By Graham Ashby
I picked up the Mamod at the end of 2005/2006 Kent area Groups’ winter indoor steaming for £40. There was a possibility that it was a non-runner but I took a chance; 1, on the engine and 2, on what my wife would say.
The engine was put on a shelf in my garage for a couple of weeks till one day I gave her a try on blocks to see if it did work.
Boiler filled with warm water, motion oiled, solid fuel tablets light and sit and wait!!!!!!!! After a few minutes steam from the safety valve, push the reversing leaver over, a flick of the wheels and…………..steam, water from under the smoke box then yes the wheels moved on their own. A few minutes on the blocks then outside on the track with my son Ben one end and me the other for a game of Mamod ping pong which went on for about 30 minutes until it got too cold to stay out. How to play Mamod ping pong? Two people at each end of a length of track with the loco running between each of us.
What next? My first idea was to convert it in to a quarry Hunslet. I couldn’t think of a good way of letting the heat from the burner escape from under the saddle tank. Idea number two an early George England side tank “Prince”.
So a cardboard side tank was made to look at proportions, cab back plate removed cab front plate cut off and some early photo’s of George England loco’s where researched on the internet.
An order to IP Engineering for up rated safety valve and boiler top up valve. More test running as and when new bits were fitted. This helps if the loco stops or doesn’t work so well, you can trace back to see were the problem may be. I went to my local model shop (now closed down) for brass sheet and angle and the first side tank was made up and fitted.
This was shown, as above, at a show at The Powder Mills Museum in Essex
Then an operation a couple few years ago forced me off work for six weeks. As I had discomfort sitting down (the op was on my stomach) standing in the workshop made for great therapy and was a lot more satisfying then daytime TV. The other tank was built and a scratch brass tender designed and built – wheels and axle guards being sourced from IP Engineering.
I have fitted both a Roundhouse lubricator which works brilliantly plus a new chimney and the effect looks good.
Over the past couple of years little bits of tinkering have taken place. I had to replace the cylinders after one group winter meet. The dear little engine thought she was a bird and took to flying. The first couple of laps she plodded around: I topped up the meths and water let her go. She took off at a rate of knots, went round the far corner on 2 wheels at 30 degs then lifted off she was airborne with a trail of flame behind her looking more like a comet crashing onto some chairs in front of the stage (our very own Andrew Coward had just got up from them). We have now put a crash barrier around this part of the track. Damage? Bent frame and piston rod. It’s due a new boiler some time soon which should help stop the erratic running.
I have named her after my youngest daughter Rebecca. Why? She is erratic, burns your fingers, stubborn, does what she wants and can show you up in public! The Mamod does as well!! Both are now controllable!
So now I have a lovely little engine that looks right and runs nicely.
Graham Ashby
List of new bits:
IP Engineering:-
Buffer beams and couplings
Tender wheels and axle boxes
Steam Dreams:-
New boiler
Anything Narrow Gauge:-
New chassis complete
Roundhouse:-
Lubricator
Line Side Delights:-
Chimney
Swanscombe Models (now closed down):-
Brass angle
Brass sheet