Search found 36 matches

by steam4ian
Sat Jan 21, 2017 8:13 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: A 7 1/4" gauge porter
Replies: 27
Views: 15452

Belated congratulations. There is nothing like owning and driving a 71/4" gauge loco. I have Simplex which was scaled up to 71/4". At my former club I could regularly pull two bogies trucks for a total pax load of 16 adults. I have moved to the country and I am still getting the hang of th...
by steam4ian
Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:07 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Accucraft Isle of ManMannin
Replies: 7
Views: 5494

Beautifully Beyer Peacock. Love the front truck, inclined cylinders and the curved tank corners.
All very well captured by Accucraft.

Many of the locos on our local NG 3'6" system were either BP originals or colonial clones.

Great purchase.

Ian
by steam4ian
Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:01 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Coal baskets; what were they for?
Replies: 9
Views: 5990

Coal baskets were made of wicker and contained about a bushel; about the same size as a washing basket. They were used for hand coaling locos where there was no mechanical or gravity means. Coal would be left either on the ground or on a platform (stage) adjacent the loco servicing road. The luckles...
by steam4ian
Mon Nov 09, 2015 7:39 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: just testing..
Replies: 13
Views: 8689

If it goes like my Willie it will be a delight.

Good purchase.

Ian
by steam4ian
Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:11 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: First Project Debate
Replies: 9
Views: 7075

Nikkor. Sorry to open your old thread but I was overseas when you asked the question. At my club (I am the secretary) we have both 3.5", 5"and 7.25"gauges. We have one regular runner on 3.5" which is a "Juliet" owned by Dr Allan Wallace (look him up on Google under &quo...
by steam4ian
Wed May 13, 2015 12:43 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Can you drive an accucraft loco with reverser
Replies: 11
Views: 7255

G'day Brian Blue Peter was an unfortunate combination of adverse factors. Apparently it was known to have regulator problems. Carrying too much water in the boiler and poor handling skills were considered the cause and the crew were blamed. Locos are started in or near full gear to even out the star...
by steam4ian
Tue May 12, 2015 11:23 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Regner Willi v Roy Wood
Replies: 7
Views: 6450

G'day Sam.

I bought a Regner Willi second hand and it runs beautifully, highly recommended.

Ian
by steam4ian
Tue May 12, 2015 11:21 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Can you drive an accucraft loco with reverser
Replies: 11
Views: 7255

Conversely, you can set the reverser and drive it on the regulator like a real loco - that's what i do with my Baldrig. Brian, you can rive "real" locos with the reverser. Once started the regulator is left open and speed is controlled with the reverser. I drive miniature locos that way. ...
by steam4ian
Wed Apr 01, 2015 11:08 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Alternative Power
Topic: PRESENTING rubber band power
Replies: 5
Views: 9555

For a governor, why not try a musical-box-style "vane" governor? Geared off the main shft, with a pair of vanes that restrict the speed 'coz they cant spin round fast.................. Brian's idea of vanes has merit but I think it relies on the vanes being driven a high speed and via a c...
by steam4ian
Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:47 pm
Forum: Mamods & MSS
Topic: Ace Engineering Works Mss 'Reaper'
Replies: 9
Views: 9824

That's grim.
by steam4ian
Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:26 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Live steam locomotive must haves?
Replies: 43
Views: 23182

We don't have a mains water supply but we have a bore hole in the garden. The water that is pumped up is filtered, then it goes through a softener and is pumped to the kitchen where it is filtered again. This is pure spring water with no addatives. Safe to use? If the water is "softened" ...
by steam4ian
Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:06 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Live steam locomotive must haves?
Replies: 43
Views: 23182

De-ionised water costs about UKP 1.0 per litre so for the price of the dehumidifier you should be able to get 30 litres of de-ionised water. How long will it take you to use 30L of water? For only UKP you can purchase an RO unit that will provide laboratory quality pure water, no condensed fart or a...
by steam4ian
Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:54 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Live steam locomotive must haves?
Replies: 43
Views: 23182

If you want to run your boiler on condensed sweat, fart and dog breath go ahead.

Would you drink the condensate from the dehumidifier?
by steam4ian
Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:53 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: time for another loco - Rowland Emmett 0-2-0 Hero
Replies: 43
Views: 27648

You may find this clip which includes the Far Tottering Railway interesting.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/film ... ge_fil.htm
by steam4ian
Mon Jan 05, 2015 9:07 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Live steam locomotive must haves?
Replies: 43
Views: 23182

If you are concerned about distilled and de-ionised water just add a small amount of washing soda or Sodium bicarbonate to it. This will buffer the solution and make it less aggressive to zinc and solders. You will only need a pinch. adding a bit of tap water can do the same thing if it has not been...
by steam4ian
Sat Nov 15, 2014 9:56 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Roundhouse Hackworth Valve Gear
Replies: 17
Views: 12954

Clinkard

You have every right to your opinion.

But your rule of thumb is not appropriate to inclined cylinders and may not be so if the valve rod or valve spindle is significantly oblique to the line of the cylinder axis.

Ian
by steam4ian
Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:55 pm
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Roundhouse Hackworth Valve Gear
Replies: 17
Views: 12954

I would recommend putting you dimensions into Charlie Dockstader's valve gear program. see http://www.billp.org/Dockstader/ValveGear.html

The best place for the weight shaft may not be directly above the driving axle, depending on how oblique the valve rod is to the valve spindle.

Regards
Ian
by steam4ian
Sat Sep 20, 2014 12:11 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: DJB Automatic drain cocks
Replies: 9
Views: 6622

There is a lot of discussion about these valves in the ride behind gauges as well. As LnBmad says they consist of a ball bearing in a chamber which can at some point seal off the outlet. Operation relies on the interrelationship between the size of the entry port from the cylinder, the chamber conta...
by steam4ian
Fri Jun 06, 2014 12:24 am
Forum: Locomotives - Live Steam
Topic: Regner Max microlock
Replies: 18
Views: 11037

Danno My first loco is/was a Regner Willie bought off FleeBay. It has proved a sound and reliable runner. Second loco was/is a Ruby bought off FleeBay, a bit more troublesome to get going but now successful. Third loco is an MSS wobbler bought new. I still haven't got this one going reliably even wi...
by steam4ian
Tue May 27, 2014 1:28 pm
Forum: Railways & Layouts
Topic: Kent & North Wales Light Railway
Replies: 306
Views: 141714

As I recall the land around Stokesay Castle was somewhat flat.

The Tudor gate house is further from the Baronial Hall and the Norman Keep.

All the same you have capture an exquisite site very well.