New (to us) Locomotive

We recently acquired a second hand battery-electric 'Tug' made by Phoenix Locomotives in order to test our new rolling stock products. It was originally purchased by the Croxteth Park Miniature Railway in Liverpool for their grand reopening earlier in 2024, but they do not have electricity to their site and found hauling batteries home at night for charging too cumbersome. So they are running petrol engine locomotives now and put the Tug up for sale.

Last week I took our van on the ferry from Dublin, Ireland to Holyhead, Wales, then drove up to inspect and purchase the locomotive. Kevin and the team at Croxteth could not have been nicer and three of us were able to lift the Tug into the back of the van. I had made a small section of portable track to set the loco on, however, the added height was too much vertical rise so it went on the bed of the van instead. Some cardboard padding and a few straps held everything in place, and back home we went.

An engine hoist and some straps made unloading relatively easy and the loco is now resting on the portable track section until our test track is built in the coming weeks.

The cab sides and roof were removed for transport and will be reinstalled at a later date.

Wheels and Axles

During the same trip to the UK last week I picked up some narrow gauge profile wheels and axles from 17D Limited for the new wagon prototypes we are building. They make locomotives, rolling stock, and parts for 5", 7.25", and 10.25" gauges. These components we purchased are beautifully made, and the staff at 17D could not have been nicer!

Now we just need a hydraulic press to fit the wheels to the axles - that's for another post...