SUMMERLANDS CHUFFERS

News from the Summerlands Chuffer Team

This Website - the clock is ticking!

I have been informed that the Sitemaker software that runs this website is no longer supported and that it will cease to function over the next few months. Although I have looked at many website packages, I have yet to decide and commit to the massive amount of work necessary to rebuild it. Please enjoy and copy any info while you can. All the videos are linked to Youtube and many of my articles are on Gardenrailwayclub.com. I will keep you posted on developments......

Garratt Chuffer!

Richard Hay has now fitted an SCRH7-FX Chuffer to his Roundhouse Garratt. Lack of the correct box spanner meant that he had to do it the hard way (see video top right), but he certainly thinks it was worth it!

Accucraft 7/8ths' Wren - no Chuffer

Sadly this loco has been designed with a very narrow chimney bore at the base - to small even for the normal 3mm exhaust, which ends below it. So there is no chance of getting a chuffer in there I'm afraid.

Roundhouse Jennie Chuffer

Jennie is very similar to Bertie and takes the SCGP1 Chuffer.

Roundhouse Classic Series "George"

I purchased a secondhand George from John Sutton back in October but for health reasons have only recently got round to fitting a Chuffer. I made three videos "on the kitchen table" - the first takes a look at the loco, in the second I steam up and in the third I fit the Chuffer.They are filmed mostly in real time so are rather long I'm afraid!

To find them click Here

Acccucraft Mona

Thanks to help from Dave Mees of Abbeybach Engineering Services we can now offer the SCAC47 for this loco. It is not an easy fit though as the chimney requirs drilling out on a lathe. You can see the instructions here.

Accucraft Cab Forward

Thanks to the efforts of Rob Fern, we are now able to offer a pair of Chuffers for the Accucraft Cab Forward. These are by no means a simple fit and the guidance notes are here. Please read carefully before ordering as I am unable to offer further instructions.

Accucraft Victory

Thanks to help from Clive Young, we now have a Summerlands Chuffer for the Accucraft Gauge One 'Victory'. This is the SCAC45 and according to Clive .."it performed really well. Much better than I expected" - so that's a result!

Accucraft WD Hunslet

Thanks to info provided by Dave Mees of Abbey Bach loco services, we now have the SCAC44 Summerlands Chuffer available to order direct or via your usual supplier. It is a simple fit, but specially designed to deal with the tapered chimney.

Improving the Chuff on a Pearse Earl

If you fancy further improving the Chuff on your Pearse Earl (and possibly other locos), then click here for a detailed and fascinating account by David Pearson, detailing how he went about it and some of the thinking behind it.

Also

We have now supplied over 6,500 chuffers worldwide.

The Summerlands Chuffer website has had over 820,000 page hits in just over nine years

Summerlandsteam (my Youtube channel) videos have now been viewed over one million times.

There are just two of us in the Summerlands Chuffer business. Nigel makes and supplies them through his one man D P Supplies business and I do all the design and marketing from my home.

You can contact me (Chris) at summerlandschuffer(at) gmail.com

Fitting a Chuffer to most Accucraft locos is only a five minute job? And it is the same for the Roundhouse VoR and Silver Lady!

That it is important to always read the instructions if fitting to Roundhouse Twin exhaust locos - even if you have done it before. The cutting heights for Russell, Bertie and the Darjeeling B are non standard.

Buyer Beware

I recently received a query about a "Chuffer" fitted to an Accucraft loco. The loco wouldn't run and it was found that the thread obstructed the exhaust passage. I knew this could not be a Summerlands Chuffer, and was not surprised when the photo showed an incorrectly designed and poorly engineered copy that had caused the problem.

Genuine Summerlands Chuffers are guaranteed to work correctly and are beautifully made by Nigel Garrett. If you are in any doubt about your Chuffer, please get in touch.

Fitting to home builds - warning!

I have just worked on a fine model of a Hunslet Jack which had recently had a chuffer fitted to the twin exhaust. The chuffer was correct, but the fitting wasn't - the twin pipe adapter was mounted so high that it was blocking the chimney! The problem was made worse by the loco only having very little air hole in the bottom. I shortened the pipes by about 8mm and substantially enlarged the hole in the base and now all is well. It is essential (and easy) to fit them correctly so if in doubt - please do ask!!

Other Important News

Latest News

Did you know?

That this site hosts web pages for other Garden Railway Traders. Look under the Other Stuff button to find:

RWM Steam

Jurassic Models

Binnie Engineering

Uskin Models

Modelearth Design (inc. Talisman & Busybodies)

Tractionart (link)

Small Steam performance (SSP Slomo)

Here are two rather special little films from the wonderful Pinetree Junction studeo to show off their new Chuffer with FX Control and their new Chuffer on the Roundhouse Garratt. Many thanks to Lindsay Newton!

Here are two compilation videos from a few years ago. Below left you get the full chuff and in the first half of below right the locos are running with FX Control open.

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