Any one know who S.F.H. was?

Question

Hi,I bought a "rolling chassis" for a live steam loco off ebay, (See: as you can see is described as a 3 1/2" shunting loco, withdrawings.In fact it isn't, its a 5" (which is a bonus) and came with 6 naffblueprints, and 6 buitifully drawn (in pencil) drawings at A2 size ontracing paper with lots of smaller drawings of all the parts, again alloriginals.The only "name" type peice if information is that most of the maindrawings are "signed" s.F.h. (All caps, but the S and H are the samesize as each other but smaller than the F) the drawings show an enginethat looks a dead ringer for Tich except that it is 5" and has nicervalve gear, and the lubricator is mounted above the frame, infront of the tanks, as opposed to between the frames.So does any one have any idea of who S.F.H is or was or any other cluesabout this engine?Also I understand if I want to pull people with it I will have to addbalast. How do I work out how heavy the loco needs to be to pull things?

Jim Guthrie · Accepted Answer

Benedict,You might want to try posting in  as wellsince I think you are more likely to find model engineers on thatgroup who might well be able to answer your questions.Jim.

Benedict White · Answer

Many thanks for that Jim, I'm off to post now!

Jim Guthrie · Answer

If you don't have any luck, there are a couple of mailing lists which you might like to subscribe to.

The Livesteamers list has interests mainly in larger scale live steam railway locomotive models. Its membership is worldwide and details of subscribing at

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The other list is the model-eng list and its interests cover all branches of model engineering. Again, its membership is worldwide, but there are a lot of members in the UK who might have more information about your rolling chassis. Subscription details are here

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My own thoughts on your questions are that the weight of a live steam model locomotive is usually proportional to its load-hauling capacity

- much the same as the full size locos :-) I've been reading about modelling live steam locos for many years any I cannot remember anyone advocating adding ballast to a locomotive. I think you might have problems finding space for the ballast in any case since all the space is taken up with necessary bits and pieces, or water and fuel. I think that these small 0-4-0 locos in 3/4" scale were really suitable for pulling the driver and maybe one more person if you were lucky.

I note from your messages in rec.models.rail that you're looking for boiler to suit the chassis. You might find that the boiler for Juliet might fit (Juliet was/is the big sister of Tich), or people on the newsgroups or lists might be able to suggest other boiler designs which might suit the chassis.

Jim

Benedict White · Answer

Many thanks for those I wil look those up.

Well, I have seen slightly larger (in terms of length but same gauge) pulling lots of people at one of our local parks. Tich being 3 1/2" of course is really challenged in the weight departmen. As for ballast, I was talking to some one else, and apparently rather than using the side tanks for water, (which can be kept on the drivers carriage with the coal) you can fill them with lead. Still, I will have to see what they say on those lists.

I have drawings of the boiler, so I was thinking of building it my self. I understand that if I became a member of my local model engineering club I can get a boiler certificate as part fo that. The question I was asking was, is it big enough? That said I wanted to buy a stock boiler you are probably right about the choice.

Any way many thanks for your help.

Any one know who S.F.H. was?

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