Southern Railway G Class 2-8-0
#107 and #154
(2001-??)

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Research & Resources

My models of 107 and 154 are based upon a smattering of linen blueprints from the Southern Railway Historical Association archives as well as copious measurements of the two prototypes on my own part.

The "Test" Chassis

My first chance to play with some manual machine tools resulted in what I call the "test chassis"--a manual machined one-off milled on a Bridgeport from 1/4" thick 304 stainless bar stock. One of the firsts on this chassis, which was on its way to becoming a two-rail electric model, was the test drivers: I actually insulated them using a thin sleeve of pvc pipe, turned to the OD of the disc driver centers, and then sandwiched between the driver centers and separate steel tyres heated on a hot plate. The hot tyres were placed around the pvc clad driver center lying flat on a plate of glass. With a little cool down and a bit of a trim of the melted pvc, all seemed well. Another thing I learned was how error is cumulative: bearing boxes, if not bored spot-on center, will just make for all sorts of problems keeping assembled drivers in tram with their frame. On the other hand, the frame was surprisingly accurate overall, with no more than a couple .001" variation over its length from the first to the last axle box opening.

Last update: 19 December 2011