Finally Home
Hi List, Just got in tonight, for those who knew that Jackie and I had a bit of a hard trip out to DH. The new engine in the Blazer ran fine and the leisurely drive home visiting friends and a stop at Quartzite for the rock and gem show made it nice. Sure was great to see everybody! Bob and Jackie
Re: Gas - the other kind
Tony, Old Boy, and listening listers, and Phil and Lunks assistant and Trent and all., Delighted that you had such a good fun run with the Britannia pulling "my" J&M coaches-Ha!! Now a 4 cyl simple will never have a bark like a 2 cyl simple Britannia--that's physics! I have also observed that the method of firing also seems to change the "bark". The OS Porter I owned for some years made a very different bark using propane as opposed to coal. Of course -the type of propane burner will make a difference. I think the answer lies in the heat and gases and pressure in the smoke box. Where are you experts? And Hey Phil, I have never demanded you use coal on your Krauss--but now I do! And Trent, half the fun driving behind the loco (whoops-wrong site!) is the coal fumes and oil--cough- cough. You will all be delighted to know that I once caught my hair on fire but was too busy to notice because the grass was on fire too. All my sweat shirts are "holy" Hallejuah! Geoff. > Had a great run with my "anthracited" Britannia on Dan >Lieberwitz, s large >scale mile oval in Woodside, Ca. today. Air temp. was >down to low 50,s. Great smoke plumes and nice barks climbing his > incline, pulling "your" J&M coaches!. > Kept the fire burning for about 1 hr till dark. >Dan asked an interesting question, "why doesn,t the alcohol > fired U1 with double blast exhaust and 4 cylinders, have a >plume and bark like the Britannia" pulling the >same load?. Any ideas anyone?. >Regards, > Tony D. > > PS. Maybe the bark is from >angry spiders being roasted, while the alcoholic spiders are dead >drunk, sighing in there sleep and do not realize they are being
Re: Gas - the other kind/ kinds of coal
Phil, And besides, it doesn't leave that really cool looking black residue all over your face and clothes at the end of the day. Later, Trent "Phil. Paskos" wrote: > I have to get away from using propane you see. Geoff insists!
Events
Is there a web site that lists the date and location of the various live steam meetings/events for 2001? Thanks, Ian Hobbs, Council Bluffs, IA
Re: Brittania
This may raise some hackles, but I'll say it anyway! I've bought lots of things over the years, for personal use and for the business. I cannot remember there ever being an occasion where I got the lowest price AND the best service. Service costs money, and I know of very few people or businesses that can afford to provide service free. I personally feel that we should be more cognizant of the need for service, and what it costs the vendor to provide that service.
RE: Brittania
Raf, For the OS Brittania, try Rio Pecos. Ask for Bob Osterhoudt email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rio Pecos 27136 Edenbridge Ct. Bonita Springs, FL 34135 PHONE: (941) 495-0491 FAX: (941) 495-7264 Web site for Rio Pecos http://www.steamup.com/riopecos/ For the BR03, try Sulphur Springs. Ask for Bob Paule email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SULPHUR SPRINGS STEAM MODELS, Ltd. PO Box 6165 Chesterfield MO, 63006-6165 (636) 52-STEAM 636-527-8326 Web site for Sulphur Springs http://www.steamup.com/sulphur/ Both gentlemen are very, very knowledgeable and great to deal with (and great guys)! I have purchased from both of them and I am sure they can get you what you want and need. Chuck Walters http://home.twcny.rr.com/cnylsrs -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of rshar420 Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 12:09 PM To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam Subject: Brittania Hi, I am thinking of buying a OS Brittania and or Aster BR03, what do you think and where can I get the best price and support. I am in San Jose, Ca. Regards Raf
Brittania
Hi, I am thinking of buying a OS Brittania and or Aster BR03, what do you think and where can I get the best price and support. I am in San Jose, Ca. Regards Raf
Re: Northeast Steam-up, Parking
Hi Salty; Yes. We have a large parking area and an area set aside for campers/ trailers. A lot of the large scale do just that. We don't have any pads or hookup facilities, but essential bathroom facilities are available. Hope you can make it. Rosey is a beauty and we'd be proud to have you at PLS. Phil. Reading,PA. > In a message dated 01-01-21 10:07:26 EST, you write: > > << There are no hotels/motels within walking distance of PLS. >> > Phil - >I am going to be wandering around the country aboout that time, Is there > a place to park a 27' fifth wheel trailer? I would be interested in seeing > this place and maybe running Rosey. > > Salty >
Re: Northeast Steam-up, Parking
In a message dated 01-01-21 10:07:26 EST, you write: << There are no hotels/motels within walking distance of PLS. >> Phil - I am going to be wandering around the country aboout that time, Is there a place to park a 27' fifth wheel trailer? I would be interested in seeing this place and maybe running Rosey. Salty
Re: Gas - the other kind/ kinds of coal
Hi All; Walt is correct in his assessment of "pure PA anthracite". It does not work in our steam engines. Once a year, PLS gets a large dump truck and goes to a special spot in the coal regions. They bring back enough coal so that those members who want it have coal to burn. It's a mixture of several coals and seems to work well. That is all I know about that coal. My own personal experiences of running with coal is nil. That will change this season as I have 2 engines that can run on coal. Neither are Gauge 1. Dave Knowles is a long time large scale steamer from NJ who shared his many years experience of using coal with me last year as I helped him unload his 1 1/2" train. His procedure mirrors Tony's outlined below. There is one thing Dave does not like. His experience shows that standard charcoal briquettes leave a coating that is difficult to remove in the firebox. He uses pure charcoal. He gets it at gourmet cook shops. Mesquite I think. It does cost more, but in the amounts he uses, doesn't feel it's a big cost factor.I wonder if any of the other listers have found a glaze or coating in their engines? I have to get away from using propane you see. Geoff insists! Phil.P. Reading,PA. > Hi Walt, > You are correct. The actual firestarting procedure is with > kerosene soaked charcoal brickets, and as fire and temperature > picks up you start adding keresene soaked coal or anthracite. > Spreading thin even layers over the fire. By watching the flame > colour and steam > pressure increase, you gradually add dry coal or anthracite. With > a good drafting fan, > I can raise running steam in about 10-15 mins. Also I remove > the draft fan at 25lbs pressure and allow > engine blower to pull up to 60- 80 lbs pressure. Above 25 lbs > pressure the engine blower is more > efficient than the fan. After one lap of track, 300' , > I close blower entirely. The fire > is drafted sufficiently through the firebox grill underneath. If > pressure > drops below 20 lbs while on circuit, the engine blower will > still raise the steam without the fan. I typically run about 4-5 > 300' lap circuits before adding more coal . i.e. 2-3 shovels > full. Shovel is approv 1" x 3'/4" > wide x 1/8" deep. I load immediately behind the firebox door. > Then while > running the coal moves forward. If you load to the back of > firebox, you will block the firetubes with cold coal. > My longest running time has been 1 hr 20 mins, then I > called it a day. > Next engine will be radio controlled. > Hope this answers your question. > Tony D. > > At 08:42 AM 1/20/01 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >Hi, > >For all practical purposes, I left PA when I granulated from grad school at > >PSU in 1960. Have only been back there for funerals, and the only one left > >now is mine. > >THEREFORE, I really do not have any idea of where or how to get PA coal. I do > >know that most live steamers in the area do not use it! My recollection is > >that hard coal is difficult to ignite and difficult to keep burning i.e. the > >Reading RR work on the Wooten system. > >I personally have never fired a Ga 1 live steamer with coal. Maybe I'm naive > >about this, but wouldn't charcoal and a very little amount of roofing or road > >tar be easier to use. Quick starting briquettes were impregnated with wax to > >make them easy to ignite. If they were impregnated with a little tar, they > >would give the smell and color of real coal, and would be easy to ignite and > >easy to procure. So what am I missing here? Why has charcoal not been used in > >Ga. 1? And don't say it is because the briquettes won't fit thru the fire > >door! > >Keep your steam up, using the fuel of your choice! > >Walt and Lunk > >
Re: Gas - the other kind/coal types
I also have a John Shawe coal conversion. It is the Roundhouse Fowler which John calls the Black Adder. I have tried a large variety of US coal, from Pocahontas, PA anthracite, KY and others. I have not found any that burn as well as the coal the John sells. My conclusion is that the combustion process in a Gauge1 coal fired loco is very delicate. Vary the air mixture or coal characteristics and you have a problem. My loco runs extremely well on the Shawe coal. Long runs, no clinker and very little ash. If you substitue coal, problems occur and your run is compromised. My recommendation is to stick with the coal that your engine/combustion chamber was designed around. That being said, I really enjoy finding new sources of coal, from power plants to scenic railroads to try in my loco. Don >From: Geoff Spenceley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: Gas - the other kind/coal types >Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 14:59:57 -0800 > >Thanks Phil, > >Wonder if the Irish steamers use peat?? Yvves Guillame is a great coal >firer, and as I recall, he was one of the first (if not the first) to burn >coal in DH, Anyone know if that is correct. Now I wonder what coal he uses. >He is not a "lister" so won't receive this. > >Geoff. > > > > >HAH! Geoff. I know you better than that. You're way to smart to mess with > >something that works and works well. I don't care what you're using. If >it > >gives you good results, use it. > > > >If what you're using doesn't work or work well than start looking > >for other resources. When Mike Moore got his John Shaw (SP?) conversion, >it > >ran flawlessly until he ran out of the sample coal he got with the loco. > >He's been trying different local coals and has not found anything that > >works(unless he was at Diamond Head and got it working there). > > > >Phil.P.Reading,PA. > > > > _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
Re: Northeast Steam-up
Chuck and others: In turn; No running the different gauges is not a problem. The Gauge 1 setup is completely separate from the larger gauges. No. PLS on meet days is like a giant circus. There is so much going on that even if you have to wait a while to run, you can watch and the kids, if you have any, can ride behind the large scale stuff. So can you. We have electricity at trackside and have rigged extra portable lights for night running. The meet gets going unoffically Friday and goes through Saturday and Sunday. We have a large sit down meal that you order tickets for Saturday evening across the street at the Fire Company. PLS is not only a wonderful place to run trains, it's also a park where people come to picnic and relax in the well maintained grassy areas. There are no hotels/motels within walking distance of PLS. Since I live about 40 miles from there, I don't know the best most convenient places to stay. I'll have to check on that and get some feedback on about how many want to come. Then we can set a block of rooms aside. All are welcome to come on either of meet days. Phil.P. Reading,Pa. > Phil, > > I thought of Labor Day, but was thinking that it might be too much with the > Fall meet going on. 75 to 100 possible attendees to that meet is a lot. > Would the simultaneous running of the different gauges be a problem? Would > one detract from the other? On the flip side, Labor Day would give people > Monday for travel. I am up for it and will even help coordinate. > > Chuck Walters
