Valve Gear Kit by Central Valley

[ARTHILL]

I am still hoping to get lucky and find someone who has access to this kit. It goes on the 1950s John English 0-4-0 "YardBird" kit. I have tried most of the obvious locations without success. This has to exist in someone's pile of "old stuff". This post is one more try at finding one of those persons.

[C&O Fan]

Do you have a photo or drawing of what it looks like ?

[nedthomas]

Bowser still lists a 0-4-0 tank engine on their web site. They may have something in the parts list.

[steemtrayn]

Are you sure it's Central Valley, and not Kemtron?

[dknelson]

Are you sure it's Central Valley, and not Kemtron?

The article by Bill Smith on how to superdetail this kit in the June 1950 Model Railroader says the Yard Bird valve gear kit is from Central Valley.  Price in 1950 was $2.95.

I think Kemtron made the valve gear kit for the Mantua die cast 0-4-0s and 0-6-0s. 

The Bower A5 is not a reissue of the English Yard Bird but I wonder how far off their valve gear parts could really be? 

Dave Nelson

[maxman]

I am still hoping to get lucky and find someone who has access to this kit. It goes on the 1950s John English 0-4-0 "YardBird" kit. I have tried most of the obvious locations without success. This has to exist in someone's pile of "old stuff". This post is one more try at finding one of those persons.

Try the contact information at the following link, http://www.smallshawrailroad.com/feedback.htm

One of the members of that group, if you scroll down , states that he used the Central Valley valve gear on a Varney Docksider.  If you're really, really lucky, maybe he did the typical model railroader trick of buying a second kit "just in case" and would be willing to part with it.  There are some other links at that site that are for sources of detail parts.  Maybe one of them will be helpful.  And even though you may not find what you think you need, at least you may correspond with some fellow sufferers modelers.

Regards 

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[doctorwayne]

You say that you've tried all of the usual sources, but have you tried Yardbird Classic Trains?  They specialise in older models, including those from John English.  The valve gear kit most likely was from Central Valley, as is the one on my John English Pacific.

Wayne

[ARTHILL]

Beautiful model Wayne. I hope I can get the Yard Bird close to that. You are right, it is Central Valley. I did find Yardbird Classc Trains and on the second visit found some basic information, including the detail kit. On the third visit, I may have found the Valve Gear Kit. I should know by next week when the mail arrives. I thank lots of you people for your help. I will let you all know when I get the parts. I will post a pic when I get it done.

 

Art