HR 18 Class, Small Goods.

HR 18 Class, Small Goods No.27 

Construction of this rather difficult prototype is now complete, the model has been built without the aid of a kit, though relying on commercial castings to complete it. Most of these were obtained from Laurie Griffin (LGM) practically all of them were modified in some way or other to suit this engine. The model ran with a light train on the club layout in Carlisle on Saturday where it performed impeccably, without a single derailment, much to my satisfaction.

I modelled No.27 as rebuilt in 1891 by David Jones the Locomotive Superintendent of the Highland Railway at the time and the engine displays many features typical of a Jones engine. No.27 was the last survivor of this class lasting until 1923. A grainy photograph shows the engine forlorn and abandoned at Culloden Moor, the short parallel buffers seen above are attested to by this source.

There was room inside the superstructure for an ABC Gears Mini Gooch with an M1833 motor and flywheel which provides plenty of power for an engine which typically was intended to pull a train of about 15 wagons. Weight is in the firebox between the driving wheels.

No.27 c. 1920

The tender is built from an etch given me to evaluate by Walsworth Models and described in an earlier  blog posting on 7/10/21 as "A tender in search of a Loco ". It was certainly a good help though I don't know whether it will ever see the light of day as a commercially available kit. The Small Goods, Glenbarry and  Medium Goods classes all ran with this tender, so a kit would be most welcome to Highland modellers. 

 

The reversing lever can be seen in this left hand view, emerging behind the sand box. Probably the most taxing problem encountered in building this engine was providing clearance for the cross head in the tight space between the inner and outer frames. The outer frames, front springs and cylinders form part of the superstructure which can be removed from the chassis to which the slide bars are attached. The "Culloden Moor" photo of No.27 provides evidence for the tablet catcher and the position of the front vacuum pipe.

The shape of the fall plate enables the engine to negotiate curves without it fouling the tender upright stanchions. The cab interior is typical of a Jones engine, details owe much to the cab of the Big Goods in the Transport Museum in Glasgow. On the left hand cab side sheet can be seen the handle for the tablet catcher. Backhead fittings are modified LGM and 62C castings, the reverser is of my own devising. 

Brass rivets are soldered into holes drilled in the outer frames and filed flush inside so as not to foul the chassis assembly when this is removed. 

Self-contained sprung buffers add a further challenge to the model maker; the buffer beam is mounted on the ends of the frames which protrude beyond the smoke box and cylinders. 

The large rivetted balance weights are a prominent feature usually hidden by the splashers in photos of the prototype in conventional pose with coupling rods on show. Note the sanding mechanism on the sandbox top and the difficult to make trim to the splasher/sandbox assembly.