Hunslet (5 Gauge)

Overview
Hunslet is a narrow-gauge 0-4-0 locomotive designed by Don Young and described in Locomotives Large and Small magazine. It has a cylinder bore of 1.75" and driving wheel diameter of 3.875". As it is a narrow gauge locomotive it is larger than most 5 Gauge locomotives and is very capable.

Don Young wrote a construction series with drawings included in his magazine Locomotives Large and Small beginning in issue 1, November 1979, and finishing in issue 7, May 1981. Details are given for versions with and without a cab.

Drawings and castings are available from Reeves 2000.

Errors on Drawing:
1. The rear (de-railing safety) bar needs to be moved further back (say 0.25"). In its designed position there is a potential for it to foul the grate/ash-pan. OK under normal circumstances but could mean a few extra seconds if one had to drop the fire in a hurry.

2. It looks as if the tops of the spring hangers are going to be very close to the boiler cleading - But at this stage I still don't know whether they will be too close.

3. The brake gear will foul the underside of the horn keeps if the driving wheels are slightly under size (OK not a drawing error but something that needs to be watched).

4. It may be advisable to move the feed pump to the inside motion frame stay plate and drive it from the rear axle.

5. Don's drawing shows the reverser-arm located on the weigh-shaft by means of a roll-pin. Bearing in mind how critical things are in that area I have not had the courage to do that and have made a temporary arm that clamps onto the weigh-shaft. This temporary arm is adjustable for length as is a temporary reach rod. I shall not commit these to solid metal until I have the beast running on air. I think that even when I reach that stage the reverser-arm will still be a version that clamps to the weigh-shaft. The clamp will be hidden under the running board so I don't think that it will detract from the appearance.

6.Lugs on the sides of the fire-box rest on the tops of the frames. As drawn by Don, there is nothing to retain the fire-box end of the boiler from leaving the top edge of the frames in the event of a heavy accident. I have attached a square section strip to the back of the reversing lever bracket and an inverted 'J' section strip to the LH side of the frames. The intention is to allow for horizontal movement (expansion) but restrain vertical movement.

(From Mike Hopkins, UK, via the late Alan Stepney)