Rob Kuhlman's Budget Locomotives
Text and photographs by Rob Kuhlman, Norristown, PA

Here's a brief synopsis of my low budget lokies. I've got a mock DeWinton in the shops now. It's based on a Midwest vertical boiler and oscillator system. The engine is done and I just finished soldering the boiler up yesterday. Now it's on to the chassis. I've purchased Roundhouse's drivers and side rods for use; this way the engine will be regaugable between 32mm and 45mm. I hope to have this done by Labor Day and I plan to submit a construction synopsis to Ron for Steam in the Garden magazine.

Engine #1 was built with Mamod's tiniest stationary with an overtype micro oscillator. The engine itself is about seven inches long. The drivers are MSR Mamod-replacement, as is true with all these engines. This engine was written up awhile back in Steam in the Garden as "The Dollar Model".

Engine #1

Engine #2 is a transverse-boilered cab forward which I mentioned on email. It's built with the Saito marine boiler (with a vaporizing alcohol burner) and oscillator. The Saito oscillator is a precision instrument; I'd like to dig up another sometime. This engine runs like a champ, and it's smaller than #1. It also was written up, with no pictures, in SitG several years ago.

Engine #2

The next loco (which should be #3 but as yet is unnumbered as it's in need of a paint job) is the pilot model for the "Lathe-free Loco" which ran as a serial in Steam in the Garden during 1995. It uses the Mamod SP4 stationary oscillator assembly. The boiler is the exact same one as Mamod used on their locomotive (so Chaney, etc.,retrofits plug right in), and the oscillator is reversible - you'll note the "throttle" as the silver handle sticking up vertically that has an offset mounting for the cylinder trunion. As the throttle is rocked forward or reverse, the cylinder block is rocked up or down with respect to the central steam feed line and the upper or lower exhaust lines which effectively swaps the steam admission line and the exhaust. This engine gets toe most use on my line, which may explain shy it's in need of a paint job.

Engine #3

The fourth engine, still to be painted (not the Coleman camp fuel can side tanks), is essentially the same loco, however it uses a Jensen stationary boiler and piston valved steam engine (sort of offset/overtype). This is the engine which Scott McDonald photographed down at Stapletons' place in the Spring. My railroad is 32mm, by the way, so my photo is bogus because the engine's drivers are Gauge 1 -- the starboard drivers are resting on ballast!

Engine #4. Rob mentions the need for paint, I think the "DANGER Extremely Flammable" look is even better!