Trains from Steve's Workshop

Page Updated April 2008

Simplex 2-6-0 5" Steamer was the first attempt at modelling. It took 2 years to complete. It was named "LADY ALISON" after Steve's wife.

Bejax 2-6-0 5" Steamer was completed in about 18 months. It was similar to Simplex but a lot easier to build. It was given the name "WENDEL" after Steve's two daughters Wendy and Delwyn.

EF BoBo Electric. 7.25" twin bogie powered by two 300w 24v electric motors. Similar in design to NZR EF but without the third centre bogie.

2-6-0 Phantom No 36. 7.25" Steamer. Designer David Giles. Several of this design have now been completed. It is an excellent steamer and will pull 30 adults.

2-6-0 Phantom 7.25" Steamer. Designer David Giles. This was the second Phanton built together with Bob Sharman for Bob. It was a dream come true for Bob so was given the name "MR SANDMAN"

Three 4 wheel Electric Shunters were completed for members of our Society, one with side rods. These are powered by 24v 600w motors using"4QD" contollers. These are good workers on running days. They are named.
RATU - LINUS - SQUIB

Intercity HST 125 is a BoBo Petrol Hydraulic 7.25" Loco. These were introduced in England in the 1970's for fast comuter trains. Running speed of 125mph are attained where the track is suitable. Due to it's bumble bee look it was given the name "STING"

EC9 a BoBo electric 7.25" Locomotive powered by two 600w EMD motors and using two "4QD" NCC70 controllers. These locos were purchased to run the Christchurch Lyttelton tunnel route. 6 were used numbered EC 7 - 12.

DH BoBo Shunter Electric 5" "DEBORAH". After a few years of 7.25 loco building it was decided to try a 5" again. These DH locos were purchased by NZR in the late 1970's for heavy shunting. In 1999 Trans Rail rebuilt them with a shunting platform front and rear. This is almost complete. Using two EMD 400w 24v motors mounted vertically in each bogie, and two "4QD" controllers.

On October 3rd 2001 Train No 12 "DEXTER" the 7.25g DXR was put into service on the Thames Small Gauge Railway. It has been under construction for 6 months and is powered by twin 24volt 40amp EMD motors. 315AH battery capacity is housed under the long bonnet. Control of the motors is by two DS100 Dynamic System Controllers. Authentic diesel sound and horn is provided by an electronic sound board. This loco was patterened on the Tranz Rail DXR and painted in the Tranz rail colours. The 5" DH loco pictured beside the DXR looks rather small.

Having been given two Toyota Bus Air conditioning 24v motors they prompted the building of a 5" gauge EC loco. This was resized from the 7.25" gauge loco previously built. The motors are mounted horizontally above the chassis and are chain driven through the centre of the pivot and trunion. The motors turn with the bogie. A single 4QD NCC70-24 Controller is used with two 65ah batteries. During 2002 this loco was completed and has been named "LUCY".

On moving to Tauranga Steve soon set up his tools within the village workshop. The result was another locomotive of the EC class this time in 7.25 gauge.This one boasts of full vacuum brakes, powered by two 24V 40A EMD motors, two Dynamic Controls DS100 controllers and four 6V 210 AH batteries it makes this locomotive quite powerful. It was completed over 9 months and was placed on the Tauranga track for it's first run in October 2005. The photo shows Steve at the controls on it's first passenger run. It has been named "Jesse".

With increasing demand for pulling power at the Tauranga club it became urgent to complete another club locomotive. The six wheel shunter's chassis and running gear had been started by one of the members and Steve completed it mounting the hydrostatic drive, motor, accessories etc and designing and building the body. It is roughly patterned on a "Prices" shunter without side rods. It is powered by an 11 HP Lifan Petrol motor driving an EATON series 7 hydrostatic drive connected by chain to all wheels. It was completed and put into service in February 2006. Because of it's colour it has been nick named "Big Yellow".

The next project was unusual in both design and construction. Having aquired two 24volt 400 watt motors I decided on a fee lance steeple cab loco. Using materials that were on hand or easily sourced. Although similar to some English steeple cab shunters no particular design was chosen. It is painted in Rust Orange and has been given the name "Lucida" which has the meaning of "excellence". It has proved to be a good hauler and creats quite a bit of interest on the track.

In 1952 the Wellingtom electrified system commissioned the Articulated EW electric locomotive on it's system. At the time it was the most powerful locomotive on the NZR system. The addition of these locomotives to the fleet enabled pasenegers to travel in comfort through the newly constructed tunnels on the deviation on the main trunk line out of Wellington. The 5" gauge model was completed over a period of 14 months. The body sections are moulded in fibre glass which was a new medium for the builder. Pantographs are raised by the locomotives vacuum system. In spite of its smaller gauge it is a powerful locomotive sporting four 18A 24V motors driving the front and rear bogies..

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