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BR 53-003

2-6-8-0 Steam Locomotive

Hello Everyone,

As previously mentioned here you can see my new BR locomotive :classic:

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The BR 53-003 and especially the cooling water tender couldn’t miss in my BR collection!

I decided with my kids to call this locomotive with a friendly nickname "German Big-Boy” because of its huge size and for the structure with double pair of drive wheels and pistons. :classic:

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Historical & technical data

Circulate a steam locomotive in countries where water is scarce has always been extremely problematic.

One solution was to recover part of the water used, so the Deutsche Reichsbahn decided to experience the condensing tender for military purposes.

The technical principle was to recover the exhaust steam, separate from the oil, and conveys it to the tender which had enough space to hold the radiators capacitors.

The outside air was aspirated by special fans through the capacitors. The fans were driven by a turbo generator driven by the exhaust steam.

Once cooled, the steam is transformed into water and was collected in a tank. Some pumps pushing back the water in the boiler of the locomotive.

The vapor loss was in the order of about 10%: this created a closed circuit for 90%. of steam, that in this way was used several times.

During the II World War DR German locomotives with cooling fans system were used in Soviet Union, where the water supply was difficult.

Moreover, from a strictly military point of view, the elimination of the plume of white steam made locomotives less visible.

A great distances could be covered without intermediate water supply, it was possible to cover up to 600 km instead of the usual 150-200 km.

By contrast, the complexity of the system, the easy formation of limestone deposits and the problems related to the freezing have limited the use.

Despite the satisfactory results, this technique was stopped because of the costs of maintenance and sensitivity of the equipment.

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Since March I have been involved in the creation of this European goliath, and the most difficult part to be implemented was the tender where the space was really limited to insert the dual battery, the IR receiver, the engine, the fans and the switches hidden in little coal section.

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The front bogie of the tender has three axles and they are too far away to take corner in a smooth way if they were rigid, so I’ve adopted a system with a central swing axis

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Thanks to Benn (a.k.a. zephyr1934) I was able to realize with his custom rods a simplified version of Walschaerts Valve Gear with very visual impact.

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The locomotive is driven by three medium motors hidden underneath the lining of the boiler; this LEGO version of BR 53-003 has real lighs like all my previous locomotives, and respects original proportions of the real model

Enjoy the photo & video gallery:

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Compare to this (not mine) video:

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Wow! That is one epic machine! You've got all the characteristic details covered and even the fans are spinning!

The only thing is the wire between the engine and the tender... I know you need a bit of a loop to allow for movement but it would look much better if you could shorten that so it no longer appears above the roof.

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Interesting story and overall a very nice job! maybe next time you could use warm white LED's b.t.w.?!

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What can I say? It's fantastic! The detail, the precision of the dimensions, the rotating fans... I have to agree with Duq, however. That loop of gray wire is distracting on an otherwise superbe creation. Like he said, maybe shortened so it doesn't poke out. If it were black it would also call less attention to itself. But even with the gray wire, it's one of the finest LEGO steam locomotives out there!

Dan-147

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Wow, this is very well done! It is so accurate to the real-world thing!

I have to say, the really awesomeness in this build is the fans, that is brilliant, simply amazing! I would not have even thought of that, but the fact that you did that shows me that you are an amazing building, and very dedicated to you builds.

You have truly blown me away!

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Wow! The prototype is insane 2-6-8-0 and 6-4 tender. Makes total sense given the application.

As for your build, simply fantastic. It is great to see a huge articulated engine like this running and especially impressive given the constraints of lego curves. For your next challenge, make it dual gauge so that it can run on the Russian LGB gauge track (just kidding, I half expect that you've already incorporated that feature, grin). Typical of so many of your builds, there are tons of innovative pure lego techniques (I like how you mounted the arches for the fan housings on the tender) and and equally innovative non-pure techniques (all of the electrical wiring). Of course just fitting all of the electronics and motors in the housing is a feat unto itself, then making the housing look this good, well that's just stellar.

Keep up the great work!

I have to agree with Duq, however. That loop of gray wire is distracting on an otherwise superbe creation. Like he said, maybe shortened so it doesn't poke out.

On my own locomotives I have often looked at the connecting wires between the tender and engine and thought, "wouldn't this wire make a great water hose?" But never got around to figuring out how to disguise it as such.

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Absolutely stunning. What a monster job. Great attention to details. I realy am impressed. Thanks for all these pictures en some insights on how you build it. Makes great study material for a try of ones own. (perhaps in the very farrrrrr future, still strugling with the collection of bricks for my own projects.)

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Really nice work :thumbup: :thumbup: Very well detailed :wink:

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That is one big møther! Is it your longest loc so far? Beautiful!

The BR53 is longer than all my BR but my longest locomotive is the Big Boy

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Thanks for all your positive feedback! :thumbup:

Edited by LEGO Train 12 Volts

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Great work. All the nice details, and the lights are working. So close to the real thing ... :classic:

Well done :thumbup: .

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Wow, gorgeous build LT12V ! :wub: :wub:

Great to see amazing new features with working fans and innovative gearing.

Wondering, if there are 3 M motors hiding under the boiler and only 2 gears sticking up from the wheel base where does the third motor go? Is it because you have 2 motors just for the back half of the loco?

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Wow, gorgeous build LT12V ! :wub: :wub:

Great to see amazing new features with working fans and innovative gearing.

Wondering, if there are 3 M motors hiding under the boiler and only 2 gears sticking up from the wheel base where does the third motor go? Is it because you have 2 motors just for the back half of the loco?

Thanks again guys! :blush:

This is the picture of the 3 M Motors:

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Goodness 'LT12V'....this one slipped past my radar :blush: ......a totally AWESOME and delightful looking engine :wub: - great engineering too - Brick On 'LT12V' ! :grin:

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great work ! the water cooling tender is really cool, and pics of it while working look awesome ! nice build

Edited by Rom1Kno

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You always astonish us! :O :O :O

This masterpiece is interesting not only for being an unsual machine but also for containing a wide use of uncommon construction techniques.

You've done an accurate work with a detailed and useful photo stream. I really think that lots of train builders will appreciate it.

I particulary love the two driving bogies with the system of connecting-rods. kob!

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