Why Live Steam?

Discussion of Live Steam locomotives should be located here
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ge_rik
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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by ge_rik » Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:57 pm

Incidentally, found this photo of the Automatic Crispin -a masterpiece of electro mechanical engineering
img_2655-cropped.jpg
img_2655-cropped.jpg (212.73 KiB) Viewed 4737 times
Rik
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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by ge_rik » Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:02 pm

Actually, here's a better image of it in situ
post-18225-0-72347700-1440926071.jpg
post-18225-0-72347700-1440926071.jpg (312.96 KiB) Viewed 4736 times
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bazzer42
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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by bazzer42 » Sun Jan 14, 2018 9:55 pm

Ah, the automatic Crispin. I remember that issue but no longer have it. Now the subject has come up it was a railway modeller article (late 70s early 80s?) that got me thinking garden. I hope I still have the copy in the attic. It was written by a guy who had access to unwanted film props and had used them in his buildings. His operation was spread over a real day, early morning train, lunch time train, last train of the evening sort of thing. I don't recall it being overly realistic but always made me think one day I'll have a garden railway.

I haven't contributed much to this debate but keep doing what you do Rik, I like it.

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Lonsdaler
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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by Lonsdaler » Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:20 am

ge_rik wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:02 pm Actually, here's a better image of it in situ
post-18225-0-72347700-1440926071.jpg

Rik
Well, if anyone on this forum has the experience to develop a modern equivalent to the auto-Crispin, it is surely you Rik. I expect those little brain cells have been whirring and gogitating all night :lol:
Phil

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My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

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FWLR
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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by FWLR » Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:45 am

Now you all have gone well over my head.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by Big Jim » Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:08 am

Slightly OT.
Am I right in thinking that the Buckingham Branch was preserved after Rev'd Peter died?
Bring back the days when we Clergy had the time to do things like this.
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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by LNR » Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:35 am

Seeing the Auto Crispin just reinforces my belief that there is an awful lot of very talented thinking and building lurking in the backyard sheds of this world. It reminds me of what we used to do in early radio controlled boats to get many actions from one channel, Meccano featured in those as well.
Grant.

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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by ge_rik » Mon Jan 15, 2018 12:06 pm

It reminds me of when I was at school in the 1960s and used to work weekends at the 'The World's Finest Model Railway' which was based inside Colchester Zoo. The automation for that was provided by a large wooden cylinder which rotated very slowly. On the cylinder were various metal contacts which connected to a series of wipers. These then energised various sections of track so that trains would run at predetermined intervals - including shuttle services.
Colchester Zoo.JPG
Colchester Zoo.JPG (117.63 KiB) Viewed 4591 times
My job was to wander around re-railing, doing the odd repair, dusting and answering questions from the public. At intervals we would run a commentary from the tape, dim the lights and switch on the lights on the layout (in those days around 1000 grain of wheat bulbs).

Rik
PS - Sorry, wandering off the topic of live steam, but hopefully of interest to some
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Re: Why Live Steam?

Post by artfull dodger » Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:15 pm

since the model isnt running at unrealistic speeds, steam isn't used up as quickly. Normally by mid run, I have the gas turned down to silent levels(have to feel for heat at the chimney to see if its lit), the last couple runs have pushed the 30min run time before I ran out of steam. The less you can have the safety weeping steam, the longer the run will be. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's.....I have Asperger's Syndrome!

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