The Heybridge Railway, 1889 to 1913

[RichardG]

The proportions I want are seen in this Fowler A7 locomotive from 1913:
Fowler A7 Road Locomotive No. 13141 of 1913 'Jo' SO737 - Berrybrook Steam & Classics

Now I need to find out what "A7" and "B6" mean in the context of a traction engine! So far, I know the number is the power output.

(the last sentence is not true)

 

[mswjr]

There should be a line of rivets on the tender bunker sides, this is where the floor line would be and the water tank top.

 

[mswjr]

And A7 and B6 are the size and power of the engine a B6 is a large powerful one, Mostly cylinder size. ill find some online info for you.

 

[alastairq]

What about removing the chimney altogether at the bolted flange, and lay it down alongside somewhere? Also, would the 'crew' be anywhere near the beastie if it was being transported?

 

[RichardG]

On a Fowler locomotive, the chimney was hinged rather than detachable at the flange. So if I model the chimney lowered rather than stowed separately this would be good. Like many things, a photo of a chimney in its lowered state would be helpful before starting.

 

[Dog Star]

a photo of a chimney in its lowered state would be helpful before starting.

As in one of Fred Dibnah's videos?

 

[AndyB]

! So far, I know the number is the power output.

No, sorry, it isn't.
Fowler's classifications, on the face of it, don't have much logic to them and basic variations (such as single or compound cylinders) existed for the same classification.
The B6 engines are 10nhp.
As a dimensional check (data from Michael Lanes' book on Fowlers) , the flywheels are 4'6" dia x 6" wide at the rim, height to chimney top 12' 1 1/2", width 7' 6", length 18'7"

Scaling off a side-on photo, the chimney top should be approx 5' above the top of the smokebox.

Hope that helps.
Andy

 

[RichardG]

@mswjr yes the line of rivets is present along the side of the machine, just below footplate level and indeed around the back of the coal bunker.

@Dog Star I will try for YouTube this evening.

@AndyB sorry I read that a A7 is 7 nhp and jumped to the wrong conclusion.

If I view this 1:50 B6 as a smaller locomotive in 1:43.5 scale, these are the main dimensions:

hind wheel diameter 44 mm, 6 ft 3 in​

front wheel diameter 29 mm, 4ft 2 in​

flywheel diameter 28 mm, 4 ft​

width 48 mm, 6 ft 10 in​

length 112 mm, 16 ft measured to rear of bunker, excludes towing bracketry​

All dimensions rounded to the nearest mm and equivalent inch.

Height of chimney top 73 mm to ground, 29 mm to top of boiler. I'm sure, if I give the model a taller chimney then the model will resemble a smaller Fowler. Michael Lane's book sounds useful.

 

[Dog Star]

@Dog Star I will try for YouTube this evening.

On reflection, my comment and your response may lead to disappointment. Apologies.

 

[RichardG]

Graham I enjoyed Fred Dibnah's steeple jacking videos but ignored his traction engine ones. I did mean a chimney lowered not dropped

 

[AndyB]

Height of chimney top 73 mm to ground, 29 mm to top of boiler. I'm sure, if I give the model a taller chimney then the model will resemble a smaller Fowler. Michael Lane's book sounds useful.

It will be a compromise whichever way you go.
The wheels have too many spokes to be on a smaller engine.
From the nature of what they were built for, the big road engines were just massive in every respect. The smaller tractors were quite delicate in comparison.
Many people perhaps wouldn't spot the difference - I've just been around road steam and works drawings for too long, so apologies if I've come across as being negative or discouraging.

 

[RichardG]

Andy you are not seeming negative or discouraging. Rather, if I lay a photo of the Corgi model on top of a photo of the Fowler A7 of 1913 ‘Jo’ (SO 737) I see more similarities than differences.



Photo from the website of the vendor at
Fowler A7 Road Locomotive No. 13141 of 1913 'Jo' SO737 - Berrybrook Steam & Classics




Clearly, I am ignoring the matter of scale; but the hind wheels have the same number of spokes and on the front wheels I have just two spokes too many. The smokebox is longer and the underside of the chassis is lower. The chimney is shorter.

The only detail on the model which really screams at me is the towing bracketry. The back of the bunker is matt black, so I might to be able to cut this off, add something closer to scale, and repaint.

Fundamentally, I do think the Corgi model is very good for its price (around £25 secondhand but in as-new condition), and above all, it will look okay on my layout or as a wagon load because there are no other traction engines to compare it with. The hardest part is deciding whether I should depict it in working order or with chimney arranged for rail transport.

 

[RichardG]

For comparison, here is another Corgi traction engine laid over the same Fowler A7. This model is chained down onto a Lomac built by @Rob Pulham.



I have rotated Rob's photo clockwise to help the wheel centres to line up.

Corgi have used a greater variety of tooling for these models than I had realised up until now.