified (big difference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4N5aSgvuqE
A geared steam train
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lrHVfvZuQQ
The orginal Mamod is going strong as far as I know: http://www.mamod.co.uk/
The after market costs of a Mamod do increase its price, but the same price you would pay for an unmodified Ruby.
If you would like to see what people have done to Mamods, look up the unofficial Mamod forum or look up "modified mamod" on google images.
The mamod might be the same price but the exchange rate is what kills it. If the Mamod was made in the US it would cost a lot less then the Ruby. To me what we have to pay for a Mamod in the US is not worth it unless you can get a good deal somewhere. I would go with the Ruby. The other thing you have to look at, do you want a US style engine or UK?
Dont get me wrong I would love to get a mamod someday but Im not willing to pay the price.
A Mamod costs $282 for a prebuilt version at dreamsteam.com, the kit is even cheaper. A Ruby costs $500+ for a prebuilt version. Even if you add the $20 dollars needed to ship a Mamod engine overseas, it still is must cheaper.
"A Mamod costs $282 for a prebuilt version at dreamsteam.com"
That is £282 (British pounds, not dollars) which converts to about $465.
The last small engine I had shipped from England cost me $80, not $20.
I wish it would cost me $282. Then it would be worth it. You forget about the exchange rates, throw the exchange rate in plus shipping at it will cost almost $500 if you live in the US. If your going to that, then get one of these. Much better then a Mamod. I
http://www.roywoodmodels.co.uk/
I have been following this thread because i'm not into steam but was thinking of haveing one to play with and learn so if i decide to do it again i can build my own and the accucraft seems to be the best bang for the buck.
correct me if im way off on this
Ed
GRIMS, buy the kit, either Ruby or a Roundhouse (more money but a better engine).
You will learn important things such as driver quartering and valve timing which you will have to know if you build your own from scratch.
The Mamod does cost $282, I did the conversion for you. dreamsteam.com list a prebuilt Mamod at 185 pounds!
rbott
money is the main issue so i guess I'll learn on my own or ill build my own and learn from trial and error
There is no such place as dreamsteam.com, I assume you mean www.dreamsteam.co.uk
The one you are quoting is the crap version made by MSS
Mamod MK II£349.00 £295.00
Mamod Mk11 "O" gauge Locomotive
MSS Side Tank Loco£213.65 £185.00
The most popular in our range of fully assembled ready to run live steam locomotives.
Well i stand corrected looks like MSS is the way to go i used your link and the MSS side tank kit is $255.00 US dollars now it depends on shipping and handling.
Thanks for the link
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