As mentioned in the MSS Side Tank Engine post, the old Mamod designs for locomotives have a reputation for running away. This is a problem with a lot of live steam engines but the Mamod design is particularly infamous for this quirk. There are a wide variety of fixes for this problem such as more consistent burners and better steam regulators. There are even “Slo-mo” devices that fit to a locomotive to keep speed in check. But that is an engine specific fix, what some people need is an interchangeable solution. Enter the KIKKERLAND Zecar!

Wait, that looks nothing like a something you would use for a train.

Well it normally wouldn’t be, but allow me to explain. This toy uses a friction engine to keep momentum when pushed. This is accomplished with a large flywheel in the middle that stores inertia, which is geared up relative to the wheels. This particular unit is just the right size to have its wheels changed out for Gauge 1 (45mm) track, and with further tweaks it can run on O Gauge (32mm) track.

But if you are trying to keep engines from running too fast, wouldn’t storing inertia be a bad thing? Well, no actually it is not. The friction engine from the Zecar overall limits top speed. But that stored inertia can help prevent engines from running away. A common issue with live steam locomotives is that they tend to slow down or stall in corners, build up steam pressure, then rocket off at speed. The momentum from a unit like this keeps the engine moving and prevents a pressure buildup.

With the right adjustments the Zecar can be converted into a cheap and effective momentum van to regulate locomotive speed. This idea specific idea has been floating around since 2015 and has seen numerous variations. The first one was built by Zach Bond and I would highly recommend reading this article about it.

At £20.00 on Amazon, the Zecar would be reasonably cheap in the UK. Unfortunately I am not in the UK! But with the knowledge of how these momentum vans work, I can start keeping an eye out for a US equivalent. But that is a blog for another day.

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