coal fired tram

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:03 pm

monday is D day, the loco is painted and together, it just needs some coal. I got given a Aster suction fan today as my mate didnt want it so its all set.

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 9:27 pm

Best of luck for Monday then

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:18 pm

well its all together now except for coupling rods and buffers (which are on order from IP).

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:22 pm

first run!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfdqQBZ5ycQ

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:51 pm

Excellent!

Lovin' that firebox glow reflected off the baseboard!!!!

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:39 pm

How long did you sustain steam for?

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:07 pm

3 laps, the blast nozzle is a bit too big. I have squashed it a bit to restrict it and it chuffs quite well now. Going to have another proper go on Sunday.

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:34 pm

some pics of what I've done to it today, ready for tomorrow.

The new chimney has a little "flowerpot" on it, basically a bush with a countersink on the underside to direct the gases is a tight push fit on the top of the chimney (sort of like a petticoat pipe, it was the best I could do in the space available). In this bush is a copper pipe which (aside from being slightly wonky) is to a smaller diameter than the chimney proper which is now a sort of smokebox, the idea to make the gases speed up and get the draughting better. This has all been painted with VHT satin black to smarten it up a bit.

I got a bit bored and painted a "1/4" on the engine crankshaft ends to make it a bit more colourful as it goes around, like on old steam cranes.

Its got buffers, most important for pulling things

when you steam it up, you have to take the "flowerpot" out as the fan won't fit in it! This is why its been kept removable.

Busted Bricks · Post by **Busted Bricks** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:41 pm

Very nice! Where did you get the chain and sprocket from?

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:16 am

its Meccano's best :lol:

works really well and is cheap.

andysleigh · Post by **andysleigh** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:49 pm

We spent most of the afternoon fighting to get it to go. and it did for a few circuits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lr5m7twTUg

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:30 pm

insert coupling rods here!

Made of brass strip, accurately drilled to 95mm centres and held on with circlips. Chimney's been shortened and the blast nozzle adjusted, seems to be working well.

Finally some pics of its recent trips out to Guildford, first up on the indoor layout with Orinoco the mamod, and then outdoors with Wellington the Ruby.

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:39 pm

and there we go, project completed. Here is the ex-works picture! :D

onto the next loco!

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:02 pm

I was reading the G scale forum last night, and discovered a thread about coal fired 16mm. Much was said about the design of grate Sabre Steam originally used (it looked like a waffle!) and how it choked the fire rather too easily. A simple modification was to take out sections to increase gaps in the grate.

Alderney has the same arrangement due to its boiler being built in the same workshop, and I decided that I would experiment, so I have cut out sections of grate with a slitting disc in a dremel. This allows more slots in the grate, rather than square holes, and might improve steaming, as coal will actually burn to ash and fall through, rather than just clog the holes, also allowing more air flow. If not it will only continue as it was, so no harm will come of it.

the chassis minus boiler

the newly attacked grate

spooner · Post by **spooner** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:27 pm

Have you thought of making it a gas produce by putting a tee in the exhaust pipe and run a small pipe to under the fire?

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:12 pm

spooner:55209 wrote:Have you thought of making it a gas produce by putting a tee in the exhaust pipe and run a small pipe to under the fire?

interesting idea! I wonder if it could work in this scale?

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:43 am

recently I clad Alderney's boiler with hard wood strips in an effort to keep the boiler from cooling too much and losing steam, I'm happy to say it made a significant improvement.

Johnnie2sheds · Post by **Johnnie2sheds** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:31 pm

bessytractor:43012 wrote: ....I have CAD'd up a tab and slot chassis for my favourite laser cutter ...

Incredible Machine!

I found the Meccano sprockets and chain a bit clunky when I was dabbling with it but I guess with steam power its OK?

Hope you dont mind me askin, but who is your favourite laser cutter? Do you think they would accept .dgn files (Microstation)?

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:21 pm

Very nice! Are you planning to put some Chaloner style bunkers on the ends? One for coal prehaps? They might help protect the fire from the wind a bit more but how much so I can't say really

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:58 pm

sorry chaps, been away for a bit. The wind doesn't affect the fire, its the amount of cold air it draws through that scuppers it at the moment. A new grate and ashpan is on the cards. Nah its staying as is though ELR made a lovely water carrying tender for me!

I used to use Model Engineers Laser, I subsequently use Microkerf. I always send them DXF files.

Garden Railway Forum

coal fired tram

Re: coal fired tram

Who is online