The LNER Encyclopedia

Good day yesterday; a lunchtime then evening session got the now painted J72 chassis up and running and she moved under her own power for possibly the first time ever, certainly the first time in a good few years.



There's still much body detailing to do and I think the bracket at the rear needs to be moved up a bit; I thought she was nose down standing on the track, but comparing to the J71 I think she's stern up.

I think Robert Forsythe says this kit was introduced in 1959 and I believe this is quite an early one - it had brass plates either side of a whitemetal chassis block and a motor unlike any Ks one I've seen before. It also cost 99s 5d when new. I think two builders may have had a hand in it as it has been soldered so far and then other bits have been Araldited on. Whatever, I'm getting an inordinate amount of pleasure from the idea that it's going to be completed after maybe 50 years in the building.

While that was on the rolling road I added the brake gear to the J71. Now, this was the only bit of this chassis I had trouble with; the shoes were too near the wheels on two of the three axles and when I added the pull rods they moved the shoes all over the place in relation to the wheels. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had the same trouble?



I've just added the shoes, suitably filed down, and won't bother with the rigging. Some of it would interfere with the pickups anyway. This loco is now going to be 326, one of the first 10 J71s built and the last withdrawn, according to Yeadon, after 74 years service.

Apologies for my apparent ignorance in this area (I'm not overly familiar with small tank locos), but I'm really struggling to see the difference between the J71 and J72

It's about 6", primarily.

J71

J72

I can see the difference now

Is the J72 going to be done as 69023?

No, 69023 was built about 20 years after my chosen period. I did look through Yeadon last night and I think 2323 (Ramsbottom trumpet, tapered buffers, no vac ejector, North Eastern area allocation) fitted the bill best.

Came home at lunchtime to find a small package from Arthur on the mat... the last parts for detailing the J72. So here it is after a short session at the bench tonight.



Handrails, sander operating rods, smokebox wheel, lamp irons, tank vents - another difference between J71 and J72 - worksplates and the cylinder oil reservoir, which is that item behind the centre lamp iron on the buffer beam. It's a bit large, but a GN pattern whistle was the right shape. From Arthur, boiler clacks, sandbox fillers and mainly the tank fillers.

The tank fillers really are items of beauty. I almost wish I'd hung on for a set for the J73 now.



I've put boiler clacks on both locos - J71s all had them to start with, J72s as they acquired boilers from J71s. I think they give a bit more character and backdate the loco in appearance. I had to fill the hole for the whistle in, it was too big, so that will be added tomorrow.

Tasty wee beastie

Beastie has been through the paintshop along with bigger brother and both are now all but done. Glazing, buffers, coal and crew and we're there.





.. and here they are with slightly bigger brother, the J73 I built last year.



Just in case you thought I'd been slacking, there's been a 'build something in a week' thread on RMWeb. Not LNER but a very characterful vehicle which anyone running pre 1933 can get away with. These go for quite a bit on Ebay, but are still available new from David Geen. I started it on Thursday last.

All very nice Jonathan, the locos and the CCT. I wish I could have built in a week what is currently on my workbench. I'll say it very quitely but it is a GCR 4000 gallon tender. My excuse is that I'm writing a very comprehensive build log to accompany the finished article.

Cheers....Morgan

Very nice Jonathan.

Hoping to have my new chassis finished for my J72 over the next month, then plan to do the J71.

G'Day Gents

A very nice collection of tank engines, Excellent.

manna

Morgan,

I'll look forward to reading that with great interest. Does it go round corners?

LOL

Godd morning all
I like the collection of shunters.
There is something attractive about a group of shunters (Is there a collective noun?). It reminds one what the original railways were about. COAL WAGONS
Earlswood nob

Cant remember if it was you who had built a J77, I'd love to see it alongside the three Jays if you have.