Large Scale Central

Project for the New Year (freelance Mason Bogie)

Modeling
#1

Hopefully, with just a bit of plumbing tubing, an extra spare ‘steel’ Bachmann Annie cab and a Christmas Annie locomotive, I will be able to build a ‘modernised’ freelance Mason type locomotive. Loco will be a 2-6-4 and any resemblance to the Mason Bogie is purely coincidental. At present mockups have been a little daunting as, firstly, the loco will be quite long and secondly, the chosen drive is a little high to fit under the boiler. At present, I have concentrated on the rear deck and the drive block. I have reduced the drive as low as possible, but still feel that it is a little too high still. Drive will be fitted with Walschaerts valve gear to enable a more modern approach.

#2

I’ll follow this build with interest.
I have a couple extra LGB moguls lying around. I’d like to build one as well.
I haven’t figured out how to make the motor block pivot yet. (As the proto did.)
It will have to pivot, due to our curves. I figure I’d cut one of the tenders down and attach it to the loco somehow.

#3

John,
I am ‘cheating’ with the pivot. On the prototype, I believe that the truck pivots in the centre. On my version, I am moving the pivot point forward to the mount spigot on the upper face of the drive (this was the forward cast weight mount point on the B’mann drive). Relocating the pivot forward is to enable less apparent ‘swing’ across the saddle area. This will mean more swing on the rear of the block, but as this will be under the locomotive then the swing will not be as noticable.

One downside of the relocated pivot is that the effect of additional weight added to the boiler, will be directed over the front driver through the pivot, causing the rear wheels to lift and thus reducing traction. I have added some weight to the rear of the drive, aft of the rear axle and will add a ‘rubbing bar’ under the boiler to lessen any tendency for the rear wheels to lift under load.

The tender deck is made from a modified B’mann tender underframe. The two ‘steel’ cabs will be modified and joined to give a ‘modern’ interpretation on the timber Mason cab. The bunker (tender body) will then be shortened to fit. Rather than purchase a Bronson six-wheel truck for the tender, I will be using a B’mann coach truck.

#4

Tim,
This will be a fun project.
Mine will be freelance as well.
I have a couple of LGB Forneys, which I call my Mini bogies.
If I remember correctly, they pivot from the front as well. Maybe I can use one of them for some ideas.

#5

Progress to date showing general layout. Overall length is 65 cms. I may go with the original B’mann tapered boiler, suitably lengthened, for simplicity if able to fit. Major problem is fitting the drive under the boiler without raising the cab/bunker too high. Deck is a modified B’mann tender frame. Bunker is a cut down B’mann tender and the cab is two B’mann ‘steel’ cabs joined.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/1mbze.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/1mbzd.JPG)

#6

hmmmm, you might want to mock it up with the boiler on one size smaller radius curve than you plan to use. I’m thinking you may need to shorten the rear overhang on the drive and/or move the pivot point forward… unless you have 20 foot curves.

#7

Mik,
I want to retain the brake cylinders, plus I have added weight in the overhang section to attempt to compensate for the offset pivot point. I build to run on my ten-foot diameter curves. My concern is with the rear section of the drive swinging beneath the boiler, so I need to allow vertical clearance for this as the drive is as low as possible. There is insufficient width in the boiler to allow sufficient swing. The pivot point location is a compromise to minimise the swing over the saddle area, with resultant excessive swing at the aft end of the drive.

#8

Try putting a long flat ‘tongue’ (.060 x 2" brass?) on the rear section, and make the pivot point at or just ahead of the last axle… I think that might look and work better?

#9

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/gary_buchanan/chainsawemoticon.gif)

#10

A possibility with B’[mann smokebox and firebox, with two sanding domes.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/1zmbf.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/1zmbg.JPG)

#11

Dang, Mason on steroids.

Tim, do you have this book http://www.heimburgerhouse.com/railfan_books_I-P/Mason-steam-locos.php is has useful inof, like sketches of the steam joints to cylinders and the bracket under smokebox which carried propulsive forces to frame/boiler assembly.

"Heimburger House Publishing Company" said:
[b]Mason Steam Locomotives[/b] By Arthur W. Wallace

Mason Steam Locomotives

Melodies, cast and wrought in metal - William Mason’s beautiful steam locomotives were considered the finest in form and function, the “Rolls Royces” of the day. More than 700 of these locomotives were built at the Taunton, Massachusetts factory beginning in 1853. After 50 years of research, Art Wallace brings the complete Mason locomotive story to light. In detailed text and nearly 200 photographs and illustrations, Mason’s handiwork comes to life in this rich historical volume. From American Standard 4-4-0s to 4-6-0s and double-truck 0-6-6Ts and 2-8-6T’s, Mason locomotives have captured the eye of railfans, engineers and historians for decades. Now you can read the fascinating story and see the products that made Mason famous. Thirteen detailed chapters, 192 pages, 8-1/2 x 11" smyth-sewn hardbound; nearly 200 rare historical black and white photographs; dustjacket by noted artist Gil Bennett.

Price: $53.95

#12

Forrest,
I have no reference books. Everything that I do is based purely on photographs. Unfortunately, to get the drive into the length and keep the axle spacing for simplicity, plus retaining the brake cylinders, the overall length suffered. This was one of my original dimemmas. In my scale, the loco would be arond 48 foot in length. I am unable to find the prototype length for a similar wheel configuration, as specs given are usually wheel diameter and piston/cylinder dimemsions. It is definately a beast.

       I will summise that as the last of the breed,  the manufacturer (although the last actual Mason built was around 1888),  if it continued in operation,  may have built such a behemoth in the post WW1 years.
#13

There were some pretty fair sized Masons built for Mexico, give me a bit to see what can be found online.

Always the possibility you will already have what comes up, bit it seems rude to not try to find some things.

#14

Mason Bogie Resource Archive http://www.ironhorse129.com/prototype/masonbogie/mason_bogie.htm

(www.ironhorse129.com/prototype/masonbogie/Graphics/Cent_Mex.jpg)

(www.ironhorse129.com/prototype/masonbogie/Graphics/Hecla/StLouis_Mason.jpg)

http://gunslinger87.deviantart.com/art/Freelance-SG-Mason-Bogie-186596239?q=sort%3Atime+favby%3AMikado55&qo=1&offset=20 http://www.bernat.net/~andy/Railroad/Mason%20Bogie/construction%20history/welcome.html A Large Mason Bogie http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/tm.aspx?high=&m=99903&mpage=1#109343

#15

Forrest,
the Mexican Masons were standard gauge. I went with a single sand dome. I will live with the size of the thing. A test on ten-foot diameter shows minimal deflection of the boiler over the saddle area.

#16
Tim Brien said:
I will live with the size of the thing.
That wording makes it sound like you are disappointed. I think it is a cool, [i]"Ya know, they did have the potential to be this if developed further"[/i] type design exercise.
#17

Forrest,
I am not disappointed, but the more that I look at it, I can see where approximately 1.5 inches may be cut out of the length and not adversely affect the outcome. I do everything by eye, with no defined plan other than a simple quick hand drawn outline sketch, with no scale implied. Once painted the overall ‘impact’ will be lessened and it will be more pleasing.

       As it is intended to be a later version, forty odd years after the company ceased production,  then previous prototype models should not be taken as gospel truth for future production.
#18

Some progress made. All the plumbing is now complete. At present, building the bunker coal load (made from cat litter and white glue). This takes about a week to complete as the litter takes a long time to dry out and in the process it shrinks. This entails regularly adding to the load to retain the overall size.

Also fitted a flanged driver to the centre axle location and am fitting Walschaerts valve gear to the drive. This is complicated as the frame is made from a non-Walschaerts chassis and I have relocated the steam chest/cylinders, moving the lead axle forward. Most of the rods will need altering. The siderod will now actuate on the rear axle, thus, an elongated mount spigot has been fitted to this location.

A pleasant suprise is that Baldwin made some of the later Masons and thus, my theory of production continuing into the early part of the 20th century (by Baldwin Locomotive Works) is feasable, giving credence to such a modernised beast.

#19
Tim Brien said:
A pleasant suprise is that Baldwin made some of the later Masons and thus, my theory of production continuing into the early part of the 20th century (by Baldwin Locomotive Works) is feasable, giving credence to such a modernised beast.
That's the best kind of surprise.
#20

Almost ready to paint. Today, I worked on the drive. Every rod required remaking due relocated axle locations.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/1zmbt.JPG)