Locomotion Steam Railbus - Getting it going ...

Hi there, this is my first time posting on this forum so go easy on me :)

I recently acquired an O-gauge locomotion live steam railbus. I am quite familiar with live steam operation (5+ years), but my knowledge is in 3.5" and 7.25/7.5" gauge coal burners. The person I bought it from got it from another club member near me, but thought it was G-gauge so decided to resell it.

The site glass unfortunately was broken before he sold it to me (not sure if he acquired it that way) and the person who i purchased it from has had difficulty locating it. I was wondering if anyone can let me know what diameter of site glass I would need, and the length if possible.

I do have steam oil, however from the thread so far it seems like it would be too heavy (600 weight).

Because it is third hand, i wasn't able to get a lot of details of the engine components.

It has a good all filler, from the video posted earlier this looks to be where the steam oil goes. in the video its on the opposite side to the camera so its not completely obvious :)

I'd like to do an inventory of the various parts:
1) gas fill
2) ?
3) safety valve
4) is this the regulator
5) is this the water fill - right in the smoke stack?
6) good all filler - steam oil?
7) is this the reverser? (not sure if i got 4 & 7 reversed)

In the larger scale i can use typical oiling cans and such, any tips or tricks about filling these significantly smaller nozzles?

I am located in Canada.

All advise/suggestions appreciated!
 

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THIS, posting by DunnyRail five years ago from YouTube, is likely your best friend....however, it looks as though your model has a condenser tank and drain - the #6 on your annotated image. Your safety valve is also the water fill directly into the boiler - NOT any kind of Goodall valve, and the thin tube in the stack is called a 'chuff pipe' a kind of amplifier for the motor impulse that give a chuff noise, although with a twin-cylinder oscillator thrashing around like a mad woman on a caffeine hit you might not hear the difference.

 
Last edited:
lachlann562 said:
1) gas fill
2) ?
3) safety valve
4) is this the regulator
5) is this the water fill - right in the smoke stack?
6) good all filler - steam oil?
7) is this the reverser? (not sure if i got 4 & 7 reversed)
Click to expand...

Hi,
I had one of these and sold it a few years ago.
1. yes, probably a 'Ronson' style valve.
2. This is the gas valve, I think. Turns on gas to the burner.
3. Safety valve - as Tac says, not a Goodall valve. You unscrew it to fill the boiler.
4. Yes.
5. No. See #3. It's actually the steam exhaust from the cylinders, and not any kind of 'chuff' enhancer.
6. No idea what you got underneath. Doubtful that it is a condenser tank and drain, as the steam exhausts up the stack/chimney. Where does the pipe (pic 2) go to?
7. Yes, I think so.

I recall the sight glass is a bear. Difficult to reach and held by those two long bolts. Best of luck!

20210528_100119-sm.jpg

Finally, I don't think it uses steam oil. You just slap a lot of oil on the cylinder faces. I could be wrong?
 
Fred2179G said:
Hi,
I had one of these and sold it a few years ago.
1. yes, probably a 'Ronson' style valve.
2. This is the gas valve, I think. Turns on gas to the burner.
3. Safety valve - as Tac says, not a Goodall valve. You unscrew it to fill the boiler.
4. Yes.
5. No. See #3. It's actually the steam exhaust from the cylinders, and not any kind of 'chuff' enhancer.
6. No idea what you got underneath. Doubtful that it is a condenser tank and drain, as the steam exhausts up the stack/chimney. Where does the pipe (pic 2) go to?
7. Yes, I think so.

I recall the sight glass is a bear. Difficult to reach and held by those two long bolts. Best of luck!

View attachment 348123

Finally, I don't think it uses steam oil. You just slap a lot of oil on the cylinder faces. I could be wrong?
Click to expand...


Since there is no obvious place to put it, I'd go along with that - but STILL use steam oil!

Edit for unrightnesshoodship.
 
Last edited:
tac foley said:
yes to the 'not a chuff-pipe', however, that IS what they look like!
Click to expand...
Sorry to be disagreeable, but, in my experience, that is not what they look like. Chris Bird's Chuffers have a big brass cylinder and you see the flat top of that.
This is my AML PRR K4, before I painted the chuffer.

20181229_151751_resized-k4-chuffer-sm.jpg

The Locomotion Railbus is just an open pipe and will throw water all over the roof!
 
Fred2179G said:
Sorry to be disagreeable, but, in my experience, that is not what they look like. Chris Bird's Chuffers have a big brass cylinder and you see the flat top of that.
This is my AML PRR K4, before I painted the chuffer.

View attachment 348124

The Locomotion Railbus is just an open pipe and will throw water all over the roof!
Click to expand...

I just checked, and you are right! Whoops.
 
A friend of mine happened to mention they have a bottle of wilesco steam oil - do you think this would work?
www.wilesco-shop.de

Steam Engine Oil Z83

Steam engine oil perfectly matched to your Wilesco steam engine. Without steam engine oil - as probably every steam lover knows - no steam engine runs. Regular and sufficient oiling with our original Wilesco steam engine oil.
www.wilesco-shop.de www.wilesco-shop.de
 
lachlann562 said:
A friend of mine happened to mention they have a bottle of wilesco steam oil - do you think this would work?
www.wilesco-shop.de

Steam Engine Oil Z83

Steam engine oil perfectly matched to your Wilesco steam engine. Without steam engine oil - as probably every steam lover knows - no steam engine runs. Regular and sufficient oiling with our original Wilesco steam engine oil.
www.wilesco-shop.de www.wilesco-shop.de
Click to expand...
Wilesco steam oil that I've seen is 460 weight. With an oscillator motor like that on the railbus, lighter is better. I have three Wilesco steamers - since the late 70's - they seem to like what I would call 460, so that's what I use. Do not be tempted to use automotive oil.
 
You lucky, lucky person. They are lovely engines. Unfortunately ive only ever seen them from a distance! If you can, the best thing to do is see if theres s local 16mm group close to you, there are some in Canada, but as it isn't exactly a small country it may not be possible.
 
Paul M said:
You lucky, lucky person. They are lovely engines. Unfortunately ive only ever seen them from a distance! If you can, the best thing to do is see if theres s local 16mm group close to you, there are some in Canada, but as it isn't exactly a small country it may not be possible.
Click to expand...

Depends where he lives - there's a great group in Ontario - Great Lakes Live Steamers - and another bunch over in the Vancouver area, but as for the middle 1750 miles or more, I've no idea.

Joining the Association would be a good idea, as it puts you in touch with everybody else in in, no matter where you might live.

My own group, Ottawa Valley Garden Railway Society, tends to run operations, rather then gentle flarping around a track. The IPPW is a working railway in both standard and narrow gauge alternately. Totally r/c, we move between 200 and 400 cars around scheduled trips, with an engineer and conductor with radio, waybill/train orders, and a fearsome yard manager who also has full control over the barbeque. The sessions can last about 5 -6 hours, and all are welcome, if that kind of trains is your thing.
 
tac foley said:
Depends where he lives - there's a great group in Ontario - Great Lakes Live Steamers - and another bunch over in the Vancouver area, but as for the middle 1750 miles or more, I've no idea.

Joining the Association would be a good idea, as it puts you in touch with everybody else in in, no matter where you might live.

My own group, Ottawa Valley Garden Railway Society, tends to run operations, rather then gentle flarping around a track. The IPPW is a working railway in both standard and narrow gauge alternately. Totally r/c, we move between 200 and 400 cars around scheduled trips, with an engineer and conductor with radio, waybill/train orders, and a fearsome yard manager who also has full control over the barbeque. The sessions can last about 5 -6 hours, and all are welcome, if that kind of trains is your thing.
Click to expand...
I am in southwest ontario and part of the Southern Ontario Live Steamers, but none of the club members operate in this gauge. It is mostly a 7.5" gauge group - i have a 3.5" Juliet my grandfather built, a 4.75" Countess of Dufferin, a 4.75" battery operated switcher and an Ottaway pump-it handcar that I've re-gauged to run on both 7 1/4" and 7 1/2". At the club i'm largely in charge of the 7.5" pacific loco.

I looked up the great lakes live steamers, but it looks like they are in Michigan - not Ontario.

Here is me and my son at the club:
1758921420588.png

and my grandfathers loco:
1758921600624.jpeg
 
Sadly I can't openly give you any addresses from Canada as all those I DO know are fellow members of the 16mm association, and our addresses are private.

If you write me a pm I'll see what I can do to help, 'kay?
 
Bore da, Lachlan!

Well, I've located a contact for you over in North America - 2, 3, 4 and 5 October - contact northamerican16mmmodellers.org to see the where, but I suppect it might be a tread to far for you.. The only personal contact I can offer is with Rob Kuhlman - rkuhlman331@gmaol.com.

Epovah you'll get a steer from him for somebody in Canada with 32mm track - as I said, I don't know anybody there who doesn't run on 45.

Sorry I can't be more helpish,
 
tac foley said:
I've located a contact for you over in North America
Click to expand...
The 16mm Association North America members will be at the East Broad Top (EBT), Orbisonia, PA for the Friends of EBT Reunion. Mike Moore's tracks will be there, and he has a 32mm loop. Steaming will be Saturday and Sunday, Oct 4th - 5th. I will be there, all things being equal. Click the 2025 link on the menu for details.
16mm Assoc Annual Meeting 2025

Looking at the list, I don't see anyone from Canada. A few from NH. Rob is the North Amerian rep, so if you contact him he can supply info about 16mm modellers in your area.
 
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