Ace Engineering Works
Locomotives of the Ridgemont Hills Light Railway
Mamod SL1
First off I'll start with my Mamod SL1 locomotive. This was the first live steam model I ever owned, I aquired it when I was the grand age of 4 years old. At that age I knew this loco playfully as 'Steamy'. Obviously I was not able to run it myself, but it planted the seed for greater things to come.
After playing with this model for some 24 year on and off I had quite clearly played the wheels off of it. So in 2010 the SL1 received its very first overhaul. The only new parts that have remained on this loco are a new wheelset and a pair of new piston & cylinder assembly. The frames, firebox and smokebox were shot blasted and refinished in high temperature paint. The boiler inserts were slipping so the complete unit was silver soldered. The body received some clever painting. Only painting the cab and the tops of the saddle tanks to retain the original 'Mamod' logo.
Currently running with a bix gas conversion for ease of use.
Mamod SL1K
I bought this locomotive in 2010 when the 'steam bug' really bit again. I was old enough to now have some money behind me and bought this loco. The intension was to gut, strip and refinish with some carefully chosen upgrades to compliment its running. But after initial testing this little SL1K ran as sweet as a nut and I couldn't bring myself to disfigure it beyond what it really was. So I pulled off all the R/C gear left from the previous owner and set about an overhaul. The boiler suffered the same as the SL1 so I silver soldered all the inserts and shot blasted the frames and firebox. I re quartered the wheels and pressed the wheels solid back as they were intended.
Today this SL1K runs with all original parts as I received it. I managed to get a cab back in the correct livery (it was missing), and it too runs with a bix gas burner for ease of use.
Mamod SL2
This SL2 is one of two that I own, both bought in 2010. I really searched high and low for this one, then I found two! So I had both. This one is the rough playwarn one of the two, the other being a shelf queen. But having been put through the works it now runs like a dream. Having received very much the same overhaul as the SL1K, just the vital components were re worked.
I decided to leave the bent front buffer beam/smoke box alone as this added to the character of this loco. I just added a buffer as one was missing, notice the shiny one in the picture.
Currently running with a bix gas conversion for ease of use.
Locomotives in service
Mamod SL4 Princess of Wales
This SL4 is one of two, the other is on display unused. My father bought this locomotive, I believe out of pity. Putting to one side this model is royalty, this little SL4 was in a bad state. She was rusty, bent, flaking and dull, very poorly! Once again this loco was sent out on the RHLR for testing to find out if she had any issues before overhaul. The run highlighted a water leak from somewhere on the boiler and she clanked really bad on running.
She was sent for a structual and cosmetic overhaul. Upon silver soldering the boiler it had become apparent that a small pin head sized hole was in the bottom. I made a copper pin and soldered into the hole, very strange! Later on during the overhaul I found that the clanking was coming from the cylinders, not through wear but from massive internal steam leaks behind the cylinders. The frames had really badly rotted and were leaking past the gaskets. I shot blasted all the usual parts and filled the pitting in the frames with silver solder and filed them back so that this SL4 had all her origonal parts intact.
Today she runs with an uprated safety valve and a gas burner.
Mamod SL1 'CHEVALIER'
I bought this little SL1 as the one that would be upgraded. Originally Chevalier was a 45mm gauge loco and was absolutly lashed together. Bits of wood all over the place and steam pipe joined with PTFE tape! Chevalier did have some nice parts on her, a Mike Chaney cab regulator and steam take off and meths burner.
I began by putting Chevalier through the works as I couldn't steam her and changed her to 32mm with some dream steam turned steel wheels and a new set of 'o' ring cylinders. I converted a 'dead leg' lubricator to a 'displacement' type and modified the 5 wick burner to 3 so as slow down the consumtion of fuel.
In 2013 Chevalier was treated to a Roy Wood models upgraded reverser valve and a Summerlands Chuffer. She looks very play warn, runs like a dream and is one of my favourite!
MSS / Dream Steam Works full upgrade kit 'TITAN'
This is my fully upgraded Dream Steam kit. This loco is one of two, sister to 'Maximus'. She has every available upgrade on her that Dream Steam sell, apart from the 'fairground ride' brass bits. This loco is currently a work in progress and can be seen in the 'current projects' section. So far she runs and well! I have made a custon tender coupler and installed a larger gas tank and in the process of making a water top up system using a boiler primer pump and a home-made water tank with some clever one way pipe fixings. More on that later.
Titan was named as such because of the unbelieveable power that comes from the 'mamod gene pool' type of locomotive. Titan really has an attitude and literally chuffs along with incredable voice, even when under a very light load.
Titan is about to undergo a transformation into a US style locomotive with parts being gathered for the next stage of build.
Roundhouse Billy
I was given Billy in 1996 as a christmas present and what a lucky boy I was too! Billy is fitted with radio control and I love him to bits. Billy hasn't been without his perils, around 1997/8 I boiled Billy dry and leaked forever more. So I stripped Billy down to find the problem. Personally I think it was poor soldering as there seemed to be a serous lack of it. So I boxed up a dismantled Billy and put him away. Some 14 years later after I had finished cutting my teeth as a panel beater I suddenly became aware I had access to a oxy acetalene torch, so I set about getting Billy back into service and I re soldered the boiler back together. Billy was complete and fully fuctional once again!
Recently Billy has undergone a mayjor seal replacement, a new Summerlands Chuffer pipe and a serious touch up of all the marks and scratches he had collected over the years and now looks and runs great!
Tram Project 'J70'
This is the latest project in the Ace Engineering Works to be under way, see in the 'current projects' section. This locomotive has the chassis and the boiler of a Roundhouse 'Lady Anne' locomotive and therefore has the potential to be one of the best models to run and ever had the pleasure of putting together.
I have made everything else from the wooden body to the working safety valve condenser straddled below the chassis. I have made this model to be radio controlled for ease of use. I am yet to finish running in this locomotive and there is quite some work to be done on it, let alone paint it up!
I plan to finish it in the GER colours of the day, light teak wood, black side frames, off white roof and a blue inlay with GER printed on the side (I may have RHLR instead).
Locomotives out of Service
Locomotives on display
Dream Steam Works full upgrade kit 'MAXIMUS'
This locomotive is the second of two, sister to 'Titan'. She is a fully upgraded MSS/ DSW locomotive kit. This model was initially bought by my Father who built her to the stage she is at now. Since then she has been left and partially unfinished. She has been ran a little as an 0-4-0 tank, but plans were made and began to finish her of as a tender locomotive, to the same specification as 'Titan'.
Since then my Father has given her to me and I have plans for her in the not too distant future to finish off and turn her into something a bit different.
This locomotive is currently out of service due to the lacking in gas fitment.
I P Engineering Ezee Rapier 'un-named'
This is the newest locomotive to the RHLR. Currently un named, and I am welcome to suggestions. This little kit was bought from IP Engineering and plans were drawn up to convert to higher power and radio control. Allbeit she has been built, refinished and the body has been modified to accept an esc (electronic speed controller). The plan is to hop the voltage up from 3V to 4.8V to enable the esc to work correctly. That said I would like to convert to 4wd so that all that extra power isn't wasted.
This locomotive is currently out of service, but is in a running condition using the standard parts. At present we are applying for the addititonal funding in order to complete the project.
UPDATE July 13, funding granted awiting delivery of new ESC.
Mamod SL1 (RS1)
This Mamod SL1 has never been fired. It came as part of a set that I have in storage, an RS1. This set comprises of a log wagon (with logs) and a coal truck. It came complete with associated track and firing accessories.
This set is immaculate condition. And I doubt I will ever fire it.
Mamod SL2
This Mamod SL2 is the second of two. I was lucky enough to find two at once, after hunting high and low for an SL2. This one has been fired once (not by me) and still has one fuel tablet missing from its box. There is slight marking on the underside from where it has been used.
This locomotive came boxed with all its firing accessories. If I do ever fire this locomotive again, it will be done on gas and oiled liberally.
Mamod SL3c (RS3)
This SL3 has been fired once (not by me) and still has one fuel tablet missing from its box. It came as part of a set that I have in storage, an RS3. This set comprises of a log wagon (with logs) and a coal truck. It came complete with associated track and firing accessories.
This set is in great used condition. And I doubt I will ever fire it.
Mamod SL4 (RS4) Princess of Wales
This Mamod SL4 is the second of two. This loco has never been fired. It came as part of a set that I have in storage, an RS4. This set comprises of a log wagon (with logs) and a coal truck. It came complete with associated track and firing accessories.
This set was bought whilst the future of the other SL4 was looking grim as she was in such poor condition.
This set is immaculate condition. And I doubt I will ever fire it.
Mamod SL5 Prince of Wales
This Mamod SL5 has never been fired. I have this one in a Mamod loco box, although I do not beleive it is genuine, it may have been part of a set. It came complete with associated firing accessories.
This model is immaculate condition. And I doubt I will ever fire it.
Mamod SL6
This Mamod SL6 has never been fired and never will be. She is works number 861 of a believed 1100 ever made. This model was made to celebrate the Mamod's Golden Jubilee year. I have this one with all its firing accessories and original box.
This model is immaculate condition.
MSS Golden Jubilee
This MSS golden Jubilee locomotive was brought out to celebrate the Queens golden jubilee, from 1952 to 2002. She is works number 124 of 250. As you can see she has one or two nice enhancements over the standard locomotive. I was lucky enough to find this one on a well known auction site. This one has been fired a few times (a couple by me) and is in tidy condition. Is has got some use marks on it and is not in pristine condition. I have only ever ran it on gas so as not to soot it up any further.
This locomotive is an awful runner. The wheels are badly off centre and she nods when travelling along. I will get her out again and give her a run, along side my running 'Princess of Wales' one day, to pull some coaches.
This locomotive came boxed with all its firing accessories and a certificate of authenticity.