Re: Accucraft K-27

[Jeffrey Williams]

Chuck,

I have a green #461.  It will be featured in a review in the 
soon-to-be-delivered Steam in the Garden.  You can see photos of it by 
Mike Martin at:

http://www.panyo.com/dan2/

My K-27 is on photos # 1, 7, 10, 12, 13

In addition, I will send you photos by off-line email

I am very pleased with this loco - looks great and runs great.  Not a 
loco for a beginner, though - a few teething problems at first but 
eventually can be wrung out.  Needs a lot of clearance to the scenery, 
though!

Jeff Williams

==

Chuck Walters wrote:
Does anyone have pictures of the K-27 in the 453 or the 461 in green paint
schemes posted someplace?  I would love to take a look at each before I
order.
Chuck Walters
Twin Lakes Railway
http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw
 

RE: Throttle travel on Accucraft Ida (or Ruby)?

[Chad R Schend]

Nice R/C install. What's the name of the glue that you used?
Chad

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of John A. McNeil
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 4:49 PM
To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam
Subject: Throttle travel on Accucraft Ida (or Ruby)?


Hi all,

I am new to the list. By way of introduction, I have an Accucraft Ida 
which I have fired twice. The 1st time it ran great, but fell off the 
kid's LGB track going too fast around a curve (no damage). I just added 
RC so I can run it on the San Diego Garden Railway Society's track at 
the Walter Anderson nursery. I have also built a Hartford Products 4 
wheel flatcar and a derrick car. I have a caboose with really cool 
Carter Bros. swing motion trucks under construction. You can see 
pictures here: http://www.xardas.com/

Now to the question: The 2nd run of Ida was with RC. With the throttle 
open just a tiny bit, the only way to control the speed was with the 
Johnson bar. Is this normal? What is the total throttle travel I should 
set up (measured as degrees or distance moved by the end of the arm 
would be fine)?

Thanks,

John
 
 

Re: BPE safety valve

[Daniel McGrath]

I'm still new to live steam and had considered building the Midwest steam engine, now I have some serious doubts.   I recognize and agree that Safety is Number 1, I've been burned more than once (not in this Hobby) and worked as an aid in a "Debridement " ward, no thanks, I can do with out faulty designs and or bad practices around this wonderful pastime.  Shortcuts can cost you bigtime, if not you personally, then some body else following a bad example    relying on a hose to pop off as a safety valve?   Not me Holmes, I'm not crazy    I've learned alot on this site,  thanks all  for good input and Good Advice ! Dan McGrath.
 



>From: Harry Wade <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
>To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: BPE safety valve 
>Date: Sun, 07 Sep 2003 15:36:12 -0500 
> 
>At 12:32 PM 9/6/03 -0700, you wrote: 
> >I'm getting a little worried about everyone's safety inasmuch as so many 
> >keystrokes have been devoted to the perils of the Midwest Boiler 
> >Michael 
>At 11:39 AM 9/7/03 -0700, you wrote: 
> >Don't forget, folks... there are two "safety valves" on the Midwest 
> >steam engine... the first being the silicone hose popping off . . . 
> >Jon 
> 
> In other words there are NO safety valves on the Midwest boiler and 
>it has brass as a part of the pressure vessel structure. Why, when doing 
>it right takes so little additional time and effort, some of you continue 
>to recommend as safe and acceptable boiler practices which are directly 
>contrary to long-time world live steam practice and unacceptable in all 
>other major live steaming countries is beyond me. 
> I'm not anti-Midwest or anti-Project per se, and the purpose and 
>goal of the Project is an admirable one, but to me this isn't about having 
>an easily built project which is probably not going to cause an injury this 
>afternoon, . . . this is about what is good safe practice to adopt, and to 
>recommend to others to adopt, as a personal standard of safety for a 
>lifetime in live steam and that when followed will never result in personal 
>injury on account of a structural failure. This should be adopted as Rule 
>#1 for all of us. Those who for some reason can't see fit to adopt Rule #1 
>should IMHO be shown the door. They are a danger to the rest of us. 
> Everyone is of course free to do as they please in their own garden 
>but to the rest of the organized live steam world brass, soft solder, and 
>no safety valve are unacceptable in a miniature boiler PERIOD and aren't 
>even open to discussion. One can't expect to post information to the 
>contrary to an international fourm where so many people come to seek sound 
>information and guidance and not have it scrutinized, questioned, and 
>objected to, if only by me. 
> 
> 
>Regards, 
>Harry Wade 
>Nashville, Tn 
> 
 Send and receive larger attachments with Hotmail Extra Storage.   

Throttle travel on Accucraft Ida (or Ruby)?

[John A. McNeil]

Hi all,

I am new to the list. By way of introduction, I have an Accucraft Ida 
which I have fired twice. The 1st time it ran great, but fell off the 
kid's LGB track going too fast around a curve (no damage). I just added 
RC so I can run it on the San Diego Garden Railway Society's track at 
the Walter Anderson nursery. I have also built a Hartford Products 4 
wheel flatcar and a derrick car. I have a caboose with really cool 
Carter Bros. swing motion trucks under construction. You can see 
pictures here: http://www.xardas.com/

Now to the question: The 2nd run of Ida was with RC. With the throttle 
open just a tiny bit, the only way to control the speed was with the 
Johnson bar. Is this normal? What is the total throttle travel I should 
set up (measured as degrees or distance moved by the end of the arm 
would be fine)?

Thanks,

John

Re: BPE safety valve

[Michael Martin]

Midwest's Heritage series safety valve/filler cap will screw directly onto the
threaded filler bush on their "Model VI" boiler.  You might want to contact
Midwest and inquire about purchasing one separately.

Mike  (Who really does care about safety) 

Accucraft K-27

[Chuck Walters]

Does anyone have pictures of the K-27 in the 453 or the 461 in green paint
schemes posted someplace?  I would love to take a look at each before I
order.

Chuck Walters
Twin Lakes Railway
http://home.twcny.rr.com/twinlakesrw

 

RE: BPE safety valve

[Chad R Schend]

I second that.
Chad
I build stuff for law enforcement throughout the nation and Canada and I've
come to the realization that the only reason we have laws and rules is to
govern those who cannot think for themselves or be considerate of others. In
other words we have laws to govern dummy's.

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Harry Wade
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 1:36 PM
To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam
Subject: BPE safety valve


At 12:32 PM 9/6/03 -0700, you wrote:
>I'm getting a little worried about everyone's safety inasmuch as so many
>keystrokes have been devoted to the perils of the Midwest Boiler
>Michael
At 11:39 AM 9/7/03 -0700, you wrote:
>Don't forget, folks... there are two "safety valves" on the Midwest
>steam engine... the first being the silicone hose popping off . . .
>Jon

In other words there are NO safety valves on the Midwest boiler and
it has brass as a part of the pressure vessel structure.  Why, when doing
it right takes so little additional time and effort, some of you continue
to recommend as safe and acceptable boiler practices which are directly
contrary to long-time world live steam practice and unacceptable in all
other major live steaming countries is beyond me.
I'm not anti-Midwest or anti-Project per se, and the purpose and
goal of the Project is an admirable one, but to me this isn't about having
an easily built project which is probably not going to cause an injury this
afternoon, . . . this is about what is good safe practice to adopt, and to
recommend to others to adopt, as a personal standard of safety for a
lifetime in live steam and that when followed will never result in personal
injury on account of a structural failure.  This should be adopted as Rule
#1 for all of us.  Those who for some reason can't see fit to adopt Rule #1
should IMHO be shown the door.  They are a danger to the rest of us.
Everyone is of course free to do as they please in their own garden
but to the rest of the organized live steam world brass, soft solder, and
no safety valve are unacceptable in a miniature boiler PERIOD and aren't
even open to discussion.  One can't expect to post information to the
contrary to an international  fourm where so many people come to seek sound
information and guidance and not have it scrutinized, questioned, and
objected to, if only by me.


Regards,
Harry Wade
Nashville, Tn

 

BPE safety valve

[Harry Wade]

At 12:32 PM 9/6/03 -0700, you wrote:
>I'm getting a little worried about everyone's safety inasmuch as so many
>keystrokes have been devoted to the perils of the Midwest Boiler
>Michael
At 11:39 AM 9/7/03 -0700, you wrote:
>Don't forget, folks... there are two "safety valves" on the Midwest
>steam engine... the first being the silicone hose popping off . . .
>Jon

In other words there are NO safety valves on the Midwest boiler and
it has brass as a part of the pressure vessel structure.  Why, when doing
it right takes so little additional time and effort, some of you continue
to recommend as safe and acceptable boiler practices which are directly
contrary to long-time world live steam practice and unacceptable in all
other major live steaming countries is beyond me.
I'm not anti-Midwest or anti-Project per se, and the purpose and
goal of the Project is an admirable one, but to me this isn't about having
an easily built project which is probably not going to cause an injury this
afternoon, . . . this is about what is good safe practice to adopt, and to
recommend to others to adopt, as a personal standard of safety for a
lifetime in live steam and that when followed will never result in personal
injury on account of a structural failure.  This should be adopted as Rule
#1 for all of us.  Those who for some reason can't see fit to adopt Rule #1
should IMHO be shown the door.  They are a danger to the rest of us.
Everyone is of course free to do as they please in their own garden
but to the rest of the organized live steam world brass, soft solder, and
no safety valve are unacceptable in a miniature boiler PERIOD and aren't
even open to discussion.  One can't expect to post information to the
contrary to an international  fourm where so many people come to seek sound
information and guidance and not have it scrutinized, questioned, and
objected to, if only by me.


Regards,
Harry Wade
Nashville, Tn
 

Re: BPE safety valve

[J.D. Toumanian]

Don't forget, folks... there are two "safety valves" on the Midwest
steam engine... the first being the silicone hose popping off... the
other, which everyone seems to be forgetting, is the spring-loaded
cylinder lifting off of the port face.

Also, the silcone hose would blow up like a balloon before the metal of
the boiler would give out.

The Midwest "Heritage" series engine includes a hard-soldered boiler
(still with brass flue) and "real" screw-in safety valve/filler cap.  I
made a water gauge and added a pressure gauge to mine as well. Also,
there are no zamak castings... the entire engine is brass. 

Jon
 

RE: Cheddar gas shutoff/regulator

[Geoff Spenceley]

Yep,

Singed eyebrowqs--I know what you mean!! When I first started steaming with
alcohol, at one time I had my sweatshirt alight, the loco alight and the
ties alight with a big jet of flame from the alcohol tank.  Magically,
nothing was damaged except my pride--and fortunately I was running  alone!
I have hardly had one fire since then, experience is wonderful!

Geoff.


Ya your right people do make mistakes. I'm sorry for being so brash but it
>only takes one person to ruin it for us all. There has been many times I
>came into the house with no eyebrows!
>Chad
>



 

RE: Cheddar gas shutoff/regulator

[Chad R Schend]

Ya your right people do make mistakes. I'm sorry for being so brash but it
only takes one person to ruin it for us all. There has been many times I
came into the house with no eyebrows!
Chad

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Geoff Spenceley
Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 4:34 PM
To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam
Subject: RE: Cheddar gas shutoff/regulator


Chad

I observed that, or one like it,  the steamer was actually filling his gas
tank to ready for steaming when an alky fired engine passed by. The alky
flame lit the butane and the resulting "blast" also blew out the alky fire
in the loco!~

I saw a similar thing happen in Diamondhead a few years ago; a cute steamer
of the gentler sex was walking besides her Schools (of course, I was close
to her!) as it steamed sedately along] --but-- a fellow was filling his
butane tank in the midddle of the running track! The big ball of flame made
the sweet lady jump a foot or two. he didn't make an A.H of himself, he was
one, but that is another story!

 In the case of Sacramento, the butane steamer was  very embarrassed and
learned a lesson, he was a great fellow otherwise, we all make mistakes;
as some "half melted" ties on portions of my track demonstrate!

Alcohol is safer, butane should be banned--Whoops, I just ordered a butane
fired loco--cancel that banning;  Butane is wonderful!!

Geoff.


There is a picture floating around of a guy filling his butane while the
>boiler was lit at Diamond Head. I can't find it so I just tell you that he
>made an ass of himself because a 3 foot tall flame shot up from the boiler.
>According to Bing, this is exactly the reason Accucraft never came out with
>a hand operated water pump for the C-16 even though they put mounting holes
>in the tender for one. If your going to try this kind of stuff please do it
>at home and not around others.
>Chad
>
>-Original Message-
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Behalf Of Geoff Spenceley
>Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 11:32 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam
>Subject: Re: Cheddar gas shutoff/regualtor
>
>
>>
>I believe any butane burner has to have oxygen so they are designed to pull
>in air from the back of the burner . So, if you fill the tank while the
>burner is alight, then any escaping gas (which sinks) will be pulled in
>with the air at the back of the burner and you will most likely get  a ball
>of flame-like a backfire.  It could choke the fire as Mike states, but not
>always. Depends how much the air is saturated with the gas. I had a
>vertical boiler loco with the gas tank some distance from the burner. I
>would often add a shot of gas to the tank without any problems.
>Lucky?--That is the only loco I have tried that.--I agree with Dave.
>
>Geoff
>
>
>
> >Why not?  It can't possibly ignite from the loco you're filling if it's a
>gas
>>>poker type in a flue.  (Mind you, I don't do it either as it chokes the
>>>burner
>>>and puts the flame out.)
>>
>>i thought it prudent to warn people this is not an accepted practice
>>and does have the potential of danger.
>>
>>not that it is the be-all and end-all guide to the hobby, but the
>>aster manual says,
>>
>>"When butane tanks are filled it is common for a small amount of gas
>>to escape and surround the locomotive. For this reason, never attempt
>>to fill a tank unless the fire has been extinguished. ..."
>>
>>\dmc
>>
>>--
>>^^^
>>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 15-18, 2004
>>For more information, visit the web site at 
>>
>>^^^
>
>
>
>