Some of my Gauge 3 rolling stock

[Mike W]

Seeing so many people post on here things they are making or have made, perhaps I have been remiss in not blowing the trumpet for Gauge 3. So, over time I aim to post a few pictures of random wagons!

First off, the very first Gauge 3 wagon I built. Its a long story, but I had a Christmas break with nothing to do, so shut myself away and on the spur of the moment made the body pattern for a very simple LNWR D1 single plank open, the plan being to have it cast in resin, keep a couple and sell the remainder of the batch to cover my costs. The transfers were made for me by Peter Chatham. The W irons are laser cut 20g steel, the axleboxes cast brass from a pattern made by Tim Hughes, and the whitemetal dummy leaf springs were cast by Adrian Swain. I think Adrian thought that the demand for Gauge 3 was very small, but to date I've had 5,000 of them cast! Did someone say Gauge 3 was a minority interest?

 

[john lewsey]

Looks good to me Mike, any more.

 

[Jon Nazareth]

Keep them coming,Mike. It would be nice to see your stock with a bit of a story attached.

Jon

 

[Jordan]

Did someone say Gauge 3 was a minority interest?

I remember a Gauge 3 layout at the old Wolverhampton show, a Light Railway terminus in minimum space (for the scale!! It looked like 8ft or so) that was very simple but fascinating viewing, the models had presence that even U.S. O Scale would be jealous of, and it had plenty of atmosphere.
No idea what it's name was, & never seen any photos of it. It would've been around 1985 or thereabouts.

 

[Mike W]

That's interesting Jordan. That would be way before my time in Gauge 3 and I've not heard of any portable layouts around then. The Gauge 3 Society was formed in 1990 in order to keep the scale alive, so perhaps one of the founder members had a portable track.
Mike

 

[Neil]

I may be able to help, was it this layout Jordan?



Ivydale (All Hallows) by Fraser Cantrill featured in the December 1996 Railway Modeller. I thought it was brilliant at the time and I still do. Never seen it in the flesh though.

 

[Mike W]

Ah yes! I never saw it either, but it was 16mm scale. Close to Gauge 3 which is 13.5mm, but not quite close enough!
Mike

 

[Ian_T]

I'm not so sure Mike.

It looks like standard gauge (Light Railway) and I've seen that little loco before. It may even be the one that Cliff has these days...

Regards,

IanT

 

[Jordan]

was it this layout Jordan?

No, sorry. I'll have to draw a rough track plan. Rough because it will be purely based on memory!!
Ok, this is the gist of it - rural scenery, sector plate hidden siding, goods facility in front. Platform on the loop - took a single coach which was left in place at the platform as the loco ran round it. There was a road on the left but I can't recall if there was a level crossing or not.

Given the size of the stock, even that simple run round move was fascinating to watch!!
I can't recall but they might have run a mixed train at times as well.

 

[Mike W]

Next wagon is another LNWR, chosen because it uses most of the same fittings at the D1 open wagon. Cast by CMA in one piece but without a floor, so the roof, roof door and roof to side joints can be as perfect as I can make them on the pattern, rather than expect the builder to do his best. I chose the 15ft 6in D32 thinking that one day I would do the later 16ft D33 as well, but somehow the years fly past and I will never do that now.
The cast leaf springs have a spigot in the centre pointing downwards and this locates a small stainless steel coil spring, the lower end of which fits into a pocket in the top of the axlebox, providing springing. I enjoy making one-off patterns like this, especially poring over photographs looking for the odd rivet or nut that's hidden away but can easily be added and then replicated on every casting, like the square bolt heads on the edges of the framing.

 

[Mike W]

I should add that so far these have been pictures of my display models, so pristine condition with no weathering.
Mike