Spotted at Statfold Barn

[Steve Holland]

Today's Statfold Barn Railway open day was, as usual, an excellent day out. Something like 15 two foot gauge locos in steam and the railbus - but what has this to do with minimum gauge railways I hear you ask. This was lurking in the Grain Store:





Jack is Hunslet works number 684 of 1898 and normally lives at Armley Mills Industrial Museum in Leeds, so what it is doing just outside Tamworth I do not know. As the dome cover and steam turret have been taken off I am guessing that the Statfold Barn engineering team are undertaking a preliminary assessment of the boiler for a possible return to steam.
It is an 18 inch gauge loco so just about qualifies for minimum gauge. Having looked between the frames there does not seem to be anything to prevent the wheels being 3 inches closer together so its seriously tempting to build a 1:24 version. Just need some time........

[Voyager]

Steve,

Yes, as you surmise, at Statfold for assessment for possible work.

BTW, for those who've never been, the third and final Enthusiasts' Day event of 2016 will be on Saturday 10th September. To request an invitation see www.statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk

[chris stockdale]

The build of Jack in 7/8ths scale has been serialised in Garden Rail magazine. The build of one is described here:

http://www.gardenrailwayclub.com/7-8ths ... jack-build

Enjoy!

Cheers,

[chris stockdale]

Oh, and if you could be thinking 'But I don't have room for 7/8ths scale' think again. Here's a Jack doing a bit of shunting on a modest kitchen table. There are three key extras

- R/C

- a 'Chuffer' to accentuate the sound

- a 'Slomo' inertia device to give that extra smooth slow running

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UgAMgvj3a14

Cheers,

[rue_d_etropal]

is it just me, or are the images not displaying properly.

[chris stockdale]

They're fine for me but I did have a problem the other day with a Modelling Matters posting, probably because I was in Greece and the isp may not have recognised:

http://my.gn15.info


Cheers,

[Steve Holland]

Chris,

I wish you had not posted those links - its got the 'rubber gauger' in me all excited
There is some more footage of the Hunslet in action outdoors at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCCGNm9-A6w
I'm coming over all Sand Hutton - must go and lie down until the large scale urges wear off, not sure next weekend's firing turns on the FR will cure it

[rue_d_etropal]

odd thing is, the problem has come back, for these images. noticed on another post so checked this one again.

[Steve Holland]

I was at the Statfold Barn open day yesterday and found that Jack was still there. This time it was outside, and some track has been laid so it looks like the loco will eventually be restored to operational condition. Maybe in the next year or so?





Jack was on the 18 inch gauge spur from the dual gauge track shared with the restored Burton and Ashby tram.



In case you are wondering about the lack of overhead wires the tram has been converted to battery operation.
The Statfold Barn open days just get better and better; there were 20 locos in steam yesterday, plus old cars and lorries -

[Voyager]

Thanks for your report Steve. Probably the best March event so far, and a beautiful day.

JACK and the B&A tram share something in common - JACK worked at the clay works of John Knowles (Wooden Box) Ltd in Woodville, Derbyshire, through which the B&A passed on its route from Burton in Staffordshire to Ashby in Leicestershire - so it is good to see them together.

If you or any other Gnatterboxers are ever at Statfold in the future please say "hello" - I'm the Guards' Inspector so can usually be found out on a train or assisting on the platform.