3.5 inch gauge loco help

[TRAINALEX100]

First of all can I ask that nobody has a dig at me for saying this but if I got 2 mamod power pistons and ran it on coal and put it on 3.5 inch gauge wheels and it had a spare water tank would this be enough to pull me round a local club track. The reason I ask is because I am only 16 and cannot afford a normal loco and I am very lightweight it sounds daft to ask but I can at least try

 

[Roylang]

First of all can I ask that nobody has a dig at me for saying this but if I got 2 mamod power pistons and ran it on coal and put it on 3.5 inch gauge wheels and it had a spare water tank would this be enough to pull me round a local club track. The reason I ask is because I am only 16 and cannot afford a normal loco and I am very lightweight it sounds daft to ask but I can at least try

I doubt that two mamod pistons would give enough power but would gladly be proved wrong. You will need to find a very flat track if it is to work, some club tracks have quite severe gradients (such as mine is at Guildford) and you would not have a hope on those.

Have you seen the Hornby 3 1/2 inch live Steam Rocket? That is is only slightly more complex than a Mamod and I have seen one work reasonably well pulling one person.

Don't forget to keep everything well lubricated to ensure the friction is as low as possible and keep the wheels very clean.

Roy

 

[John Webb]

Another way would be to use the Mamod items running at speed and gear down with a chain drive or similar; you would get round but at slow speed.

But if you already have contacts with your local club develop these carefully; in return for helping them, older members may allow you access to their locos under supervision. Check if the club has an 'Apprentice' scheme as some do; take part in that and you may be able to drive club-owned locos after a training period.

 

[TRAINALEX100]

i have got a friend who ran his on coal and he said it went mental but another problem is how it would turn round corners. my friend also has 3 of these locos and hopefully i can have a go :P
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
i have also never seen a hornby rocket apart from on youtube and John, i could use a chain drive but basically i'd make it have one speed (flat out) and the original mamod speed gear and i'd stop it by using the speed gear in neutral position