History
The design for the loco comes from a series of articles written by Martin Evans and published in Model Engineer during 1980 and 1981 (before I was born!). I'd always fancied building a loco but could never find a set of plans for anything I liked. Then, by chance, a pile of ME's were donated to the mess room (at the WHR(C)). Among these were the first few articles on Conway. Being a narrow gauge 'nut ' it seemed like a great first engine before I one day build a model of one of my babies - an NGG16 Garratt - I've worked with these locos since they arrived in the UK in 1996.
Conway is a freelance engine although it incorporates many of the features common in similar styles of locomotives. The slide valve actuated cylinders are 1 3/16" bore by 2" stroke. The valve gear is Stephenson link with launch-type links and centre suspension. The boiler is a simple round top type with a raised firebox. A single firebox type superheater is fitted. The frames are 1/8" mild steel set 5 1/4" apart. The hornblocks are fitted with split axleboxes which are much more convenient on an outside framed loco. A simple hand brake is specified.
The outline drawings below are reproduced from the original article from vol 146 No.3631 of Model Engineer and written and drawn by Martin Evans. Click on them to see a larger version.
