Aster Kiso Forest Baldwin With Banking / Helper Engine

[dewintondave]

I had a brainwave the other day, I've been thinking of all sorts of complicated ways to slow down my Kiso Forest Baldwin. It's only got small cylinders, and the valve gear is pure Gauge 1, set for speed and economy. But I like to run slow!

Our battery converted LGB diesel was used as a banking engine. It actually started the train, and then was mostly towed around our line limiting the speed of the train.

The battery electric loco was run at the end of the train and was very useful at bringing the speed down. Most of the time the battery loco was being towed, the chain was tight. The battery loco also assisted greatly in starting the Baldwin. The battery loco was started, then full forward applied and the Baldwin rolled along, then I opened up the regulator and put a cloth over the exhaust to catch the gunk, and then it was off, soon pulling the battery loco along.

The axle pump pumped well. I was doing a whole circuit with pumping, then two circuits without. I got a bit confused and let the water get low. Shutting the loco down at the end of the run is easy, just turn off the blower, and the burner is very easy to blow out across the firebox.

After the run I was draining the tanks and lubricator, but found the boiler was just about dry!

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[PaulRhB]

In a similar way weighted wagons with sprung pads hidden underneath and bearing on the axles, (rather than the wheel tread), can provide rolling resistance to slow it down. Unfortunately they can't help with the starting but you could build a sort of brake van body to slip over the diesel to disguise it a bit.