I recently went from building home model railroad cars and locomotives to becoming interested in building a real working railroad, since I plan to retire to Harrisonburg VA within a few years and acquire a lot of land for the RR to run through. I'm not sure, btw, if this is the right forum for asking questions of the 1:1 type.
So I acquired 5 kiln cars and assorted wheel sets and am looking to bank some rails in the 8-30# range. But my question has to do with the locomotive engine.
Right now, I'm welding some C channel into a 38"x 80" frame which will be bolted the axle/wheels/pedestals and atop which will mount some sort of engine.
There are several options I have that I need help sorting thru.
1. I could acquire one already built, spending up to $5K (my budget). That would certainly lessen the work needed to be done but it wouldn't be something I created. Also, there's become a huge following in 1:1 railways and these get snapped up quickly and the price is inflated.
2. I'm not enough of a machinist to make castings and cylinders, but I thought to acquire a generator and AC motor (with slow RPM and high torque) and find some gears to make it all work. A site from someone who tried this might help.
3. I could buy this F-M gas engine, but if it runs seems sketchy: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/182294986025?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true (wish the seller would have said more)
4. I could take apart a ride on tractor or quad and try that.
Any suggestions welcome
So I acquired 5 kiln cars and assorted wheel sets and am looking to bank some rails in the 8-30# range. But my question has to do with the locomotive engine.
Right now, I'm welding some C channel into a 38"x 80" frame which will be bolted the axle/wheels/pedestals and atop which will mount some sort of engine.
There are several options I have that I need help sorting thru.
1. I could acquire one already built, spending up to $5K (my budget). That would certainly lessen the work needed to be done but it wouldn't be something I created. Also, there's become a huge following in 1:1 railways and these get snapped up quickly and the price is inflated.
2. I'm not enough of a machinist to make castings and cylinders, but I thought to acquire a generator and AC motor (with slow RPM and high torque) and find some gears to make it all work. A site from someone who tried this might help.
3. I could buy this F-M gas engine, but if it runs seems sketchy: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/182294986025?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true (wish the seller would have said more)
4. I could take apart a ride on tractor or quad and try that.
Any suggestions welcome
But I think you are going to need something larger than a single cylinder engine.
