ELR Engeineering NGG16 Garratt User manual

Gas fired steam locomotive
NGG16 Garratt
Owners Manual

Contents
Controls
Running in
Preparing to run your locomotive
Running your locomotive
Maintenance / troubleshooting
Precautionary instructions
The NGG16 Garratt locomotive operates just like its full-sized counterpart but using gas
instead of coal to produce steam under pressure. Therefore, parts of the locomotive will
become very hot. Provided the locomotive is operated with adequate care and attention,
no problems should arise. The model is intended for outdoor use and should only be used
in well-ventilated areas.
The model is unsuitable for children unless they are carefully supervised at all times: The
locomotive is not a toy.
Whilst the locomotive is in steam, an exhaust will be emitted through the chimney that
will be hot. Therefore, any operator or bystander must not lean over the locomotive while
it is running.

Controls
1. Water gauge glass
2. Pressure gauge
3. Lubricator
4. Gas control valve
2
1
4
3

Locomotive running tools
The following tools are supplied with your new locomotive:
Water top-up bottle
Bottle of steam oil
Locomotive charger
Preparing your locomotive
Your locomotive must be fully prepared before every running session in accordance with
the operational guidelines below.
Use light motion oil to lubricate the valve gear. Make sure to include all moving parts.
Fill the boiler with water using the top-up bottle or if the boiler is completely empty
remove the filler valve located under the dome and fill the boiler with a syringe. Fill until
the water reading is slightly over the top of the gauge glass. If you prefer to fill the boiler
and remove water to create a steam space with a syringe then we recommend that you
remove 40ml.
Next, unscrew the top of the lubricator and also unscrew the drain of the lubricator.
Allow any water to drain then, as oil starts to appear, retighten the lubricator drain screw
(finger tighten only). Top up the lubricator with steam oil until full and then screw the top
on again (finger tight).
The gas tank is located under the boiler inside the centre cradle.
The gas filler valve is
tilted to allow access
with a long adapter.

To fill the gas tank you should support it with your hand and press the gas can adapter
down onto the filler valve.
The tank will take some time to fill as it is a large tank. It will vent once it is full.
Your locomotive is now ready to be steamed.

Operating your locomotive
Raising steam
You are now ready to light the burners. To do this, you must remove the front tank and
the smokebox door. This is done by turning the dart anti-clockwise.
To light the burners, open the gas control valve and hold a lighter in front of the
smokebox and wait for the ‘pop’ and then the ‘roar’ of the lit burners. Ensure both
burners are lit. Allow 7-10 minutes for the locomotive to raise steam.

Running the locomotive
Once the safety valves are lifting then the locomotive is ready to move.
Turn on the radio transmitter and then the locomotive.
Move the reverser into the desired gear by moving the right hand stick left or right and
then open the regulator by moving the left hand stick up. Some priming is to be expected
(identified by water escaping from the chimney). This is normal and will soon clear.
Following priming, the locomotive is ready to start running.
Although the locomotive is designed so that the gas will run out before the water, it is
worth paying attention to the water level. It is good practice to keep it up at about half a
glass (above the flues).
Maintenance / troubleshooting
To keep your locomotive running well, you must keep all moving parts well oiled.
As is the case for many new locomotives, the seals at certain joints may take time to ‘bed
in’ such as the glands on the cylinders. This can soon be overcome by a gentle tightening
of the seal.
As with all gas fired locomotives, the gas jets can block if there is a bit of dirt in the
liquid gas. To clear them out you have to undo the union nuts from the gas control valve
with a 2BA spanner. Then undo the locking bolt on the jet holders and pull them out. The
jets then need undoing out of their holders, also with a 4BA spanner. The best way to
unblock them is by shooting gas from a gas canister through them. If this is not working
then they should be replaced.
The switch is located under the
rear tank on the left hand side.

If the locomotive appears to struggling to make steam then you should check to see if
both burners are lit using the same procedure as the initial light up.
We hope that you find great enjoyment in your NGG16 Garratt!