Vital Statistics

Occasional Special No. 2


Hello Chums

You might recall that I mentioned, in the part of the surprisingly brief mini-series discussing cylinders, that for two inside cylinders, their diameter was constrained by the distance between the inside faces of the frames. I mentioned that this distance was about four feet. This was based on my own experience as I hadn't seen a relevant published figure for this dimension.

Then, on 17 March of this year, @cmason posted on my Poppingham thread a very interesting article from The Engineer about the North Eastern Railway's Gateshead Works.

The article is fascinating and, on page 616, is probably the most comprehensive list of dimensions of a British inside-cylinder locomotive I have ever seen. With Colin's kind permission, I'm glad to reproduce the article here. A look at all the relevant dimensions will demonstrate just how tightly constrained locomotive engineers were by the standard gauge and the British structure gauge.

Incidentally, outside cylinders had their own limitations on diameter due to the distance between the outside face of the frames and the edge of station platforms.

Of course, all the other dimensions included in the list are worth thinking about.

With SuperSpecial thanks to Colin.


'N' Gauge is Such Fun!

Many thanks for looking and all best wishes.

Toodle-oo

John

So far this year has seen another Peak, 64xx, 57xx, Britannia added to the fleet. Three of the new Halls, a BoB and a Mogul are also on the pre order list, so yes it will be a rather expensive year.

I've bought 1 book on a railway that I'm modelling, about a dozen wagons so far.
Most further spending in 2mm will be on plasticard , I have a lot of buildings to build of real prototypes.. spend so far £100 ISH, expected another £100 on that. Then when I decide how to do it that layout needs another £200, on building the off scene boards with track.

Then there an order sitting on this tablet, that will be ordered next week, to build something in 1.5mm. £280

Then some non expense, literally today  I've just inherited around another £100  of 4mm scale lorries.

With several items on the pre-order list the last thing I needed was to spend too much at the Newton Abbot toy and train fayre this morning.

Hmmmmmm........was this too much I wonder ?

Delayed by publisher's health: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mrhpub.com/2026-04-apr/download.html

Jon

Quote from: Bob G on April 19, 2026, 12:04:49 PM

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 19, 2026, 11:39:28 AMWho knows? the goalposts move more often than an orange man changes his mind

I didn't realise the Dutch changed their minds a lot? I thought they just kept their finger in the dyke.

  

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 19, 2026, 11:39:28 AMWho knows? the goalposts move more often than an orange man changes his mind

I didn't realise the Dutch changed their minds a lot? I thought they just kept their finger in the dyke.

Quote from: Bazza on April 19, 2026, 11:30:56 AM

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 19, 2026, 11:25:42 AMBoth the Bulleid light pacifics and the Moguls are due Qtr 2 2026 but, then again.............

Yep. Aren't we already in Q2 2026? So theoretically due anytime now.

Who knows? the goalposts move more often than an orange man changes his mind

I've got both the Mogul and Manor down for Q4/2026. I hope so because I have 4 WC/BB to purchase!

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 19, 2026, 11:25:42 AMBoth the Bulleid light pacifics and the Moguls are due Qtr 2 2026 but, then again.............

Yep. Aren't we already in Q2 2026? So theoretically due anytime now.