Chaloner, Coal Fired 5" Gauge
I have been building a coal fired Maxitrak
"Chaloner" kit in 5" gauge. This is based on the real "Chaloner", a De
Winton locomotive which used to work at
Pen-yr-Orsedd slate
quarry in
North Wales. It is now based at the Leighton
Buzzard narrow gauge railway in England. I bought
the unbuilt kit second hand. Most of the parts
were still in sealed bags which had not been opened since the first
owner received the kit.
My first thought on seeing the kit was
"isn't it big". Far bigger, chunkier and heavier than 16mm scale. I
expected it to weigh around 23 Kg when complete so would be
feasible for me
to lift without assistance.
I did not fancy anything heavier for a first attempt in this scale.
I
have now completed the loco and constructed a box to transport it.
The total weight with box is nearly 30 Kg. Still just about manageable
though a lot easier with two people.
I thouroughly enjoyed the
project and it has since been keeping myself and a few others happy
steaming it. It can manage two people round the club track. Provided
you ensure you have a full head of steam, a reasonable amount of water
in the boiler and a good fire it copes with gradients. I have already
found it wise not to try with low steam pressure and a dying fire.
Progress Reports:-
