Cab fittings

[tedp]

Having fitted cab detail to many of my locomotives, I agree to what Mick says. Even if you only hint at some detail, it will work. A tender engine or an open cab engine will need more detail than a tank loco with a closed cab. It looks very nice if you look under the cab roof from behind.

[clayliner]

Unlike the other guys on the Sales Team - who can identify a Cuckoo at fifty paces (and probably by the noise it makes, too) - I don't know my Arnold from my Kato, so there's not a lot I can tell you, Mick, except that it says 'Trix' on the bottom. I'm sure you'll be able to fill in the rest. But it runs quite sweetly (although maybe less so when I've finished with it).

Thanks for your thoughts, Ted - I guessed you would have a helpful contribution to the discussion!

David.

[MickT]

Thanks David, I thought it might be a Minitrix but wasn't sure.

To assist your growing knowledge of all things N and 009 whilst working in the sales Thursday team: It is a Minitrix Br89 0-6-0T chassis, "the one without side tanks" or also known as "The Minitrix 0-6-0 with valve gear". If you had the full loco to start with, it will have come with a sort of horizonatal prong ahead of the cab which the boiler slotted in to.

I've had 3 of these over the years and unfortunately my own experience has not matched the good reputation this chassis has, as 2 of mine developed gremlins that I foolishly tried to diagnose and fix with the result that I now have a box with a thousand bits in it that used to be 2 of these locos!! (The other one is OK but has not yet been assigned to a project!)

Mick

[clayliner]

Just to add some further examples following a recent trip to Spain. First, two San Feliu - Girona locos.

This is the colourfully restored cab of No. 5 -

SFG No 5 backhead by clayliner, on Flickr

- the colours do help in identifying various components. I presume the two white items either side of the firebox are injectors, fed by the black pipes from the steam fountain (is it common to find them inside the cab?) There is a gauge glass on the far side, and, on the near side, a trio of red-handled cocks, presumably as a backup.  The whistle on the cab roof is/was activated by a rod from the top of the fountain, which has been disconnected.

This is a close-up of the fountain:

SFG No 5 steam fountain (1) by clayliner, on Flickr

This is a (gloomier) view of the inside of the cab of class-mate No. 4:

SFG No4 backhead 1 by clayliner, on Flickr

-the linkage to the whistle is intact here.

Finally, inside the cab of a little La Meuse 0-4-0 at the Asland Cement Works on the La Pobla line:

La Meuse 0-4-0 backhead by clayliner, on Flickr

- an altogether simpler affair, rather reminiscent of a domestic Aga.

Hope this is helpful / inspirational to someone.

David.