Locomotive Projects

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Over the years Nigel has proposed several different designs of new locomotive to suit a specific task. If you are interested in helping him turn these ideas in to reality I am sure he'd love to hear from you !

Idris

Nigel's current proposal is for a 3 cylinder compound 2-8-0 based on the approximate size of the wartime USA TC S160 class. The compounding side of the loco (the S160 class being 2 cylinder simples) owes a considerable amount to the designed and almost built Chapelon post Second World War 152P class.

Nigel sees 'Idris' as the next logical step after building the Wardale 5AT. Whilst the 5AT is designed to work from day one Idris is proposed to contain several enhancements that are not yet proven in steam locomotive usage and thus would require a period of testing and tuning. That said having seen the initial specification there is nothing so radical that could be predicted to cause major problems. Rather the enhancements are both logical and evolutionary.

The head on view of 'Idris'. © Nigel A. H. Day
The head on view of 'Idris'. © Nigel A. H. Day

The side on view of 'Idris'. © Nigel A. H. Day

The side on view of 'Idris'. © Nigel A. H. Day

NGG17

Another project which exists on paper, from 1997, is an outline for a modern Garratt type locomotive. Following on from the South African Railways numbering system it has been given the class number NGG17. The locomotive, and a closely related 2-8-2+2-8-2 version, is designed to be able to up to 15 carriage trains over the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. From Porthmadog the locomotives would be able to continue on to the Ffestiniog Railway terminus at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Despite the power required to move such a train on the 2' gauge system this type would be small enough to fit the very restrictive Ffestiniog loading gauge. This is something the NGG16 Garratts used on the Welsh Highland Railway today can not do. They are several feet out of gauge on the FR !

The 1997 proposed NGG17 Garratt design. © Nigel A. H. Day

The 1997 proposed NGG17 Garratt design. © Nigel A. H. Day

'Day McMahon Steam Services' Era Projects

This 2-6-2t was worked out by Nigel and Shaun to be something of an ideal locomotive for narrow gauge lines. In size it is very similar to Ffestiniog Railway Alco 2-6-2t 'Mountaineer'. As designed the locomotive would have twice the haulage capacity of 'Mountaineer'. Courtesy of Nigel Day.

This 2-6-2t was worked out by Nigel and Shaun to be something of an ideal locomotive for narrow gauge lines. In size it is very similar to Ffestiniog Railway Alco 2-6-2t 'Mountaineer'. As designed the locomotive would have twice the haulage capacity of 'Mountaineer'. Courtesy of Nigel Day.

No prizes for guessing the inspiration for this design. But don't be fooled. This early effort would be a modern loco and not just a modified A4. Courtesy of Nigel Day.

No prizes for guessing the inspiration for this design. But don't be fooled. This early effort would be a modern loco and not just a modified A4. Courtesy of Nigel Day.

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