December 2012

A hint of a fellow offered the opportunity to buy a motor corresponding to the original engine of the Deutz MLH415 at ebay. Unfortunately the seller didn't knew the exact type, was it a MAH514 or 516. And it was too complex to drive once across Germany to find it out. So the probability of the right type was 50%. But how so often in such cases: it was a 516 and therefore not usable for the locomotive. However, the engine is in very good condition and mounted on an original chassis, with which it could be moved as a "locomobile" e.g. on a farm to the place of duty. It would be an outrage to disconnect it from its frame, so it will remain as a functional showpiece, presented first time to public in September during a meeting of classic utility vehicles in Glossen. Just a few weeks later a real MAH514, built in 1932, was auctioned at e-bay, with way bill and spare parts list, a rare opportunity. He had been used for decades as stationary drive on a building yard but obviously not very frequently. Unfortunately the forwarding company handled this "general cargo" very bad, because the engine was delivered - lying almost upside down - unsecured on a pallet. But the construction of the motor is very strong and the is the hope of no damages. In spring the assembly will take place on the locomotive, which again bears now also her number plate.

 

November 2012

A little bit of luck is part of every hobby. It will make some things easier, other possible. In September, it was announced that in early October in the vicinity of Southampton will be auctioned the "Durley light railway", after the death of its owner Barry Curl at the beginning of 2012. In the auction catalogue, beside the operational Montania RL3 No. 20777 the engine and the gearbox of a further locomotive of the same type, was written. This item led to the immediate decision to take part in the auction. Apart from the fact that such an event is very interesting, it offered the opportunity to study the British mentality. By the way the German guests and bidders were welcomed very friendly. After selling the 20777 for a comparatively high price (more than for the also auctioned Feldbahn locomotive), nobody was interested in the RL3 spare parts. So they could be bought for a fair price. The loading and shipping to Germany were not so easy because of the high weight and extensions of the gear box. But the British friends around Bob Millard showed strong commitment to store everything in a big, self-made wooden box. After more than a month, the shipment arrived safely in Glossen and the engine was mounted immediately on the RL3 20787. Along with the parts of the demaged, existing motor, the repair is not simple, but doable. Also the worn switch claw in the gearbox can be replaced with new parts.

 

September 2012

Because of the need of repairing the wheels of the L180 by a professional firm, it was obvious to take the axes of the RL1c mining loco to this company too. Its wheels are worn by reason of long term use in a clay pit. By the way it was evident that the RL1 has the same spring system like the MD1, volute springs at the front and rubber blocks at the rear axle.



It's going on with the L180. The frame and the axes are sandblasted and primed. It was a pretty good load for the trailer bur he has to run only a few kilometers. Next the wheels has to be repaired because the suffered from the running pit water during decades.

 

August 2012

Bevor the beginning of winter the frame of the L180 should be sand blasted and primed for further works in the shop. For it motor, gearbox and rear wall has to be dismounted and the frame turned over. So it was possible to dismount axes and jack shaft.

 

July 2012

Another pleasant new entrant is a small Montania mining loco of the RL1c type.
It comes from the coal mining area of Northern France near the British Channel and owes its survive obviously the fact that it was given off to a brick yard before the mine closed. The loco is complete aside from the missing roof and the side plates of the bonnet. The feed hoppers of the sand boxes are not original and have to been changed. Also the wheels are worn and need to build up. The motor has compression and runs slowly.
Remarkable at the RL1c is the short wheelbase of 60cm, the inside frame and the concrete design, all caused by the mining use.
The repair of the crown cogwheel of the L180 regulators drive was rather difficult because modern machines produce wheels, which not suit to old time wheels. Thus two new cogwheels had to be manufactured, an expensive but at the end good looking part project.
At the LD2 5175 the radiator fan is not an original part, thus he has to be substituted. An existing, but damaged fan could be completed with the help of a foundry.


 

April 2012

By fluke two "new" locomotives of Montania Nordhausen could be acquired for the collection, both of the LD2 type, however a standard and a mining machine. The standard loco with the early year of construction 1933 remained for many years part-dismantled and open air at the previous owner, but however it has nevertheless a quite good substance. Missing parts can be removed from a spare part source, bought additional.
Also the pit machine didn't stay under a roof, however it doesn't suffer from weather because of its strong and heavy construction. The already existing mining LD2 has been delivered to a friendly collector, where both locomotives will be restored together. This will make it easier to complete widely the locos.


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January 2012

After the successful assembly of the liner of the L180 Nr.1361 also the crankshaft found back to its original place. The bearings obviously had been very generously adapted in the last period of operation of the locomotive, simply by not completely fixed screws. For safety there were lock nuts and split pins… That means, that now some more expenditure is necessary for the exact adjustment. After finishing of the engine also the gearbox will still offer enough work to do.

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