Garden Railway Forum

I have fixed-up all the old image URL's so all the images are viewable again in the first 7 pages. I've also removed the double signatures and made those first videos viewable again

Great job done Dave. She is running really smoothly.
Agree with you, any excuse for a run of a steamer..

dewintondave wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:58 am I have fixed-up all the old image URL's so all the images are viewable again in the first 7 pages. I've also removed the double signatures and made those first videos viewable again

Very interesting Dave, I suppose you won't really be able to tell until running loaded on your railway. Did you do all the calculations to arrive at pipe size and cylinder bore etc? I might have missed it but what is the cylinder bore? And thanks for fixing the old pictures, I've really enjoyed re-reading this thread whilst waiting in hospital for my back op. Keep the updates coming,

Best,

Tom

Time to get her dirty Dave, get some coal in!

Tom the blacksmith wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:47 am
Very interesting Dave, I suppose you won't really be able to tell until running loaded on your railway. Did you do all the calculations to arrive at pipe size and cylinder bore etc? I might have missed it but what is the cylinder bore? And thanks for fixing the old pictures, I've really enjoyed re-reading this thread whilst waiting in hospital for my back op. Keep the updates coming,

Best,

Tom

Tom, I doubled a single port area to make the steam pipe diameter. The cylinder bore has been a closely guarded secret...until now - 13/16" - 20mm

I hope you are recovering now from your operation

tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:25 am Time to get her dirty Dave, get some coal in!

I can't bring myself to do it Tom

I used CNC technology to produce the required radii for the dome, it was so enjoyable that an internal radius was generated too

Dome base -


Dome bore -

Superglued onto a mandrel. Many increments on the exterior, so quick to smooth with a file

It was a lovely calm day today... First run on the line!

Started with 150mL water in the boiler and 300mL in the tank, at the end of the run there was 70mL remaining in the tank. Lots of oil was splattered about, 2mL of water was extracted from the displacement lubricator at the end of the run.

I was so excited I entirely forgot about the whistle!

Full of both admiration and envy, Dave. Well done indeed.

You should be wearing a big smile Dave, lovely smooth running even ( I presume) with the pump working. Top job.
Grant.

Superb Loco Dave. A fantastic build and a really beautiful looking Loco to boot...

What a well mannered machine Dave, I'd be well chuffed if I were you, pun intended.

Sorry I wrestled that closely guarded secret out of you, that is big cylinder bore, larger than it looks. Is there a specific reason for choosing 13/16 bore?

This has been a really inspiring build dave, and thanks for taking the time to explain all the complex bits. Looking forward to more running in footage!

Best,

Tom

Well done Dave, those huge oscillating cylinders moving at a steady pace don't look that bad compared to a Mamod running at a speed of light.

Coal firing video next please.

superb loco !

Thanks very much lads. I am well chuffed

Tom the blacksmith wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2019 9:28 pm Sorry I wrestled that closely guarded secret out of you, that is big cylinder bore, larger than it looks. Is there a specific reason for choosing 13/16 bore?

Big cylinders are the secret to slow running Tom

tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2019 9:36 pm Well done Dave, those huge oscillating cylinders moving at a steady pace don't look that bad compared to a Mamod running at a speed of light.

I agree that they don't look that bad either Tom

I am very impressed with this engine. Your usual excellent fit-and-finish and smooth running are extra-evident in this machine. At first I was astonished that you chose to use oscillating cylinders, but I have to admit I love the sinuous look this engine has as it moves along. It reminds me of an oscillating ship's engine I saw running on air at the Transportation museum in Lucerne.

I am curious about why you chose to have the exhaust right at the top of the chimney rather than employing a blast-pipe to draw the fire.

Thank you Keith. I wanted to build another large ossy loco. I put the exhaust so high as I was concerned that any blast would pull the gas flames out. I am at the moment trying a different and lower outlet

Had a lovely summertime run yesterday. I'm learning to drive the loco.

The safety valve has been fitted with a stronger spring to raise the pressure to the intended 40 PSI.

The exhaust outlet has been changed to a short piece of 1/4" tube exiting at the very bottom of the funnel

A heavy hand on the blower - opening it too much pulls the fire out, but the exhaust does not. The blower makes the steam, the gas is on full all the time. It's a prolific steamer and can match the big cylinders and the pumping. The saddle tank though insulated from the boiler barrel gets nice and warm - feedwater heating is good

The left side boiler clack valve is dodgy, so when I open the bypass I can get quite a surprise with shooting hot water, so I leave it pumping. I had thought one pump would maintain the boiler level, but actually, it pumps more. So here we are full boiler boiling some of the water off.

Great loco Dave and she is a stunner.

Thank you Rod!

Had a great run yesterday after making a few improvements

The burner was susceptible to having the fire sucked-out by the blower making for lots of relighting so I increased the area of the burner holes by 25% (1.6 to 1.8mm dia). But, that made for a surprising need for an increase in jet size. It had been using a 0.15 mm jet, but my largest is 0.23 mm and that wasn't big enough, so I made my own at 0.3mm and it's good, I only had to light the burner once for a 50-minute burn

On the previous run when starting on the grade a large steam leak was found at the port faces, so I stiffened-up the trunnion springs using spacers, and this appears to have done the trick.


The exhaust has been enhanced with a shorty open exhaust tip

You wouldn't hear any complaints from me if you wanted to post a few more videos of that locomotive.