Llewellyn Loco Works #1

[Peter Butler]

I like tidy but you work in an operating theatre!
Wonderful stuff though and rapid too.

[pandsrowe]

Blimey, that floor is clean enough to eat your dinner off. Seriously though I also like to work in a (relatively) clean environment but I'm always torn between keeping it clean and tidy and the time it takes to have a tidy up.

[daan]

Absolutely brilliant! The workshop you have, as well as your locomotive..! I'll show your workshop at my work as an example of how a professional workspace should look like.

The best thing about it is the floor however. It can be cleaned with water and soap, you see every tiny bit you drop and it is light, so you see what you're doing.

The only important thing I don't see is a good stereo.. I've moved my old Pioneer surround system to the shed, which can be linked to my phone for any kind of music I feel like, no matter what volume.. I guess that is the best thing in my workshop.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Absolutely brilliant! The workshop you have, as well as your locomotive..! I'll show your workshop at my work as an example of how a professional workspace should look like.

The best thing about it is the floor however. It can be cleaned with water and soap, you see every tiny bit you drop and it is light, so you see what you're doing.

The only important thing I don't see is a good stereo.. I've moved my old Pioneer surround system to the shed, which can be linked to my phone for any kind of music I feel like, no matter what volume.. I guess that is the best thing in my workshop.

Epoxy floor is a beautiful thing, cleans up and washes off and dries fast. I need to do the bike making area as well, but the disruption to the cash flow will be huge.
You are correct about the stereo, MAM bought me one and I have to put some shelves up and set it up. I have a wall TV antenna socket and power supply for a TV so I can watch the test matches but I do not think I will install a TV. It was a silly idea. I do not use a mobile phone let alone a smart phone. I am still a CD man. I listen to Radio National all day on the digital radio but a lot of the time I am in the Red Room I listen to the ABC's Jazz channel . I am a Nick Cave fan and Bowie and ....................all sorts. Driving is Nick Cave. Unless cricket is on the radio, then it must be cricket. Cleaning does take time however it makes me feel relaxed and confident in my hobby.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Last night after 11 hours in the bike workshop (preshow stress) after dinner I spent some time finishing off installing the cranks for the drains.





Then I was trying to get the Servo to twitch the right amount, but not mastered, it was getting late and I was tired so off to the feathers I went.

[tom_tom_go]

I really like that set up with the servo drain.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

I really like that set up with the servo drain.

Thanks, it will be interesting to see how well it works when all is in steam.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

A few more parts fitted up. So far all is OK, I think I need to ease the fit of the valve cross head pin and there is a slight rub with the cosmetic bolt head on the cross head and combination lever. It was always tight here. I will be quiet for a few weeks as MAM and I are off for a few weeks and attending the Aussie hand made bike show

[Peter Butler]

When you return Dazza, please remember we have an 'off topic' section where you might entertain us with your specialist bike build, and others there too?

[daan]

Yes please, I would love to see the bikes too.. I have a small concearn about the servo though. On all my locomotives, the place where that servo is, is the nastiest, greasiest and dirtiest place of the whole locomotive. Steamoil, hot watercondensate and grease from the smokebox drip down here, and your servo will be out of order within a few driving sessions. You'll need to shield it somehow against the muck coming from above.

The other thing is the tight fit between the cross head and the combination lever you mentionned. When you've driven the locomotive a few times, the joints wear in and the combination lever slacks a bit more. What now is a slight rub, will be a punch later on. The lever is fixed to the valverod above and a 2 part joint on the underside. The valverod doesn't keep the lever in position, because it pivots. The position is kept by the 2 joints fixed to the cross head, which now have 0 play, because it is not run in yet. After a while, these 2 joints will loosen up a little bit, causing serious play on the combination lever.

I would offer the cosmetic bolts, it's the easiest way to be safe. You only need a jam at speed to ruin the combination lever..

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Yes please, I would love to see the bikes too.. I have a small concearn about the servo though. On all my locomotives, the place where that servo is, is the nastiest, greasiest and dirtiest place of the whole locomotive. Steamoil, hot watercondensate and grease from the smokebox drip down here, and your servo will be out of order within a few driving sessions. You'll need to shield it somehow against the muck coming from above.

The other thing is the tight fit between the cross head and the combination lever you mentionned. When you've driven the locomotive a few times, the joints wear in and the combination lever slacks a bit more. What now is a slight rub, will be a punch later on. The lever is fixed to the valverod above and a 2 part joint on the underside. The valverod doesn't keep the lever in position, because it pivots. The position is kept by the 2 joints fixed to the cross head, which now have 0 play, because it is not run in yet. After a while, these 2 joints will loosen up a little bit, causing serious play on the combination lever.

I would offer the cosmetic bolts, it's the easiest way to be safe. You only need a jam at speed to ruin the combination lever..

Bikes, I escape the bikes to enjoy model engineering, I put bike stuff on my my Facebook page. Facebook is only for my work. https://www.facebook.com/darrell.mcculloch
I am flattered by the interest with my bike making work, however I am reluctant to bring that into my other worlds of relaxation and escape.
All good points about the servo. I had thought along the same direction, I decided to leave the protection solution to later when I have the cylinder plumbing made so I devise a protective box to surround it and with a rubber worm that goes over the linkage as it exits the box. (using some bike parts) I am trying to not clutter the foot plate with all the servos. I also got a water proof servo but I am not putting my faith in that. I am unsure of the Wilson drain design. I cannot see how they will not dribble a lot. I will not be surprised that after a while I will seal them up with Loctite and forget they ever existed. I also have to machine the valve more to ensure there is more lift clearance of the valve for condensation. etc, if the drains do not cope or work. Also yes regards to the cosmetic bolt heads. Brian Wilson has these in his book and when I did the CAD drawings I saw that would be tight. Last night when I saw how tight they were I was tired and went to bed, thinking I might be removing them because as you say, when it all starts to rattle and knock.......................... All of this is in the context I have never seen a 16mm loco in steam in real life. Never. I know there are mobs local but I will never get much time to devote as I am also involved with full size when I can manage the time.
To every one, keep the ideas, thoughts and comments coming, they are most welcome, it all adds to to me learning more and new stuff.

[tom_tom_go]

I believe this one is going to be coal fired so the servo location is fine as the smokebox will be sealed unlike on a gas loco.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

I believe this one is going to be coal fired so the servo location is fine as the smokebox will be sealed unlike on a gas loco.

Yes that is correct coal fired because I want the all the senses stimulated. I also will be fixing the boiler and smoke box to the frames and the expansion will be at the fire box end as in full size. So the smoke box will be and front foot plate will be sealed. I am off to contemplate the tender drawings, and that is being stimulated by photos and a GA works drawing of Burma Railways #9

[IanC]

I am enjoying this build, even though it is way beyond my ability and expertise. However what I like is the fact that as much as possible it is following full sized loco practices.

I am involved in the preservation world too as a hobby and one of the reasons for me owning a steam locomotive is it is much more real than running the electric mice that so many do.

Whilst my loco is freestyle in appearance and gas fired I do like to operate it and maintain it as close to prototype practice as possible.

Enjoy your break with the bikes.

Ian

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

On Saturday I did a wee bit of cleaning work on some full size WHB Duplex and steam pressure Loco gauges before they go off to calibration. This would qualify it for Live Steam here eh!
These are for Queensland railways Class C17 #967 which is being rebuilt in Gympie for the Mary Valley Rattler Railway and has a new all welded boiler.
This Saturday I hope to have a bit of training time on #974 which is on lean to the Mary Valley Rattler Railway from the Queensland Heritage Railway Workshops.
The Mary Valley qualifies as a garden as well :-)
I might have some brass boiler bands to clean up soon.





I could not get the daily face any better

[Peter Butler]

Come on now..... you've been out and bought new ones, haven't you?

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Come on now..... you've been out and bought new ones, haven't you?

[FWLR]

Red room, our toolroom was called “The Blue Room”….mainly because a couple of the guys were members of the local Railway Club, that had a room for committee members only which was called “The Blue Room”.

I joined when my parents asked me to go with them for a drink…..couldn’t believe how cheap the drinks were then!

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Red room, our toolroom was called “The Blue Room”….mainly because a couple of the guys were members of the local Railway Club, that had a room for committee members only which was called “The Blue Room”.

I joined when my parents asked me to go with them for a drink…..couldn’t believe how cheap the drinks were then!

There is a "Blue Room" here as well, but only for work.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Yesterday was one of those Saturdays that one is grateful to have a heart beat.
Hand on Steam with #974
and what made it so special was being with a very good crew of trainee mates and a good tutor who goes by the name of Adrian.
I have done a wee bit of firing before (nothing that be could called remotely proficient) and it was nice to to get it down the front of the 8" long grate, after a wee bit of practice and not hook it all to the left or make too much of Turkey's nest in the middle. A long way to go but.............
Also got a wee drive up and down the Gympie yard, a first for me.

Morning Sun


Oiling up


On the table


Backing up the table road.


The 2000 Class Railmotors waiting, for the branch to be opened and trips with happy families. These have Rolls Royce Engines.