B&O Roundhouse Museum

[Gary]

>From a sparky list serve [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Hopefully of interest to at least a few

   Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 17:00:22 -
   From: davemac21227
Subject: Blizzard Collapses B&O Roundhouse Museum Roof

The roof of the historic B&O Roundhouse Museum collapsed under the 
weight of 2 feet of snow that fell on Baltimore. The museum houses 
several sole surviving steam engines from Americas first common 
carrier railroad. Go to www.baltimoresun.com and click on the photo 
gallery under the story "It really was the 'Big One'"  

Gary - Running trains over Terror Trestle in Eugene, Oregon
http://www.angelfire.com/or/trainguy
http://community.webshots.com/user/raltzenthor
 

Re: steamcad boiler design software

[Dave Cole]

trent:

that url comes up empty.

did you mean

http://www.firecad.net/

\dmc


At 11:12 AM -0600 2/20/03, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

Hello All,

 I stumbled across a company that produces boiler design software.
 I can't comment on it's usefullness for small scale steam since it was
over my head. 
 They have a FREE trial version download available.
 Check it out at www.steamcad.net (note the "NET" and not "COM")

Later,
Trent

P.S.- I'm unable to use my usual form of communication at the 
moment, so please
excuse any unusual characters or text ads.

-
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/


--
^^^
Dave Cole
Gen'l Sup't:  Grand Teton & Everglades Steam Excursion Co.
  Pacifica, Calif. USA  
List Mom: sslivesteam, the list of small-scale live steamers
  

ATTEND THE NATIONAL SUMMER STEAMUP IN SACRAMENTO, JULY 17-20, 2003
For more information, visit the web site at 

^^^ 

steamcad boiler design software

[tdowler]

Hello All,

 I stumbled across a company that produces boiler design software.
 I can't comment on it's usefullness for small scale steam since it was 
over my head. 
 They have a FREE trial version download available.
 Check it out at www.steamcad.net (note the "NET" and not "COM")

Later,
Trent

P.S.- I'm unable to use my usual form of communication at the moment, so please 
excuse any unusual characters or text ads.

-
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ 

Re: Q&TL No. 6

[vrbass]

It's really great to hear that this locomotive is slated for restoration!  
It's a sister to the D&RGW No. 375 (class "C-25", not "K-25" -- the "C" 
is for "consolidation").

Please do keep us updated on the progress on this engine.

regards,
  -vance-

Vance Bass
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
 

Re: Alisan Shay

[Gary]

Thank you for the tips Dan & Gordon!
Part of the reason I love steam is the fiddling and overcoming problems. It
does help terrifically to have advice based on experience to focus my
efforts.

Last night I ran the loco in it's test station (read "on blocks placed on
track spanning the kitchen sink"). I tried the tin foil with a nice blue
fire for ten minutes that went out. I removed the foil and the two wick
burners would not light. The stainless steel mesh burner lit and burned
well. I removed and rearranged the wicks and tried again after allowing them
to soak alcohol for five minutes. Fire was weak for a while then finally
heated up. It seems having a larger fire in the front wick tube heats the
boiler better than having the large fire in the rear tube as at least one
has written. Perhaps this is a fluke. I am thinking that the rear two wicks
keep that area hot and the front fire has the ability to reach further
forward heating a larger surface by flame contact than just heated gas.

I will be able to try the foil restriction again or simply make a brass
sheet and check for air leaks Friday.





Gary,
   Ive been reading your progress with this loco.,but ive forgotten how
to answer via the Small Scale Message board, so Ive done this direct.

ive run qiute a few of these , and for steady slow running they need the
exhaust nozzle reduced in size!. as standard they will run fast. or slow
with aheavy load.and hold pressure, but wont run slow with light or no
load..insufficient draft..

So remove the nozzle in the smokebox.and make a new one..from memory the
existing nozzle is 2.5mm dia..start with 1.6mm[or 1/16th ] size drill and
try it. you may be able to go as large as 2mm[5/64] after tuningand
test..let me know how you get on.

Regards   Gordon Watson.
 

Re: Size of Accucraft K-27?

[JR May]

I have enjoyed the banter on the size of the K-27.  I thought (maybe, maybe
not) you might enjoy a similar problem the museum I am part of has with a
full size 3' gauge outside frame 2-8-0 (1912 Baldwin, 70 tons)  which ran at
the Quincy and Torch Lake RR up in Michigan as #6.   You may see it
designated as a K-25.

We generally run a 47 ton 2-6-2 and an assortment of diesels ranging up to
55 tons.  Carry about 50,000 people per year.

Anyway, when we need to move the Quincy engine, which is not yet restored,
it is a major project.  The cab just squeezes through our car barn and
requires a track bar to pry the cab over an inch or so to clear the door,
the counter weights hit the ballast in several areas of our yard trackage,
and our boarding platform must be moved to clear the cylinders in the
station area.  I have heard stories that this engine would derail itself in
snow and ice conditions when the counter balances come down, hit the ice,
and lift itself up off the rails. The same problems seem to exist in the 12"
:1' world as it does in the smaller scales.

BTW, restoration of this engine should begin this year in an effort to
return it to operation.  We are currently completing a full rebuild on a
1912 Porter mogul.

The web site is being updated, but if interested its at www.njmt.org.  We
should have an area devoted to the many NJMT locomotives soon.

If anyone wants a tour, let me know.

J.R.




- Original Message -
From: Anthony Dixon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: Size of Accucraft K-27?


> Hi Dave,
>  While Jeff was running his  K27 on his small radius test track at
home
> last week, we noticed that the center mounted coupling was actually
> positioned over the outside rail while running the curve. Making the
> effective width of the engine an additional 1" wider on the curves. So
> although  5.75" wide in static mode, it becomes 6.75" wide when running
the
> outside curves. I suggest the cab, particularly the outside roof line,
> steps out even further, but we did not check that. Jeff also had to move
> some of Dan Lieberwitz' model village real estate while running last
Saturday.
>  No matter the track size, someone always shows up with a larger
> engine!. As you are finding out already.
>  Regards,
>  Tony D.
>
>
> At 08:55 AM 2/18/03 -0800, Dave Cole wrote:
> >jeff:
> >
> >when harlan barr had his k-27 over here, the first thing he did was to
run
> >the tender around the track by hand, saying that it was the tender that
> >had torn into elements of his heavily scenicked indoor layout. perhaps
> >that's a dimension that daniel would like as well ...
> >
> >\dmc
> >
> >
> >At 8:04 PM -0800 2/17/03, Jeffrey Williams wrote:
> >>Mine (#461) is 5.75" wide over the cylinders as well as the width of the
> >>pilot beam.  The shades on the cab are a bit wider at just a hair under
> >>6".  The stack is the tallest piece at 7.875".  It's possible that other
> >>road numbers vary from this, since the cylinders are different on the
> >>other road numbers.
> >>
> >>Accucraft claims 30" minimum radius.  I've run mine on 48" radius and it
> >>works fine.  The two center driving axles have blind flange drivers.
> >>The tender drawbar has alternate holes for the connection to spread the
> >>distance between loco and tender on tight radii.
> >>
> >>See
> >>
> >>http://www.accucraft.com/pg-87140.htm
> >>
> >>for their web page on the K-27 live steam.  It's not linked to any of
> >>their other pages
> >>
> >>===
> >>
> >>
> >>"Daniel R. Fuller" wrote:
> >>>
> >>>  I am building a track and due to space limitations, I have a
> >>>  clearance problem.   I need to know the size of the Accucraft K-27.
> >>>  I saw them at Diamondhead and they are huge.  Real railroads had to
> >>>  limit engines on certain tracks, and I may need to do the same.  I
> >>>  think that the C-16 will be ok.
> >>>
> >>>  What is the size of the "loading gauge"  for the K-27?  Just overall
> >>>  height above the rails and the total width is all I need.
> >>>
> >>>  What is the minimum radius for the K-27?
> >>>
> >>>  Dan Fuller
> >>>  Carrollton, Texas
> >
> >
> >--
> >^^^
> >Dave Cole
> >Gen'l Sup't:  Grand Teton & Everglades Steam Excursion Co.
> >   Pacifica, Calif. USA 

> >List Mom: sslivesteam, the list of small-scale live steamers
> >   
> >
> >ATTEND THE NATIONAL SUMMER STEAMUP IN SACRAMENTO, JULY 17-20, 2003
> >For more information, visit the web site at

> >
> >^^^
>
>
>
 

Re: Aster Alisan Shay learning curve

[Daniel R. Fuller]

I have an Aster Schools alcohol fired engine.  It ran fine indoors
or during the summer, but I had trouble during cooler/cold running.
I also tried the aluminum foil route and was surprised how much
better the engine ran -read that to mean make steam-.  I ended up
bending a thin brass baffle to put over the bottom of the fire box.
I drilled holes approximately 50% larger than the wick cups.  If the
exhaust starts to smell too bad, open up the holes slightly larger.

Another suggestion:  If it is not too hard, look into the smoke box.
Having a totally sealed smoke box is very important.  Even a
seemingly small pin hole air leak can have major consequences.  If
needed, get some silicone caulk and block any airleak.  This might
be needed on the smoke box door also.  Just use bathroom caulk, it
works fine.  Be careful applying the caulk.  You can make a mess in
no time flat!  Use a toothpick or similar item to spread the caulk.
I am not familiar with the Aster shay, but check the entire fire
route for air leaks.  Because of the smokebox draft, a leak will not
manifest itself with flames shooting out, but will allow cold air to
enter in.  As you have found, a alcohol fired engine is usually
running on the ragged edge of having enough steam.

An engine with a water pump, you must have a higher fire than
normally would be required without one (obviously).  I have an Aster
Jumbo with a very small boiler and (as Aster puts it) an efficient
water pump (actually, about 50% over sized).  I needed a "fierce"
fire to handle the cold water entering such a small boiler.  As a
result, I probably get more blowing off of the safety valve than
most engines, but without messing with the wicks, I can run the
engine in cold weather with no problems.

As you are realizing, alcohol firing requires you to think about
some of the same things that real locomotive firemen and engineers
had to think about.

Dan Fuller
Carrollton, Texas