All Aboard The Skylark

They might not have the stylish lines of Victorian engineering, but Kerr Stuart produced rugged, easy to maintain locos that will steam on any standard of fuel that went the world over in their 0-4-2 tank locos. One being the last industrial steam loco to be built in this country. Whilst intended for narrow gauge, there were examples of the larger Brazil class built to standard gauge and there is something about them that I like. Helped possibly by the Talyllyn’s example being the first steam loco I worked on. 

In 7mm scale, Wrightlines produced kits for both Corris / Talyllyn No 4 and the Skylark. I started a kit of the former when my skills weren’t really up to it. Languishing in its box, I must finish it off one day. The Skylark kit was completed, albeit taking two attempts to get a smooth running chassis. I learnt a lot about chassis building with that kit!

For many years I’ve had access to garden railways at my parents’ house and the excellent Llechfan Garden Railway at the Talyllyn, for which I have a live steam Darjeeling B class and matching carriages.  Use has always been sporadic as I’ve been driving the full size versions instead. 

Parenthood has resulted in more time in Tywyn for enjoying things like the garden railway, especially with my daughter taking a shine to the garden railway. This interest culminating this summer with one of the regular operators letting her drive their battery electric loco.

Thoughts turned to having a battery electric loco of our own that could be quick and simple to get running whenever we wanted. A friend has a loco from the PDF models range, reasonably priced and driven off an old mobile phone so is easy to transport and quick to get going that sounded just the job. 

What started as a quick project ended up taking four months, as these things tend to, partly due to taking a while to get to grips with a larger scale than my usual 7mm scale. The PDF Kit is mostly formed of laser cut acrylic and 3D printed parts. Careful prep work, a good drawing for applying rivets and some additional castings has resulted in a model that I’m very pleased with and very reasonably priced too. 

Operated through a LocoRemote, installation was quite straight forward once my queries had been patiently answered by Mr LocoRemote, Chris. The battery is in the boiler and the cab roof removes to access the charging lead so all self contained. Loco, old mobile phone to control it and battery charger all fit into an easily transportable box. 

Completed, we’re looking forward to giving it a run in the garden when we’re next in Tywyn. A train will need to be built to run behind it, but that can wait for now. 

One is small, the other is far away…