Rea Valley Light Railway
07 - The evolution of No. 2 "ENID" - an 0-4-0 + 0-4-0 Garratt style loco
25th June 2007

This collection shows how ENID evolved from a simple Mamod Steam Locomotive from the early 1980s to the battery powered Garratt of today.

The Garratt used for the logo has evolved to the current version over 24 years. Unfortunately I didn't keep a photographic record of the original build and there were never any drawings since the design came directly from my head. It started life as a simple 0-4-0 tram loco made around a Mamod. This little loco was so successful that I thought that it had a lot more possibilities. A boiler was taken from a twin cylinder Mamod stationary engine and another chassis from a scrapped Mamod loco. To this was added a couple of one gallon oil cans which were used to construct the bodywork. The front unit was fitted with the Mamod loco's oscillating engine hidden inside the bodywork. This drove the front wheels via chain and sprockets , the engine being geared down by 2:1. The visible cylinders of both units were non working. The fire under the boiler was fed from a spirit tank located between the frames of the rear unit. The rest of the rear unit was taken up with a water tank which was used to fill the boiler by vacuum. The Garratt ran successfully like this for many years until the engine became worn out.

I decided then to convert it to battery power by simply replacing the steam engine in the front unit with an electric motor. I also decided to add a little more detailing at the same time. After several motor and gear
arrangements I have finally settled with the present set up. A sound unit has been added to the rear unit and smoke unit fitted inside the chimney. The power comes from 6 AA NiMh batteries fitted inside the boiler.

Since the Garratt has been with the railway almost from the start I thought it would be an ideal subject for the RVLR's logo.

To activate the video clips, click on the thumbnail of your choice and then on the start arrow. If, instead of the start arrow, you click again on the picture you will open another window where you can view a larger format of the movie.


1 -> 0-4-0 + 0-4-0 Garratt “ENID” running light






<-- Index | Showing 1-16 of 16 pictures | Index -->
Seen here is the original ENID built around a Mamod performing on the RVLR in 1982 - The bodywork is made from aluminium with an increase in the width and cab height over the Mamod loco - A displacement lubricator has been fitted but the fire is still the standard solid fuel tray - In this guise ENID was an excellent steamer and performed very well which led to the idea of trying to get a little more from a Mamod
Seen here is the original ENID built around a Mamod performing on the RVLR in 1982 - The bodywork is made from aluminium with an increase in the width and cab height over the Mamod loco - A displacement lubricator has been fitted but the fire is still the standard solid fuel tray - In this guise ENID was an excellent steamer and performed very well which led to the idea of trying to get a little more from a Mamod
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Its 1983 and the new ENID stands in Northfield station - Steel from old oil cans has been used this time for construction
Its 1983 and the new ENID stands in Northfield station - Steel from old oil cans has been used this time for construction
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The boiler is from the largest of the Mamod stationary engines and is fitted with a simple regulator and displacement lubricator - The globe valve sitting on the footplate is the vacuum filler control for the boiler
The boiler is from the largest of the Mamod stationary engines and is fitted with a simple regulator and displacement lubricator - The globe valve sitting on the footplate is the vacuum filler control for the boiler
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Looking underneath the footplate the red pipe to the left of the picture is the feed for the vacuum filler - The steam pipe can be seen in the firebox and is fed down through the footplate where it will be connected to the engine in the front unit via silicon tubing
Looking underneath the footplate the red pipe to the left of the picture is the feed for the vacuum filler - The steam pipe can be seen in the firebox and is fed down through the footplate where it will be connected to the engine in the front unit via silicon tubing
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The boiler is fired with a three wick burner - Each burner is 15mm in diameter with the meths being fed from the rear unit via the red silicon tubing
The boiler is fired with a three wick burner - Each burner is 15mm in diameter with the meths being fed from the rear unit via the red silicon tubing
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The powered front unit with the Mamod loco cylinders mounted above the frames - The red silicone tube is the steam feed and the clear tube takes the exhaust back to the chimney
The powered front unit with the Mamod loco cylinders mounted above the frames - The red silicone tube is the steam feed and the clear tube takes the exhaust back to the chimney
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The Mamod cylinders are mounted on cut down Mamod loco frames and fit nicely into the front unit - The forward-stop-reverse lever has been extended so that it can be accessed at the top of the unit
The Mamod cylinders are mounted on cut down Mamod loco frames and fit nicely into the front unit - The forward-stop-reverse lever has been extended so that it can be accessed at the top of the unit
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The meths tank is located between the frames of the rear unit with a filler that passes up into the coal bunker - The large tank is for water which is used by the vacuum filler to replenish the boiler
The meths tank is located between the frames of the rear unit with a filler that passes up into the coal bunker - The large tank is for water which is used by the vacuum filler to replenish the boiler
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The rear unit viewed from underneath shows the water and meths outlets - These are joined to the vacuum filler and fire by silicon tubing
The rear unit viewed from underneath shows the water and meths outlets - These are joined to the vacuum filler and fire by silicon tubing
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Another view of the rear unit which clearly shows the water tank and meths filler
Another view of the rear unit which clearly shows the water tank and meths filler
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The well used steam powered ENID finished in heat proof green - In this form the Garratt ran for many years with a run time of about 17 minutes before refuelling the fire and refilling the boiler
The well used steam powered ENID finished in heat proof green - In this form the Garratt ran for many years with a run time of about 17 minutes before refuelling the fire and refilling the boiler
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In 2006 the worn out steam engine was removed and ENID was converted to battery electric - New couplings were fitted with detailing being added before applying a fresh coat of paint
In 2006 the worn out steam engine was removed and ENID was converted to battery electric - New couplings were fitted with detailing being added before applying a fresh coat of paint
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The first trial motor to be fitted to ENID was a direct exchange for the original steam motor - A Seuthe No.5 smoke unit was fitted into the chimney and a sound system in the rear unit
The first trial motor to be fitted to ENID was a direct exchange for the original steam motor - A Seuthe No.5 smoke unit was fitted into the chimney and a sound system in the rear unit
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The new powerful electric motor has been fitted - The top of the Seuthe #05 smoke unit can be seen inside the chimney
The new powerful electric motor has been fitted - The top of the Seuthe #05 smoke unit can be seen inside the chimney
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When converted to electric some simple detailing was added to the cab of ENID
When converted to electric some simple detailing was added to the cab of ENID
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Today's ENID crossing the Rea Valley viaduct - June 2007
Today's ENID crossing the Rea Valley viaduct - June 2007
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