North London Railway Class 51 4-4-0T

[garethashenden]

I hope this helps with your project. The backhead isn't too clear, but it gives some cab details. Additionally, Iain Rice built an open cabbed version in the '80s and wrote it up. He included a couple of drawings, one of which was his conjecture as to the cab fittings. I have a copy somewhere, I'll track it down in the morning.

 

[Michael D]

Hi Gareth, thank you, yes thats the plan ive been working to, The Rice article was useful but its a bit guesswork?
hope youre well, lots been happening since we were last in touch, ill send you a message!

One thing im not sure about is the height of the cab footplate, theres different opinions that the splasher height was the floor and or three was a step down onto the cab floor, I guess all will become clear when the casting for the backhead arrives.
Certainly doing this in S7 reduces compromises on frame and splasher spacing and has been well worth it.......
best wishes
Michael

 

[garethashenden]

I think the footplate is on top of the frames, with a step down from the splashers. Looking at the picture on the RTCS site I can seen a drop off on the other side of the splasher. I'm not sure that there would really be room to stand up in the footplate was at splasher height.

4-4-0T | JHV0070 - Cl 4-4-0T No. 109 (NLR) at Barking (bunker cut off) 28/4/23

 

[john lewsey]

Hi Gareth there are some lovely photos there
John

 

[Michael D]

And then... I know this is an outside cylinder but they dont look like they are standing on a dropped floor? With the splasher height it still leaves a good 6' headroom???? also if they were on the footplate/running plate height they wouldn't see out out of the front window, it might suggest the floor was raised looking where the loco controls are in relation as well??? Who knows I guess is the answer.....

 

[Obblygobbly]

Looking at the drawing, there appears to be a 7ft 6in dimension from the top of the footplate to the underside of the cab roof. Why show that dimension, unless it was the height of the inside of the cab? Also, the bottom of the firebox door appears to be well below the level of the splasher top. There would surely have to be a low floor in the middle of the cab to access it and to open the firebox door?

 

[Michael D]

Indeed and that probably settles it as far as I can see. Different pictures at different angles, cross checking plans with subclasses of 2 variations of cabs possible, short cabs, long cabs,3 rebuilds in their history all adds to the fun....

 

[john lewsey]

Lovely photo I quite like that loco

 

[Tim Watson]

It also generates biblical quantities of fluff, which is not good for the ‘proper’ model railway scales.

Tim

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Judging by the photo in post #25 above the driver (facing the photographer) is standing on the cab floor and the fireman has propped himself up on the splasher cover as you can see his foot resting there.

I would expect the splasher cover to be at the most one foot wide as the crew have to step over this. A similar situation can be seen in the Beattie well tank below:

 

[Michael D]

I found myself in York over the weekend so thought it worth a look at the 1/8th model they have,built at Bow Works by the apprentices so heres the answer to the cab conundrum.Im guessing although this is the narrower cab version it would have to have been the same setup, and its back to the drawing board with the backhead,just like the tank fillers the NLR had to be different with the firebox door! There were several variations in sub class and rebuilds over the years for these real terriers of suburban commuter locos apart from the inside outside cylinders. But the outside one is for another day, the Park 0-6-0 goods tank is on the drawing board with the frames ready to go as a little distraction.....

 

[Steph Dale]

Michael,
You just needed a little more faith - that is the arrangement shown on the GA. Although not obvious it is a true section through the locomotive so the thick line through the cab base is the floor.

And that 1/8 model is an absolute beauty. With so much of the collection not on public display I'd say you were remarkably lucky to find it both out and accessible. I do wonder if that fireman's side sander handle has got knocked around though...

As an aside, those cab fittings look very much like those used for Adams locos. I suspect you'll find most of them fairly readily available if you take some care with selection.

Steph

 

[garethashenden]

Is it just a reflection or is the inside of the cab dark red?

 

[Michael D]

Definitely dark red Gareth, including the back of the cab
Best wishes
Michael

 

[Michael D]

Afternoon all, I thought I should take a slight diversion away from loco matters and so Bow Wagon Works has been quite active, by the magic of some lolly sticks,plasticard,brass, the works drawings and my trusty kitchen table, theres now a very presentable 1870's dumb buffered coal wagon from our local coal merchants of old on the Caledonian Road and to keep it company an old short NLR Brake Van
best wishes Michael

 

[Steph Dale]

Michael,

Just flicking through a couple of magazines, I came across this picture which I thought might be useful to you:

(Image courtesy NRM, reproduced here for educational use)

Steph

 

[Michael D]

Thanks Steph, thats a new one for me, I sorted out the inside of the cab, splashers and floor finally!
best Michael

 

[Michael D]

Evening all,
So ABC gears delivered a rather fabulous gearbox today, so with great trepidation I spent the afternoon fitting and playing with pick-ups, took a deep breath and low and behold it works!
One of those super moments in our wonderful hobby, my first Scratchbuilt effort is coming to life!
So will have to crack on with the rest of the chassis detailing now, and try and get it presentable for its next outing to the Reading Show (ALSRM?) in a couple of weekends
all best Michael

 

[Steph Dale]

Marvellous, I love it when a plan comes together!

Steph

 

[adrian]

One of those super moments in our wonderful hobby, my first Scratchbuilt effort is coming to life!

Fantastic, it is a good achievement. Although to be honest my heart was in my mouth watching the test run. I'm not sure I'd have been brave enough to try a test run without a couple of end plates on the test track.