Revolution’s rolling chassis has been successfully tested on the Stapleford Miniature Railway. Over two days in September, the chassis was ballasted with sleepers and hauled over some 8 miles of track at varying speeds. It successfully negotiated the 18.5m radius curve to the new turntable which is near the limit for which it has been designed.
Several videos were made of the tests, some shorter ones of which can be viewed on YouTube as follows:
- https://youtu.be/7ypOoWiCRkI – line-side view;
- https://youtu.be/Ag2FLeZyQ4w – low speed viewed from the side;
- https://youtube.com/shorts/eCR3CekxnB0 – view from front (at steamchest level);
- https://youtu.be/znR1AH0-nKc – looking backwards from right-hand cylinder;
- https://youtu.be/R82uiRRlVnM – looking forwards during curve negotiation at slow speed;
- https://youtu.be/a85Nu0N_u4U – looking forwards at slow speed;
- https://youtu.be/mgZqEmaGlb8 – running backwards negotiating a curve;
- https://youtu.be/uwr9RJeIB5o – view of centre axle (between the frames);
- https://youtu.be/AEpIke4-5Cs – rail level view, negotiating pointwork;
- https://youtu.be/tQ1qkoDxKMY – pony truck movement;
- https://youtu.be/xd7XwuS8vcs – pony truck movement.
Jamie Keyte, who spearheads the project, presented a paper at ASTT’s recent conference in Swindon. This can be viewed on the 2023 conference page.