PEARL Kit Stages 1 & 2

I got Maxitrak to ship the first two stages of PEARL to Miami as it was cheaper than to Jamaica, picked up the two large boxes on my way up to the FLS Winter meet in Lakeland. Repacking and redistribution enabled me to reduce it to one box, slightly cut down, and sundry items (cylinder sets for example) in the suitcase. It still raised a few eyebrows at customs in Jamaica, they couldn't work out what catagory it fell under. I told them in no uncertain terms that it was NOT A TOY TRAIN!

That hurdle overcome (classified as "machine parts, misc.") I got the kit home and commenced to check the contents against the parts list shipped with the stages.

STAGE ONE

KEY	DESCRIPTION
1	2 x Frames
2	2 x Buffer Beams
3	2 x Couplers and Pins
4	2 x Cast Stretchers
5	1 x Flat Stretcher
6	1 x Round Stetcher
7	4 x Spring Brackets
8	2 x Front Wheels, Axle, Crankpins, Bearings Spacers
9	2 x Rear Wheels, Axle, Crankpins, Return Cranks, Bearings, Spacers
	2 x Rear Springs and Rubbing Pads (Not Shown)
10	2 x Spring Bars
11	1 x Pull Rod Set
	2 x Front Springs and Bolts (Not Shown)
	2 x Rear Springs and Bolts, Rubber pads (Not Shown)


KEY	DESCRIPTION
12	2 x Coupling Rods with Brasses
13	2 x Eccentric Rods
14	1 x Weighshaft with Die Blocks
15	2 x Brake Shoes with Hangers
	2 x Hanger Bolts and Lock Nuts (Not Shown)


KEY	DESCRIPTION
16	2 x Trailing Wheels, Axle, Axleboxes, Angle Bracket, Swivel bar
	    Chassis Bracket, Rear Axle Stop
17	1 x Reach Rod
18	1 x Reverser Handle and Stand
19	1 x Reverser Spacer
20	1 x Cross Shaft and Nut
	    Nuts and Bolts (Not Shown)

STAGE 2

Stage two consists of:

KEY	DESCRIPTION
21	2 x Cylinders
22	2 x Front Cylinder Covers
23	2 x Rear Cylinder Covers with Glands
	2 x Pistons on Rods (inside cylinders)
25	2 x Steam Chest with Glands
26	2 x Valve Rod
27	2 x Valve
28	2 x Cylinder Lagging Sheet
29	2 x Steam Chest Cover
30	4 x Valve Drive Collar
31	2 x Motion Bracket (LH & RH)
32	2 x Connecting Rod with Brasses
33 	2 x Crosshead (LH & RH), Pin & Nut / LH with Pump Drive Arm
34	2 x Slide Bar
35	2 x Valve Drive Rod (on stage 1 photos)
36	2 x Valve Crosshead


KEY	DESCRIPTION
37	1 x Exhaust, Blast Nozzle, Nuts and Olive
38	1 x Cylinder Drain Tap
39	2 x Exhaust Pipe
40	2 x Steam Pipe
41	1 x Steam T with Nuts and Olives
42	1 x Sheet Cartridge Paper
43	2 x PTFE Piston Rings
44	2 x Graphite Packing
45	    Nuts, Bolts and Studding
46	2 x Cylinder spacers (for 7 1/2" gauge)
47	2 x Motion Bracket Spacers (for 7 1/2" gauge)

There were two discrepancies in the kit. The parts schedule did not list a round stretcher, although the instruction manual clearly shows one strengthening the frames in the front between the cylinders. However, not one but two round stretchers were actually shipped. Look closely and you will see them in the first two photos.

The second discrepancy was that I did not find any pins for the couplers. A minor part that I'm not worried about as I can make them up from some steel rod. I may even replace the couplers with American style automatic couplers so that I can pull cars at the FLS track.

Finally, there four parts (key number 46 and 47) that did not appear in either the schedule or instruction book. It was pretty clear where they went, and I realized that they are spacers to move each cylinder and motion bracket out from the frames by 1/8" of an inch to set them correctly for 7 1/2" gauge. If you order a 7 1/4" gauge kit you won't get them I presume.

So now it's all sorted, on with the construction ...

ON TO BUILDING STAGE 1