My Live Steam Loco's No.1 - Mamod SL1

CCairns · My Live Steam Loco's No.1 - Mamod SL1

My first Live Steam Loco is this Mamod SL1.

This was part of a near complete Mamod RS1 set that I purchased at the Members stall at the Merstham Steam Show 1996, together with a Guards Van & Goods Van.

The loco is in good condition, but suffered from erratic steaming (could have been due to old fuel tablets) and dribbles from the steam regulator/reverser. The log wagon has lost its original logs, and both this and the open wagon have had the Mamod coupling replaced by copper wire soldered into 2 rings per coupling. 2 of the curves had broken tabs, but my attempt to fix these failed when the zinc alloy melted before the solder.

I also purchased a meths vapouriser for this Loco, but it has so far failed to raise sufficient steam to move the loco. Looking at another website online, it looks as if the vapouriser should just hang in the burner tray, so I will need to remove the bottom of the tray at some point, and make the vapouriser a better fit.

I intend to keep this set as near original as possible. There was a oil bottle as well, but this was split and had leaked most of the oil out so I removed it from the set.

Chris Cairns

Chris

Looks in great condition. I think someone else on here had one of those vap burners for locos.

Might just need a good oiling and some running in.

Graham-Jilly

I have one of those burners but found it unsuccesful so purchased a 3 wick burner and uprated SV from IP and havent looked back
Nice loco you have there
MM is more the exprt on these so im sure he will advise on the best way to fix
Cheers G-J

Mamodman123

Try a 3 wick burner from PPS!

It should be able to at least move under solid fuel though, fix the leaks and it'll be good

Doesn't look to have been used much either so a good running in will always help

tmuir

The leaks from the regulator are fairly easy to fix and that will help maintain pressure.
Have a look at this link from when I upgraded my SL2 for tips on how to fix the leask.
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about1251.html

Looks like a nice clean loco though.

SillyBilly

I was very succesfull with my vap burner.

P.S. Chris C, I'll PM you a pic of those logs later, I keep ofn forgeting sorry!

CCairns · My Live Steam Loco's No.1 - Mamod SL1

Thanks to all for your kind comments and advice.

When I purchased the Vapourising Burner I was advised to file the sides so that it would fit into the solid fuel tray after bending the tabs flat that hold the tablets in. However on Peter Longfils' Yahoo Low Cost Garden Railway Modelling group he has the burner sticking out through the bottom of the solid fuel tray (see http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/...en_Railways/photos/view/9da3?b=16 - requires membership). This is probably my problem as it produces quite a tall flame and thus my burner is too close to the boiler to heat it properly.

Tony - I have already read through your very good posting on upgrading your SL2. Recent runs with this loco on my rolling road using solid fuel points to the water leak coming from the back of the regulator/reverser valve, so probably just needs new O rings fitted. Does not appear to have any major steam leaks present.

Chris Cairns.

tmuir

No problems glad to of helped.
I just notice you live in Glasgow.
I used to live in Battlefield, Glasgow from 1997 to 2000 before moving back to Australia.
I enjoyed my time in Glasgow and that is where I met my Wife in the Griffen Pub in the city centre.

CCairns · My Live Steam Loco's No.1 - Mamod SL1

Hi Tony,

Sorry for the slow reply but I've been busy in Zimbabwe & Botswana photographing full size steam.

Glad you enjoyed your time in Glasgow. I used to live on the Southside just outside the city boundary, so Battlefield Road was a common route to get into and out of town. I now live on the Southeast side close to Newton Railway station on the West Coast mainline.

I've PM'd you regarding the Mamod Gauge 1 Wheels.

Chris Cairns.