Raglan Hall's Tramcar trailer enters service

 
The incomplete extended tramcar body was obtained from Gizzys friend Ian via the Forum a few weeks ago. It has been fitted out as a trailer car for the LGB tram locos to haul. Today was the first trails of the finished vehicle on the railway.
Depot pilot No4 is seen shunting out from the depot for its inaugeral journey.

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No13 took it for the first run and immediately found that it will not go round R1 curves as the rigid hook swings out to far !  It was OK when the tram was a four wheeler and half the length.

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Not to worry, a quick re-jig of operations and it was happily running on the outer track with nothing but R5s to contend with.

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The recent bad weather had resulted in the track being a bit dirty for little four wheel locos so the maintainance train was brought out to give them a clean.

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The main reason dirty track hadnt been an issue was the only main line service loco had been battery powered!
Another freshly overhauled and repainted loco for the 2010 season is the impressive Beyer-Garrett, scratch built by James Dowling. 
The Chocolate and Cream is now well established as the fleet livery, the Garrett carrying fleet number 14 in the Raglan Hall Joint Railway fleet.

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Looking good Syd!

What bogies have you used for the tram trailer?

The bogies came from a scrapped Bachmann flat car.
Never discard anything.

 
Here is a photo of body about n hour after arriving with the bogies test fitted, but not attatched.

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Very nice.  I'm a great fan of the old choc and cream, myself.

That tram trailer looks very good.

 
Thank you Martino. I am very pleased with the trailer myself.  A second is now in the works as I got this wreck of a failed conversion from Ebay last week. It also needs bogies as well as extensive repairs, but I have high hopes. It has been given fleet number 92 in the hope of a secure future ahead.

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 The wreck has been given alot of attention this evening.  It has now had the two halfs re-attatched to form a rigid body, the celestory roof has been fitted, a chassis made from plasticard and bogies fitted from the spares box.  What an improvement ( if you like that sort of thing! )

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I forgot to bid on this, glad to see that it has gone to a good home and that the duo will be put to rights. Looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
JonD

 
You didnt miss much, it was in a deadful state. Out of the advertised two power bogies, one was just a trailer and the other out of gauge, hardly working and the mounting had snapped. I was still happy with what I got as the plan was to make another trailer for the locos anyway.  Didnt stop me leaving 'Neutral' feedback though.
The car is currently being repainted into fleet livery, and the advertising hordings will be re-attatched then. Presently needs another top coat and then varnish, hopefully ready by this weekend.
 

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My thoughts about the two power bogies are confirmed. Glad you knocked the guy for a poor description of what he was selling. Your work looks good, perhaps I may take the saw to two of my Trailers now. I got them off ebay some time ago and the Yellow ones are pretty common. Just love what you are doing to the purchase.
JonD

A very nice chop, Syd. If you have two spare cab/vestibules one idea is to pop a van body in between and you've got a parcel/goods/works tram. USA trains power blocks, and pantographs can be got from Sommerfeldt. Alyn

I have an idea for a works car Alyn, a Bachmann toastrack car has already lost it's seats and a bulkhead. If I get stuck with the conversion your idea of removing the ends and putting them on a van will be plan 'B'
In the meantime trailer No92 has progressed and been varnished and the extra bits added. It would have been on the track behind a loco but the weather has forgotton how to stop raining !  Considering the mess it was in when I got it I am very pleased with the result so far.
It has still a few touch ups to go, photos always highlight thin bits of paint and something I missed.
 

 

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The trailers ride a bit higher than the Bachmann tramcars, as can be seen when compared with one following through the paintshop. This actaully looks right when being hauled by the tram locos or one of the Stainz.
 
 

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I just realised I hadn't posted a photo of No92 in use, so here is one taken this morning hauled by Stainz No8.

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Excellent Syd. I'm just getting into trams and you've given me loads of ideas for winter projects .

I am pleased the thread has given you some ideas. I am currently making a works car from a Bachmann toastrack car, plus a couple of Bachmann repaints into Chocolate and Cream are in the paintshops.


Here is another re-build...a Bachmann four wheel enclosed car extended and fitted with bogies.

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