5" Big Boy

Alberto has just uploaded some pics of his Big Boy which is getting close to steaming. He's not promising to have it in steam for the open day in May but I'd be suprised if it did not make an appearance.

http://www.ferroviefelettane.it/

Click on 'in costruzione' and scroll to the bottom for the latest pics.

 

The quality of the design and the workmanship is breathtaking =D>

Look forward to seeing pictures of it in steam!

Regards,

Dan

 

Very impressive. Just one question: how does he plan to fire a firebox that large through a hole that small??? :-k

Cheers,

Dom Greenop
DMR

 

Totally first class,

This is a great example of a first class build and would love to see this fine machine in motion. How many hours have gone into it's production so far?

MT

 

To answer the questions.

The beast will be oil fired as Alberto is not sure if riding on the tender will be a good idea so there will be some extensions to the controls and a remotely operated burner. The burner has already been trialled and it gives off enough heat to singe eyebrows at 10 paces......

So far he has been at this since late 2002, initally as an evening job. He retired about 3 years ago and now dedicates more time to the project but like most things there are spurts of enthusiasm with more progress. I am not sure if he has kept a log of his hours but I have to say he is a perfectionist, probably coming from owning his own high precision engineering company for many years.

Just to keep these eccenticities within the family his son in law is building a working replica Boeing 737 cockpit. And is giving us advice to my son who is also keen to build an integrated flight simulator.

 

The boiler has been steamed for the first time and photos are in the update on Alberto's page. I've not had chance to speak to him directly yet about it.


http://www.ferroviefelettane.it/

Click on 'In costruzione' and go to the bottom.

 

After 6 years of work the Big Boy is ready for the road. Latest pictures on Alberto's site.

http://www.ferroviefelettane.it/Costruz ... uzione.htm

Scroll to the bottom of the page. Now all we need to do is convince him to take it to Sinsheim...

 

Fantastic project =D>
A few years ago I bought a CD which contains all the works drawings as pdf scans with the intention of doing a 2 1/2" gauge model. I changed my mind when I saw how complicated it would be due to the small size of 22nd scale.
I'm now doing a 1:7.793 model of the MR Paget 2-6-2.

 

Wow!

Think I will have to make do with the Athearn N gauge one though!

 

Pictures say a thousand words...

...thankfully as i know little Italian

(Did watch Von Ryans Express tho)

Its one hell of a 5 inch Big Boy

Fan Tas Tic

 

Just get Google to translate it =D>
http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...ne/costruzione.htm&sl=it&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

 

This should be a link to a video clip of the Big Boy under test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRhZYvx_ZNs

 

More film of the final test. Or another excuse to see the beast in steam. And at the end Alberto gives it the OK for traffic.
So the next steam up at his line should see the Big Boy in action. \/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrzfcNogohw

 

And finally

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd54gWGuY6I

The beast on Alberto's track making it's first run. I don't think that I can say anything else. A great engine built by a true gentlemen.

 

A fantastic machine, did you know there's another 5" Big Boy that operates a bit closer to home at Beechhurst Gardens in Haywards Heath? http://www.beechhurst-railway.org.uk/ga ... Nick01.htm

 

From my house Alberto's is a bit closer. Plus the food is better, the weather is warmer.. :-#

I have seen pictures of the one at the Bowling Green track.