"Garratt day" on the Sandstone & Termite

[gregh]

I decided that an ?all Garratt? day would be an interesting change to our normal running day.
It was bright and sunny which made for difficult photography, but here?s a selection of the best.
All 4 locos are scratchbuilt, with battery and 2.4 GHz radio control.

Bryan?s Garratt is a baby ? based on the original K1. But his old NiCd battery gave up the ghost and it was mainly a static display today. Here it is with my 2 Garratts behind.

Geof also has a small 0-4-0+0-4-0 type. It only has one sound unit (until I get round to making him a second one.) Here it is taking water at Sandstone.

Climbing up the grade to Termite.

Even well behaved locos sometimes have mishaps. Here it must have picked up a twig and then completely derailed when it hit the turnout check rail.

My smaller Garratt is based on two Bachmann 2-4-2 tank locos. The 2 motors are wired in series to give slow running with the 12V LiPo battery. It has twin sound systems. Here?s it?s waiting for a cross at Melaleuca. Note the plastic rail in foreground.

My big Garratt is made from 2 Bachmann Big Haulers, cut down to 2-6-0 types. The front motor block is the original Big Hauler I bought in 1994. It has 6000mAh of LiPo batteries and twin sound systems

I didn?t get one picture with all 4 locos together, but here are 3 of them at Melaleuca.
3garr.j

There is also my video at:
http://youtu.be/aMB6Vu2PpDU

Geof also made a video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzJEVMWps4s&feature=em-uploademail

 

[dunnyrail]

That looked like a superb fun day, wish I lived close enough to join in.
JonD

 

[Nodrog1826]

Something i've allways wanted to ask Greg.

Is the "abandonded" curved trestle a feature, or the result of a realignment for the Garratts?

 

[gregh]

Is the "abandonded" curved trestle a feature, or the result of a realignment for the Garratts?

It's a realignment, not just for the Garratts. The original curve was only about 2'-6" radius which limited the length of trains. When I built the new 4' radius trestle, my daughter took up the role of Historical Society and decreed the old one had to stay! It's getting pretty rickety now - 19 years old, and I've been thinking it will have to come down soon.

 

[gregh]

That looked like a superb fun day, wish I lived close enough to join in.
JonD

It would be nice to have a whole lot of G scalers closer to me too. 2nd best is GSC.

 

[3Valve]

Oooh lovely collection of Garratts

BTW Greg your "small" Garratt is huuuge

 

[bobg]

Oooohhh! Bendy toys! :love::love::love:

 

[eye-kay]

You've got an impressive collection there.

 

[owlpool]

impressive
esp the blue one

 

[GJFREESTONE]

hi greg
this is the first time I have seen your garratts they are great . especially your black number 5, I now have 2 donor stainz but not sure how to permently fix the boiler and cab to the 2 chassis it would be helpfull to have a photo of the joining tecnique have done them in the past with pins but that is a pain in loading them onto the track any ideas would be helpfull
graham shrewsbury

 

[gregh]

hi greg
this is the first time I have seen your garratts they are great . especially your black number 5, I now have 2 donor stainz but not sure how to permently fix the boiler and cab to the 2 chassis it would be helpfull to have a photo of the joining tecnique have done them in the past with pins but that is a pain in loading them onto the track any ideas would be helpfull
graham shrewsbury

The No 5 is my mate Geof's.
I just build the boiler and cab on a solid baseplate. Then it is screwed/pivoted at each end into the motor blocks.They are permanently connected.
For my red I've glued a piece of 3mm x 20 mm aluminium to the top of the motor block, with a 3mm tapped hole in it. Then just a short 3mm bolt through the baseplate into the motor/alum.
This pic is of blue Garratt under construction - may help to illustrate it.

 

[GJFREESTONE]

Hi Greg
thanks for the photo just seen it ,it will help a lot . did not think of an alliminum base
I can glue everything to that now
cheers graham shrewsbury

 

[Rob s]

Hi Greg
thanks for the photo just seen it ,it will help a lot . did not think of an alliminum base
I can glue everything to that now
cheers graham shrewsbury

Like the alloy base idea thanks for that,
Graham i have plenty of alloy off cuts from old signs etc let me know if you want any bits Rob s

 

[GJFREESTONE]

rob
you have been skip diving again. yes please .the width of a stainz 11cm x50cm would be helpfull
all the best
graham

 

[Tony]

Gregh Great to see them all together i've always loved them. i have a couple of OO gauge ones and a project i Acquired with a collection a few years back in G that is "getting there" the body is all plasticard and ive done quite a bit of modification sorting out the running height and pivots. just needs painting and some detailing. Pipe work etc
I have fitted an Aristo Revo chip and 21v rechargeable battery. and runs really well......though i need to sort out a decent sound card for it....... I will have to have a go at your stainz project next.

Heres a fun photo its OO meets G the smaller being a modified Keyser kit

 

[lone ranger]

Looking good Tony. Are you going to bring it to the next Salcott meet?

 

[Tony]

Not till its finished Jerry and if i can make it it will only be for a few minutes as i am double booked (night out at a live gig in Norwich)

 

[gregh]

That's another great looking Garratt. I like the comparison pic too.

 

[Shawn]

Gregh great pictures and video. Love your layout.