Based on the proven Roundhouse Darjeeling 'B'

Coal-fired Darjeeling 'B'

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is one of the most famous narrow gauge railways in the world. Situated in India, the railway rises 6850 feet over 50 miles. Construction was between 1878 en 1881.The railways main motive power is the class "B" 0-4-0 well tank/saddle tank. This model is typical for these locomotives that are still in use on this railway. Watch this video.

The coal-fired Darjeeling 'B' is easy to drive: you can run without attending coal or water for up to 19-23 minutes (a gas-fired locomotive runs under similar conditions 20-25 minutes). The boiler contains all water for a full run. After a run coal and water is topped up under steam. The advantages of this coal-firing system are explained on the special design features page.
The valve for topping up the water is hidden inside the cab at the right side close to the lubricator. The stainless drop down fire door has a built-in damper function to control the heat of the coal fire and hence the steam pressure. For manual locos see details here.

Keeping the fire going is easy due to a very wide and deep fire-box. The stainless steel ash pan with grate hinges on two pins and can easily be removed. The door of the smoke box can be opened and is fitted with a heat shield on the inside. The smoke box front is lasercut in two parts. In this way the outer part can easily be painted white like the real locomotive.
The cab lay-out is very neat and leaves ample room for a driver. Water gauge and regulator & blower hand wheel are close to scale.

Uncluttered cab with ample room for a driver

The water level of the boiler is easy to read because of the long reading glass of the water gauge. Just like in a real loco, the red-white or black-white background improves readability of the reading glass even further.  A black-white background is fitted as standard.
Your kit comes with a Jacksons Superior bottle. Topping up is three times faster with less effort.

Water gauge with red, black-white or no background

The Jacksons Superior bottle

The boiler turrit is prepared for a Regner whistle kit; adding a whistle is very easy and needs only this kit and a special banjo bolt. Other - larger - whistles can be fitted by using a Regner whistle valve with the special banjo bolt. Larger whistles and banjo bolt: please inquire. Take note that fitting a whistle later only is possible by disassembling your locomotive.

Full Remote Control (regulator, reverser, whistle AND damper) can be built in with the RC fittings kit and a RC combo with servos. Receiver, rechargeables and all servos except for the regulator servo are fully hidden away. All pictures on this page show the Darjeeling 'B' with full Remote Control. 

Despite fully fitted R/C plenty room for real coal

Building the coal-fired Darjeeling 'B'

You can convert an existing or new Roundhouse Darjeeling 'B' to coal-firing with our Darjeeling 'B' coal-fired conversion kit. Our kit contains all the parts for this conversion. Except when converting a loco with a Roundhouse exhaust enhancer fitted (read last FAQ), you also need to order a pair of normal exhaust pipes from Roundhouse. This is not a "build it in one evening" project. However any average modeler with care and patience can build a coal-fired locomotive to be proud of. All painting is left to the builder, minimal drilling and cutting is necessary. Only simple tools are needed. Read the related FAQs and in case of Slomo these instructions.
Click on picture below to openimages of the coal-fired Darjeeling 'B' in several stages of building:

Ordering

The Darjeeling 'B' coal-fired boiler kit comes complete with boiler certificate and step by step instructions. For a parts list see parts list. When converting a new Roundhouse Darjeeling 'B' ordered from Roundhouse directly, Roundhouse is willing to take back Roundhouse parts you do not need. And fit normal exhaust pipes instead of an exhaust enhancer. For conditions and details click here.
Check out the price list and terms & conditions of sale. We only accept orders from customers living in the European Union.

Darjeeling 'B' with the smokebox door opened. The white ring on the smokebox is easily painted because the front is made out of 2 laser-cut plates

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