Modifications to Accucraft NG15 "Kalahari" 2-8-2

Radio control

We are pleased to announce the successful installation of full 2-channel (on regulator AND reverser) radio control on one of these fine locomotives. The work was carried out by Accucraft repair agent Dave Mees of the Wigfa & Llanwrst Railway Workshops in North Wales at our request, and a very fine job he has done.

A 2.4GHz Planet T5 radio system has been used, with the batteries, switch and receiver housed in the rear tender compartment. The servo leads reach the loco by making use of the dry pipe passing through the tender's water tank.

The servo controlling the regulator is mounted discretely inside the cab (i.e. not under the cab roof). The reverser servo is mounted between the frames and is not visible at all when the locomotive is in use. Servos with metal gears are used in both locations for increased durability.

A video of this locomotive in action can be seen on YouTube here.

Dave would be willing to install radio control on other Accucraft NG15 locomotives at a cost of £280. This price is inclusive of all labour and provision of a Planet T5 2.4GHz radio transmitter, receiver, metal gear servos, batteries, switch and associated leads but excludes carriage charges incurred in transporting the loco to and from North Wales.

Cow catcher

We have also successfully modified the front cow catcher on one of these locomotives to increase the clearance above the rail head. As supplied, the cow catcher is very close to rail level and it would strike the smallest obstruction (moss, gravel, etc.) causing derailment or lack of traction. Our modification raises the cow catcher by about 3mm to avoid this problem and without changing the appearance of the cow catcher.

This picture shows the cow catcher before modification:



This picture shows the cow catcher after modification:



We would be happy to carry out this same modification on any other NG15 locomotives at a cost of £25. There is no need to send the whole locomotive to us as only the cow catcher (held on by four 2mm bolts) and the front coupling (held on by two 2mm bolts) are needed. These may be easily removed using the nut spinner supplied by Accucraft with the locomotive.

Please email us for more information.