Hey folks,
I acquired this loco a couple years back in a trade and am curious as to what I may actually have here. I couldn’t identify any locos directly, but it seemed to resemble the “lady Anne” the most with a roundhouse tender? Maybe…?
The engine runs well, I have some videos I will upload and throw up on youtube for further investigation, if needed.
Thanks,
Matt
Looks like a modified Roundhouse Fowler.
Quick video of it running
Hey Tony, I had thought the same, only thing that makes me think otherwise is the placement of the sand dome and bell. The fowler has the double sand dome… the domes and boiler/jacket seem to be one piece without the ability to remove/replace them. And the cab has me thrown a bit too, unless someone had completely fabricated a new one, which could always be the case.
-Matt
This was my one and only Live Steamer.
A Fowler based Liberty Belle from Brandbright.
A superb runner and the test bed for my early specialist Live Steam R/C.
I only had it for a few months when I received an offer from a fan that was irresistible.
Brandbright did some special variations of the Roundhouse Fowler, it might be one of those with a bit more “Americanzing” done to it. The tender and frame are definatlly the Fowler. I was going to say its a modified Sandy River but I think Tony is right. It started life a Fowler based model, and modified from there, either by RH for Brandbright or by the original owner. Very common in the USA in those early days of live steam, as very little USA style engines were available till Roundhouse did the Sandy River and Pearse brought out the Colorado and Switcher. Mike
Gentlemen, thanks a lot for the info. Some further research based off of your parameters helped me find a little more detail. Definitely the fowler as you had suggested. I see the new fowlers are somewhat pricey.
With the modifications that have been done to this set up, any idea on what the value may be?
Thanks,
Matt
Had a few hours to hit the railroad while the kids napped today. I decided to do a little freshening up of the engine. Here are a few pics. I plan on doing more of a “standard” pilot on the engine. Just need to figure out what type.
Matt
Here is a quick video of the engine running this afternoon
Looks great, love the freshening up! Add Tony’s RCS RC control to her and really enjoy running steam. My Pearse 0-4-0 has it and it really makes it nice to keep speed smooth and prototypical. I can even switch and set out cars as it has working cut levers for the front and rear LGB knuckle couplers. Mike
What would the value of this loco be? I saw that they come compete and ready to run and also in kit form Either way one brand new would be well over 1000. I am leaning towards offloading this engine from my collection with tender included. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Matt Z said:
What would the value of this loco be? I saw that they come compete and ready to run and also in kit form Either way one brand new would be well over 1000. I am leaning towards offloading this engine from my collection with tender included. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Matt, I have a couple of UK locos from this era - one came from Mike T - and they were $500 to $700. Neither were Roundhouse, and the reputation alone would add $200+. Yours has a neat tender and definitely needs a wooden pilot beam or similar. I also bought a RH Argyll new for close to $1000 many years ago.
On the plus side it is a good looking loco from a good builder. On the other side it does not look like a US prototype. (My opinion. My Merlin doesn’t either.) I would think it would sell for $800-$900.
Maybe not on this website, perhaps. There are lots more live steamers on Mylivesteam, sorry mylargescale.com. Others can be found on facebook in the ‘gauge 1 live steamers’ group…
Would this be considered a Narrow Gauge Locomotive ?
Pete thank you for your input. Definitely appreciated. I actually have a flat faced wooden pilot for it. I just had it off because I was not a huge fan, I will throw it back on when I go to sell it. The reputation is definitely accurate too- I have many Accucraft Locos and this Roundhouse definitely runs great. Maybe its due to the different style of valve gear, or just overall engineering.
Rooster- I found some info on this loco- it is based off of a 2 foot gauge prototype from the Innisfail Tramway In Queensland. Here are a few neat photos that I found online.
Matt
Rooster said:
Would this be considered a Narrow Gauge Locomotive ?
Absolutely!
Pete Thornton said:
Rooster said:
Would this be considered a Narrow Gauge Locomotive ?
Absolutely!
But it’s British with a Kingan Cal Ripken valve gear.
Rooster said:
Pete Thornton said:
Rooster said:
Would this be considered a Narrow Gauge Locomotive ?
Absolutely!
But it’s British with a Kingan Cal Ripken valve gear.
Looks to me like standard Walschaerts-type gear. (I had to look your suggestion up.) Kingan-Ripken has the link on the connecting rod, not the crosshead. (And his name was Hugo.)
Pete Thornton said:
Rooster said:
Pete Thornton said:
Rooster said:
Would this be considered a Narrow Gauge Locomotive ?
Absolutely!
But it’s British with a Kingan Cal Ripken valve gear.
Looks to me like standard Walschaerts-type gear. (I had to look your suggestion up.) Kingan-Ripken has the link on the connecting rod, not the crosshead. (And his name was Hugo.)
I don’t even like steam …however we are all learning and sharing here like we always have !
I would guess 800-1000 would be a good range price wise you could get for the engine and tender. If it was still in stock form as a Fowler it would fetch a bit more. As it sits now, it has to be up some ones alley so to speak to sell. Throw a price on it and put it in the for sale thread and see if you get any bites. Most train stuff is selling well, Roundhouse themselves are nearly booked thru 2021 and are taking reservations into 2022 for new engines as of this last week when I talked to them. Mike