A scaled up toy train? I drive 'Titch' - Lawrie Goes Loco Episode 14

Hello all you lovely people,
Today is a first for the channel, as I make my way back to the Great Bush Railway to drive Titch, a Battery Electric locomotive.
If you've enjoyed what you've seen in the video and want more information about the Great Bush Railway and Tinkers Park, have a look at their website - www.tinkerspark.com/
If you really like what you've seen, and you want to learn to drive Titch or get involved with the running of the railway, drop them an email with this - [e-mail]
A video featuring:
Lawrie - Presenter, enjoying the little blue box,
Ben - Camerman, overjoyed to officially now be a driver.
A video edited by Lawrie,
Sound edited by Sebastian
Want more info on us and the stuff in The Shed, or want to get in contact? Check out our Website!
lawriesmechanicalmarvels.com/
Get hints of what's coming up next with our Instagram - / lawries_mechanical_mar...
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[@colinlothlorian]

Three of us turned up at Crowborough brickworks in the late 1970s to photograph the railway system. The loco driver was amazed at our interest, so he gave us a quick driving lesson in one of those locos, pulled three of them out of the shed and with a loco each we followed him round the system. A day to remember!

[@apolofeve]

In fact, the first electric mining locomotives had pantographs and overhead wires, but that system was abandoned when they found out that pantographs created sparks, and that's not ideal in a mine.

[@lmm]

I've seen overhead on two foot in China. Very strange!

[@peterudbjorg]

Recently saw a vid (on KZbin…) from the great American lead mines. The lead was mined deep undeground in hard rock (the lead was concentrated in "pockers"), thus long travels in to get it and get it out. Since the rock it came out of (and the lead mineral) was not going to go off (they used "wet drillng"), they used electric locos w/ overhead lines. And this was in the 40’s or 50’s.

[@lmm]

Oh really? That's rather interesting!

[@Porty1119]

@@peterudbjorg Those mines were in Missouri, if I'm thinking of the right video. The same company is still mining lead about thirty miles west of there; they use loaders and articulated trucks in the stopes and do have a pretty large underground rail line for long hauls.

[@TotoDG]

This looks like a battery on wheels… …putting aside the fact that it’s literally that!

[@lmm]

I mean yes, yes it is 😂

[@dtrail3276]

Ha!

[@ijmr2005]

I volunteer at a museum railway in sweden called Öslj ( östra Södermanlands järnväg) and we have an electric locomotive that was built by a swedish electrical company in 1915 called ASEA. I was told that our electrical loco hasnt had to change its batteries since it was built.

[@gerrystepney8805]

Ian ramsey the original batteries were unfortunately left for around a year in between service and preservation. In this time the batteries dried up and damaged it in the end.

[@ijmr2005]

Thanks. I thought so because batteries cant really last forever. When i was working at the railway i went and took a look at the electric locomotive "Garpen" as its called. I was told to be careful and not be too close because of the toxic battery fumes wich i was told were very acidic.

[@lmm]

It's possible for them to still be working - though I do wonder if they're as good as the once were!

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

I am absolutely going to have to draw this thing, I cannot resist such a quirky little electrobox, especially with such a terrifying and monstrous name as "Titch". Oh, and "Dennis", also quite an assertive name. And dynamic brakes on it too, wow. One of the reasons vintage electric locos are nearly up there with steam in my book is how they can just about last forever, as long as you keep the resistors and such clean. Amazing that this can run for so long a charge now, though!

[@lmm]

It's a really strange little thing. Quite good fun though! The technology is simple, but robust. It'll keep on working!

[@Gryvix]

I was looking more at the side of the tracks than at the locomotive: two searchlights, old rusty tracked tractorthingy, buses, a plow, a tow truck, airplane fuselage, Jesus, (steam)roller, boilers,....

[@lmm]

There is a huge amount of gubbins there. And this is after having a massive tidy up!

[@evanforst7272]

@@lmm Gubbins... that is a fantastic word...

[@ls-zx5dd]

What is GUBBINS

[@lmm]

I like gubbins. Gubbins is bits. Mostly loads of useful bits. So a breakers / scrap yard would be full of gubbins.

[@ianhudson9398]

Aircraft fuselage looks like a B17 freighter but I'm sure its not...... I noticed the searchlights too..... where is this place??

[@DanafoxyVixen]

So basically its an electric forklift battery pack and motor modded for a small gauge railway use. neat :3

[@lmm]

Same principle I guess yeah.

[@sheep1ewe]

We had a similar 48V system on the forlift in the warehouse whan i worked on the construction sites, all forklifts both new and old ones i hawe seen in person had that 48V system with a cube battery pack (maybe there are exceptions, but that system seem to be the most common in Europe), so maybe they where originaly ment to be interchangable with forklifters battery pack modules, perhaps. I suppose it had some type of NiFe batties in original, those very old with steel canisters are very easy to restore back to working condition. (i am not sure about the plastic ones however, if thay can be restored or not).

[@lmm]

Having a universal system that can be swapped out does make a lot of sense.

[@Porty1119]

I have a friend who owns a battery electric forklift that's been modified to run on 24" mine rail. I'm not sure why he has it, but he does, along with a much larger battery trammer purchased from a lead mine in New Mexico.

[@emmawieldloch1431]

I remember titch pulling your push cart up the hill to rescue it

[@gerrystepney8805]

He didn’t need Titch for round two!

[@chrishoggett1375]

So titch also serves as a thunderbird rescue vehicle :)

[@gerrystepney8805]

Chris Hoggett pretty much! Haha. This or one of the bigger diesels!

[@lmm]

Yeap Titch is the thunderbird 😂

[@LacyLemur]

its the better Thunderbird 1

[@PaulinesPastimes]

It definitely needs to be given character and it would quite easy. A two tone paint scheme, a lightweight removable cab, twin tone horns and a nice little LED headlight. Every home should have one! Cheers.

[@lmm]

Ah, but then you run into preservation conundrums of changing the Loco - are you preserving the past or making a more usable locomotive?

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Yes, I run into this with the classic car world, I have a classic car with a couple of mods to make it easier to use and safer to drive. You mentioned that it lacked character so I was just running with the discussion. After all, the locomotive is already modified. Or, maybe the seat should be taken off and the controls returned to standard? I think I had better shut up now. Hahaha

[@CZ350tuner]

If you jubilee clipped a garden umbrella to that pole you'd be able to stay dry in the rain.

[@lmm]

Oh that's a great idea! Instant cab!

[@prylosecorsomething3194]

Just zip tie one on there and you're good to go

[@lmm]

Sorted for next time!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Another great video!!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@timwhite4301]

I drove one of those a few years ago it was a bit worn out so you only had full speed which was a bit interesting while shunting. It also didn't have a seat so I can confirm that it is a bit of an art form standing up on one of these😀

[@lmm]

That would make shunting a challenge 😂 I imagine you'd get very tired legs after a long day!

[@timwhite4301]

@@lmm if you weren't careful you ended up hugging the bonnet haha

[@robinforrest7680]

I wonder if it would gain a bit of character if it had a cab? Dunno why, but I suspect so. Another good one Lawrie 👍

[@lmm]

It would look quite odd with a cab I feel. Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@rvoisey]

Fast swappable battery packs were in Tesla's original plan. Customers didn't like the idea and it was dropped before production, although the current design doesn't rule it out.

[@lmm]

Oh really? Thanks for the info!

[@fyrrydr4g0n]

@@lmm also, before Tesla, many others in Europe and the U.S. attempted to design cars around swappable battery packs. As awesome as the idea is, in practice, it would have been too hard to implement; you'd have battery swap stations full of batteries and chargers, where you'd need to line up your car perfectly (Big problem 1) to have a machine swap it. Big problem 2 is, for multiple brands and types of vehicle, you'd either need multiple batteries per larger car, or multiple battery types. You can probably imagine how such a situation could quickly spiral out of control.

[@lmm]

Oh yes, nice idea, but doesn't work

[@baymechanic1009]

@@fyrrydr4g0n electric taxi companies in china are operating stations exactly like that already...

[@anzaca1]

@@baymechanic1009 For a small taxi fleet, it could work, yes.

[@LordPhobos6502]

'Titch was a Really Useful Engine.' 💙

[@lmm]

It genuinely is!

[@tobybarnes6599]

Haha, I got in the video at 15:20 I’m in the background to the right!

[@rosaleal6043]

This is the loco that saved you when you went on your failed pump cart adventure 😂😂

[@lmm]

Yes it is!

[@harrytodhunter5078]

What a cute little loco! A kiln railway sounds like a very unique concept for a model railway too.

[@lmm]

Yes, could be fun to model!

[@TheCebulon]

Very funny and informative, as always. The battery swapping is done with taxi cars in a city in China. They have 60 swapping stations all over the city. Swapping is done in 90 seconds. Greetings from Munich, Tom.

[@thomasfrederiksendk]

Thomas Schroeder Renault and Better Place tried the same for consumer cars in at least Israel and Denmark ages ago. They failed and folded, sadly.

[@lmm]

Thank you very much Tom. Is it really? Makes total sense for city cabs. Didn't realise it had failed elsewhere either.

[@randomoldbloke]

Awwwww it is so cute !!! Cheers from Australia

[@lmm]

It really is a super cute thing!

[@martythemartian99]

If you want to see one in Australia, the South Australian Light Railway Center at Milang has an operational example from 1941.

[@stephenlittle7534]

What a Lovely Little Train.

[@lmm]

It's a super little Loco

[@alanmuddypaws3865]

Excellent - more trains! That is a lovely little loco, looks really fun to play with.

[@lmm]

It is, super little thing. Very easy and useful too!

[@123sheepdip]

Love the old bus in the background. Thanks for your superb posts.

[@lmm]

There's a lot of really cool stuff at Tinkers Park. You're most welcome!

[@allanblackesq]

A great little fun video.

[@lmm]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@MRPUD1]

Another fun video it’s good to see the small engines get a look in . I await your next instalment On LMM.

[@lmm]

Pleased to hear you enjoyed it, we really enjoy looking at the more unusual locomotives.

[@MRPUD1]

Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels well maybe the next time you visit Derwent valley light Railway I’ll say high to you . I love the more unusual stuff makes it more interesting.

[@lmm]

That would be super! We hope to get back this year. Thank you - glad you're enjoying it.

[@barhamd1]

I believe the loco would have originally had a seat, the pole supporting the current tractor seat looks like it is welded to the original fitting. The plans show a round seat on a threaded rod which could be wound up and down! I've been tempted to build a model of one of these for ages, now even more tempted!

[@lmm]

They're very different locomotives. Be an interesting thing to model. So do you think originally that there was a removable seat?

[@barhamd1]

@@lmm take a look at www.flickr.com/photos/jaytilston/3262370947, the drawing shows the round seat.

[@julietcarnell2251]

That would make a most awesome garden railway. Then, whenever you paraded it around the back garden it would be a Titch march. 😁 Sorry, couldn't resist.

[@lmm]

😂 😂 Would be great fun to have on a garden railway though

[@johnedwards4274]

You just need a 48 volt sound chip Love the loco 😀👍

[@lmm]

Hahahah, that sounds a great modification!

[@DPNTV]

Interesting liked watching

[@lmm]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@williamwoodgate]

So many possible uses for a little loco like that

[@lmm]

Yeah, it's a super useful little Shunter.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I WANT one of these. It's the connecting rods that do it.

[@lmm]

It certainly gives it more character.. The larger BEV doesn't have coupling rods, and looses a bit of charm because of it.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

@@lmm Is Titch's brother unit Dennis in (at least a 9%) good condition?

[@christianthorley6381]

Some very interesting things in the background 😀 a AEC matador and a ransom crawler 👍

[@crazyfvck]

@Christian Thorley What really stood out for me was those giant spotlights :)

[@lmm]

There is so much cool stuff there it's unreal 😂

[@ramdonice]

Same battery system in fork lifts and the motor looks similar too

[@lmm]

I suppose that makes sense, it's pretty similar technology 😂

[@HotForgeChaos]

You'd love the Waikino Battery museum and narrow gauge railway in New Zealand then. The locomotives are all battery electric that tows about a half a dozen little passenger wagons that trundles around the ruins of the former Victoria gold processors. My late grandfather did the refit on the locomotives and carriages, and did some track modifications that are still there to this day. When the gold rush was happening in the Waihi district, the Victoria battery would run 24 hours a day 6 days a week. On Sunday it would shut down for maintenance and church. The workers could not sleep on Sunday nights either because it was too quiet. Much of the place lies in ruin, but there is a mine shaft up the top of the hill, and a set of 3 crushers from there survives in operational condition in the neighbouring Thames district. Its been nearly 20 years since I've been back there and I want to go back for a look, but time just does not play nice with me You'd also love pretty much our entire rail network. Its all 3"8' Cape Gauge, and in the early days of diesel traction here, English Electric dominated the rails, with Drewery, Hunslet and a few other local companies providing shunting locomotives. Some English Electric traction still exists in both diesel electric (at Diesel Traction Group in Christchurch) and DC electric (at the neighbouring Ferrymead Railway Museum, which DTG shares). A lot of steam traction has also been preserved and some is in mainline certified condition. In fact, DTG just got the sole surviving Di class English Electric up to mainline certified condition after a 9 year restoration, and has loaned it out to the Taieri Gorge Railway (which has just announced 51 job cuts due to Covid 19).

[@sheep1ewe]

Awsome! Thank You for sharing! I realy look forward to see them both in combination, but i fully understand that will probably be a long time project. You are a realy good storyteller by the way!

[@lmm]

You're most welcome! Yes, so do I, it'll be fun - though a few years off I suspect. Thank you very much!

[@henryjohnfacey8213]

Brilliant just Brilliant.

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@bentullett6068]

Interesting little industrial locomotive and a interesting history.

[@lmm]

It is rather!

[@paul1962uk]

Aaaaah the Jeremy Clarkson style of presenting🤣

[@lmm]

Maybe only a little. I tend to relate to May more though

[@SamRoebuckisTheBest]

Awesome functional engine, nice to see it at home with its trailers

[@lmm]

It's a really useful little thing. Yeah, very nice touch having a couple of brickwork wagons saved

[@SamRoebuckisTheBest]

@@lmm hopefully Dennis will be able to run with it someday as well

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

I love that AEC Matador! :-) That Titch is a neat little loco! :-)

[@lmm]

I'd love a Matador. Titch is super!

[@wellingtonnorthjunction3911]

Lovely little thing

[@gosportjamie]

The point you made about the heat in the kilns where this one worked is exactly the reason why they became so popular for mine work. If you've ever been underground in working or former mine, you'll know how hot they are...

[@lmm]

I suppose as there's no where for the heat to go.

[@fridaynighthikes]

Very entertaining. Looking forward to more. 🏆

[@lmm]

Thank you, glad you're enjoying what we do!

[@didyou555]

Lawrie, next time your in the USA, go to Pennsylvania and check out the East Broad Top narrow gauge railroad. The E.B.T. was just bought by a non-profit organization to restore and run the 3 foot locomotives. If you search East Broad Top Railroad in youtube you're bound to find videos of the old girls.

[@didyou555]

Here is a video that is promoting the E.B.T's return m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5eQd4iAi8Scl9k

[@lmm]

I'll see if I can get there. It looks fantastic!

[@HenrikLaurell]

What a lovely little loco and a well done video at that! Promptly bookmarked. /Henrik

[@lmm]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it

[@Captain_Char]

looks like the fork lift battery at my work, with a train boogie added to the bottom

[@RBRat3]

Pretty much all it is hell I bet EnerSys Superhog would be a drop in replacement lol

[@lmm]

Oh really? Similar technology I suppose. I did wonder if there would be a modern replacement.

[@jimdieseldawg3435]

What a charming little 'orse! I'm going to get my geek on here: in the epic BBC TV drama Edge Of Darkness (highly recommended btw, available from many sources), the scenes in and around "Northwood" I'm sure include one of these beasties or a close relative on a short hopper train on an elevated track. Industrial locos are, well, just COOL for their completely endearing utilitarian simplicity. Thank you for sharing, sir.

[@lmm]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Quite possible, little locos like this ended up all over the place. Useful and simple.

[@owentomlinson8045]

I have been lucky enough to operate one of these locomotives sadly I only was able to run it for 10 or 20 feet but I do remember it being an absolute joy to operate.

[@lmm]

They're simple, but pretty good fun.

[@aidanlegs]

It's fun to drive.

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

It's basically ideal for something a private hobbyist would have out in their yard: simple, reliable, and not maintenance intensive. The fact that it has a limited top speed makes the most out of less track. -basically an engine you could putter around with on the weekends and have a life too! (Maybe a decorative headlight and a bell would give it more personality!)

[@lmm]

Oh would be great on a little garden railway

[@arvindsingh3591]

Wow bro...you are living my dreams

[@SocialistDistancing]

That's a very interesting looking place. I'd love to Snoop around there for a day.

[@lmm]

It's well worth a visit on one of its open days.

[@derbuckeburger4333]

Wow Im impressed!!!

[@lmm]

It's a fun little thing.

[@tomstech4390]

You went past that mini tractor with tracks and every time I'm just hoping it'll get a video some day.

[@AGSGuy]

I love how you bought one little shunter and it's just went downhill from there lol

[@lmm]

Downhill? I'd say it's been pretty good since I got my Loco.

[@JoshRidestheRails]

Definitely need to get one of those and some track to get around the pasture.

[@gerrystepney8805]

Josh Rides the Rails They’re good little Locos, we use this one most weekends for general work.

[@lmm]

I think that sounds like a super idea!

[@southern207hobbies]

Lawrie if you do happen to read this please consider coming to the east broad top railroad it's a 3ft narrow guage that is currently in the process of being re opened

[@lmm]

I'd love to if I could make it work! I won't be that far away from there on my next trip out there!

[@harrisongrant8558]

They also have a locomotive similar to this at the Lea Bailey Light Railway (The one they have is a Wingrove and Rogers WR5 and the battery box is slightly different), and it's still doing what it's intended to do- working in a mine. It's not in as good a condition, but it still runs perfectly fine. I'm glad these have been preserved, because as seemingly dull and uninteresting as they are, electric locomotives are still the unsung workhorses of mines and factories even today.

[@crazyfvck]

Another adorable narrow-gauge locomotive :) I've been curious about this one ever since I caught a glimpse of it in a previous video ;) I agree that it does not seem to have a "soul" like other locomotives, but it is still cool. Speaking of locomotives, I took the first (small) steps towards building my own. I was able to get a 5ft x 10ft sheet of 3/8" steel from work for only $25! Then I spent $20 renting a truck to bring it home, at which point my nephew helped me unload it. And that was not an easy task, since that sheet weighs 750lbs :D My back certainly hurts, but I am still quite happy. That same sheet shipped from an online supplier would have been more than $800! (and I still would have needed to rent a truck to get it home.) Using some of the money that I saved on the steel, I was able to order one of those cheap plasma cutters off of Amazon. Everyone says they work pretty well, so I figured I would try one out. The specs for the one that I bought say that it will cut through 1/2" steel, which is perfect for me :) Anyway, I think I will use the 3/8" plate for the cab and a few other things.

[@lmm]

Glad to have satisfied your curiosity! That's pretty cool, good luck with your project - I look forward to hearing how it progresses!

[@Cliffdog01]

This was cool the machine reminds me of the elec scrubber machines at work although ours barely the last 2hrs on a charge compared that running a whole day.

[@lmm]

I somewhat suspect the battery on this to be a little larger than yours too. Plus it isn't under a huge amount of load most the time.

[@PowerTrain611]

Very interesting about the brickworks usage. I used to operate a 55 ton loco that worked in a steel mill. It's equipped with remote control equipment, and for good reason. When it arrived at its current location the driver's cab was mashed in from the heat!

[@lmm]

Oh really? That's quite cool. I really want a go with one of these radio controlled locomotives!

[@stopsign997]

Not sure why I got suggested this video but subscribed now!

[@lmm]

Thank the mighty KZbin Algorithm. Welcome aboard!

[@Trainsaregreat365]

I think this railway is amazing

[@vyk8244]

Idk why this is in my feed but if I ever have to drive one of these bad boys I'll be set. Great video

[@lmm]

Thank you, glad it popped up!

[@marcobertoglio7729]

you are amazing! thank you!

[@lmm]

Thank you very much!

[@harrisonrawlinson5650]

Im gonna have to buy 20-30 acres so i can have a narrow gauge railway

[@lmm]

When you do, let me know so I can review the Locos!

[@harrisonrawlinson5650]

@@lmm even if i built them myself?

[@double4790]

I was thinking the same thing but the normal gauge track on a 2 by 3 mile peace of land

[@lmm]

Would certainly be a laugh!

[@stan1036]

I want to upvote again for the hat stand :D

[@lmm]

😂 Thank you, glad you approve!

[@Porty1119]

I love it! It's like a British Mancha trammer; a friend of mine owns a couple battery mine locomotives, one of which I found for sale at basically scrap price from a closed lead mine. Have you ever run a compressed-air mine locomotive?

[@DC4260Productions]

On the subject of tiny battery engines, I suggest making a video about the little yellow engine they have at Corris (otherwise known as Corris No. 9).

[@lmm]

Way ahead of you!

[@CZ350tuner]

Anybody else recognise the pair of green cast 6 spoke Vickers Bren gun carrier wheels amongst the pile of wheels as he past by??

[@harald.370]

Oh my god, it’s so cute 😍😍😍

[@lmm]

Isn't it just!

[@joeyhammer1998]

You deserve a lot more subscribers

[@lmm]

Thank you, that really would be lovely!

[@teamidris]

My mate in Austria moved a house in pieces and build an open ended cellar under it for his two mine loco. He sold them later on to a museum and got an electric just like that style. Just plug in and go :o) Also, the local gypsum mine fitted new duetze engines to their loader shovels and they have adblue. It wasn’t a pleasant job before, but now.... :o

[@AndrewGadd]

Another terrific video, thank you. My LMM request would be the Fowler "Peldon", at Amberley Museum!

[@lmm]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I contacted Amberley, but got no response.

[@AndrewGadd]

@@lmm Thanks for the feedback. Shame about that, I think the Fowler would make an interesting vid. Another fascinating loco, is the Baldwin 50hp Petrol Tractors built during WWI. Although not the rebuilt Moelwyn running on the FR now?

[@lmm]

I'll see what can be arranged!

[@teescottageguyproductions]

I see he calls the cab a flight deck. Well if it is a flight deck does it fly? 🤣

[@double4790]

I seen something that looks like that but I believe it ran on air on a coil mine or something like that Keep up the good work

[@lmm]

There are a few examples of pneumatic locomotives kicking about - don't know how many run though. We'll try our best!

[@logoseven3365]

I worked in a large electrical forklift\pallet jack shop. Our batteries were 800# and were changed at the beginning of each shift. The system was similar.

[@whirlpool851]

Great video! You should return when the other engine is running as slave.

[@lmm]

That is a while off, but certainly is the plan!

[@CritterFritter]

When I lived in Kenya, the little children’s primary school was called “Titchy Swot.” More or less, “Where little kids sweat.” Yep. Only other place I heard the word.

[@lmm]

Well, that's remarkable.

[@quattrobajeena1689]

they could make some activity for kids to go around in this and do shunting puzzles, a nice start to driving and shunting.

[@lmm]

Not a bad way for new volunteers to learn

[@kadebrown6162]

I'd like to see you drive some of the trains here in canada, their quite different here

[@lmm]

I'd love to be able to. Any suggestions on where to start with enquiries?

[@kadebrown6162]

@@lmm Canadian pacific and Canadian National railways are the main ones here they both have websites www.CN.ca and www.cpr.ca not sure where exactly to contact but good luck

[@kadebrown6162]

@@lmm also some railway museums might be a good start

[@lmm]

They're probably not going to be interested in a little English KZbinr sadly..

[@kadebrown6162]

@@lmm you're probably right, bear where I live there's a place called Neptune bulk terminals and they may be more intirested being a small company also they do a tour there once a year. Also there is many railway museums but only a small number have any operational stuff

[@MiG21aholic]

Nice video, BEV actually stands for British Electric Vehicles and was a company WR took over. This loco is also known as a WR5 type

[@gerrystepney8805]

MiG21aholic For both of our four coupled Battery electrics they are noted as W217 for the class numbers. I have only over heard WR5 when referring to type but when referring to class this is the number given. Not quite sure with W&R but I will look at their instruction/ Builders guides later to see what they say is correct. Cheers, Gerry (GBR).

[@MiG21aholic]

@@gerrystepney8805 Quite possible the name changed or they are actually different!

[@MiG21aholic]

There's 3 of these locos in New Zealand I'm aware of, unfortunately I'm yet to get my hands on any!

[@gerrystepney8805]

MiG21aholic It might be the WR5 is the 3 stage systems, I can’t remember exactly how every stage is wired but 1st notch goes through a resistor, then second and third are either series or parallel. Titch here is a lot different. A lot more control in this system. We have an example of the notch system in a larger version called Lama, it’s Jerks as soo as you take off haha. You have to start with the brake on otherwise it’s lethal haha.

[@MiG21aholic]

@@gerrystepney8805 being 1970s built quite possible. I have a 48V Lansing Bagnall forklift built in the 70s or 80s which has electronic controller. It might end up a loco one day

[@densondirosa4497]

Similar to an American Hyster pallet jack Forklift made in the 50’s-60’s that we used at Nabors trailer for moving steel & finished truck trailers around the mill.

[@lmm]

Oh really?

[@eateggs]

This does seem like a good engine for beginners!

[@james.br_bass9346]

The first time I used a bev on the railway was when a steam blow-off valve broke and the carriage had been modified so that it had a backup electric setup in the carige.

[@Andy-pu2iv]

Want one!

[@lmm]

So do I kinda

[@JackCavie]

I heard Lawrie loves a Great Bush ;)

[@lmm]

Oh yes, particularly Rose.

[@handyhippie6548]

you need to drive titch more. i have driven fork lifts while working in factories. the electrics have a personality, it's just really subtle. they're shy girls. you have to spend some time with them to get to know them. i could tell my lift truck from the others by driving it, if not by sight.

[@lmm]

Oh really? Maybe I'll have to do just that then!

[@martythemartian99]

We have a similar Wingrove & Rogers loco at the South Australian Light Railway Center at Milang near the south coast. It was one of three (I think) built in 1941and fitted with bronze wheels to reduce sparks, because they were used for transporting munitions (things that can go BOOM!). Ours is 2 foot gauge (610mm) but yours looks to be a little wider gauge.

[@lmm]

This was two foot as well! I like the wheels on your one, the crawlers at Nasa have tracks made in a similar way so you couldn't possible have a spark around a rocket.

[@SteamingThroughYorkshire]

Love it Lawrie. John

[@lmm]

Glad to hear you approve!

[@SteamingThroughYorkshire]

@@lmm well just about 😉

[@lmm]

😂

[@Transit_Biker]

Insofar as the full throttle "show"... In a mine, you don't want too many needless vibrations!

[@lmm]

I think inside the mine you'd be taking things quite gently!

[@douro20]

This probably would had originally had a nickel-iron storage battery. Those things can be renewed almost indefinitely, and there are ones over ninety years old still in service.

[@lmm]

These were replaced as they weren't lasting more than an hour but considering they were completely flat when the railway got it, they got a fair amount of use from it!

[@chrisrand9346]

"I'll just stay here" "Ok see you later Ben" "Bye"

[@lmm]

And that was the last we saw of him

[@matthammond2023]

Brilliant idea about changing out the batteries I can see that actually working with electric cars we do it with power tools on a small scale . Cool video keep up the good work

[@crazyfvck]

@Matt Hammond Agreed! All it would take is manufacturers standardizing on a few different batteries, to limit how many different types each station would have to carry.

[@RBRat3]

Most electric forklifts in factories have batteries that can be swapped out almost exactly like this except the batt box sits on rollers to make it easier, kinda standardized for forklifts at least :D

[@lmm]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it. It's a good idea in theory at least!

[@b43xoit]

Some outfit from Palestine was advocating a system of standard batteries that could be changed out of cars quickly and that would be the normal way of recharging.

[@lmm]

Makes sense really..

[@singletruckshaystudios6828]

*batteries not included*

[@lmm]

😂 😂 😂 😂

[@avcomth]

It looks like one of those cart mules you see at Tesco :D

[@lmm]

I see the family resemblance 😂

[@theowenw06]

Great video. Love to have one in my back garden as a little railway Shunter. Will you be going to the East Anglia railway to review 5526. I usually film this engine at the South Devon Railway would be nice to see a review of it

[@lmm]

I would love it too! Super thing. It was all arranged, but sadly due to an issue, it's unlikely to happen now.

[@MrMe345]

Our Andrew Barclay industrial steam loco only spent 5 years in operation, then about 15 in storage, and has been operation on our railway for 50 years :D

[@lmm]

Oh which one is that?

[@MrMe345]

@@lmm ex-Bord na Móna LM44/No. 2 at the Stradbally Woodland Railway, County Laois 😊

[@lmm]

Oh! She's gorgeous. Any chance of us coming over for a Lawrie Goes Loco?

[@MrMe345]

@@lmm Hi Lawrie, so sorry for the delayed response I thought I'd replied already! If you go on Facebook and find our Facebook page you can send a message and see if you can sort something out :) Won't be soon fro obvious reasons :P

[@Nighthawke70]

A real breeze to drive... *engages brakesWHAM!* o.O

[@lmm]

I mean, it is quite simple. Brake is on or off 😂

[@Nighthawke70]

@@lmm Quite binary. A suggestion; Put some bulk rubber, bits of tire in the hitch where it can dampen the shock of the energetic brakes. This slamming effect is rather harsh on the hitches and could cause a breakaway at a point in time yet undefined. Failing that, have a spool of bailing wire handy....

[@lmm]

The hitch doesn't work in that way unfortunately. Generally it's just a bar, and rather unlikely to fail.

[@57629589]

It reminds me of changing batteries on an electric forklift.