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Okay, I admire your determination. Your budget, however, might be a bit low -- depending mostly upon how much you can fabricate vs having to buy. The most important part that I would strongly recommend purchasing rather than save a few dollars trying to fabricate is a safety valve. Get a decent one (15-20psi+), not one for a "toy" engine, or you'll end up with very poor performance. You also didn't specify what KIND of boiler you are looking to build. A "pot" boiler like the Mamod uses is simplest, but very inefficient. Adding a few water tubes to the firebox area helps but it's still wasteful. Next up in complexity is the monotube design, this has one large internal fire tube, and is often used in gas fired locos like the Accucraft Ruby. Again adding water tubes in the main flue (in a helix) will help efficiency. Smithies? This is basically a pot boiler with a few largish fire tubes added. More involved yet is a multitubular design, with or without a crownsheet and wet sides...this is the most prototypical, complex, and yes - expensive way to go. Many tiny boilers built this way are used on expensive coal fired models Which brings up the question WHAT are you planning on firing the thing WITH? The answer to this question will help you decide what your best boiler design will be.  Dry fuel tablets? (expensive but easy), alcohol (aka "meths" cheap, easy,  but burning spills can be a PitA), Sterno? (IMO, bleah), Butane? (burners and fuel tanks are rather complicated to build, or costly to buy), Coal? Kerosene/lamp oil? Dried camel chips?(okay, now I'm being rather silly, but you get the idea) A few more  $5 questions.  What kind of cylinders?  Oscillators(Wobblers)? Piston valve? Slide Valve? One cylinder or multiple? Non-reversing or what kind of reverse? You also didn't really indicate the time frame you have to build this beasty in. Do you have weeks? A couple months? All year? Although it doesn't quite fit your "druthers" of an English styled Mogul, a VERY basic working loco is the BAGRS (Bay Area Garden Railway Society) "Basic Project Engine" locomotive...It is a dirt simple non-reversing oscillating marine engine kit mounted on a flatcar with chain drive. [img]http://www.steamup.com/sitgonline/media/us_narrowgauge/projectprofile.jpg[/img] If you go this route, I'd recommend using the built Midwest Heritage Engine rather that the Model VI kit for several reasons even though it is more expensive: 1. it has a safety valve, 2. the engine frame is brass rather than potmetal. 3 The boiler is silver soldered rather than the soft solder supplied with the model VI kits. BTW: Sulpher Springs Steam Models still lists a package of parts for the BAGRS lok that includes the wheelsets, sprockets, chains, lubricator & etc. (about $85 IIRC) for plans see http://www.panyo.com/cad/Plans.doc Mik AKA Allen from Catfish Hollow Toys
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