Re: Steam Clubs/Spenceley's Complaint
Oh so that's what happened. I guess I had better watch a bit more closely when you come to my house next time. ;-) Larry Geoff Spenceley wrote: Gary, Answer is yes!--or connect to 220V! Incidentally, when I do spark sparkies, it is at club members' railways whose track is powered. I can't steam unless the power is turned off or I cut the leads to the track! I always carry wire cutters as all steamers should. Geoff Thanks Geoff, I never considered 110 AC. Would I have to disable GFI protection to allow maximum enjoymnet of sparks? Steaming & Sparking over Terror Trestle in Eugene, Oregon ~ Gary http://www.angelfire.com/or/trainguy http://community.webshots.com/user/raltzenthor By the way Gary. Sparks from the wheels are best obtained by bypassing your "sparky's" friend controller and connecting to 110V! You get lots of sparks and your ex-friend needs a hammer and chisel to remove the "sparky" loco from the track. Er-- make sure it aint your track!
Re: [Livesteamers] Small scalers
Hi Just a note of clarification. The Medford 7 1/2" livesteamers also have a Ga 1 club at their site in Medford Oregon. It is mostly electric railroaders though. Larry Buerer Clark Lord wrote: Chuck: I'm not aware of a internet resource of club listings. There is a paper source printed in each issue of Garden Railways magazine. In the current issue I found this listing. Prairie Garden Railway Society who's contact is: Jim & Lee Johnson 808 Carlos Dr Lincoln NE 68505 402-483-7092 [EMAIL PROTECTED] More than likely they are a electric train club with a few live steamers. I know my own Las Vegas Garden Railway Society has right at 200 members and only 14 of us have at least one gauge one live steamer. Out of the 14, 7-10 meet monthly at my house. Only 4 of us have tracks large enough to support big road engines (4-8-4, 2-8-2 etc). The attraction of a large radius track is a strong one. I'm going to cross post this to the small scale list and the editors of magazines that cover small scale live steam on a regular basis. Maybe in this way we can begin to cross pollinate the larger scales with the smaller scale steamers. Hey, steaming is fun. BTW I really liked your New Zealand trip report. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Clark Clark B Lord - Las Vegas, Nevada USA Las Vegas Live Steamers - Gauge 1 live steam Chuck Hackett wrote: From: Clark Lord You are right on the mark Harry [Wade]. From just reading this list [livesteamers] and another list for small scale live steam there is little crossover between the gauges. Only Pennsylvania Live Steamers (there might be others I don't know about) have seen the light. PLS has installed a gauge one track which allows large gauge one engines and long trains to be operated. All you shakers and movers out there, look into the gauge one live steam resource for your club. Clark, is there an Internet directory of Ga1 clubs? How would I go about finding a Ga1 club in our area (Omaha/Lincoln, NE) to see if they'd be interested in building a track collocated with ours? Cheers, Chuck Hackett "Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment" 7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844 http://www.whitetrout.net/Chuck ___ Livesteamers mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman.goshen.edu/mailman/listinfo/livesteamers
Re: R/C on a Ruby
Both Futaba and Hitec make 4 and 6 channel radios on the ground frequencies. I think that Airtronics does too. There is also an add on box which divides one channel up into more channels some how. So you can actually have ten or more channels to work with. How many do you want.;-) Larry Sam Evans wrote: If you want ground-frequency with more than two channels look at model boat suppliers and r/c vehicle suppliers ie model tanks, where more than 2 channels are often required. Sam E Tom Wrote: Supposedly, it should be a ground-frequency unit, and those I've seen only have two channels. 2) Does anyone have a recommendation for a radio? I've seen the RCS system, which looks pretty good, but I know I can probably find something a bit cheaper that should work OK on my small layout. Any suggestions welcomed!
Re: The Great Alcohol-Butane Debate
Hi Geoff you are right, The Merlin was running very well, you are a master of the Merlin Hunslet. Keep it well cared for, for me. Larry Geoff Spenceley wrote: You did well Larry!--But you forgot to mention how my BUTANE fired 1985 Merlin Hunslet (soon to be yours!*#!%) ran and ran and ran-It was bloody boring--made delightful however, by Richard Heisler's fabulous turn of the century railroad and the wonderful company,including you! I can now understand why so many steamers can get into digital photography, chemistry and other stuff , they do it and send Emails while their butane fired locos go round and round and round!-Wait, cancel that, perhaps they send the Emails while they are at work! Of course! How stupid of me! Geoff
The Great Alcohol-Butane Debate
Hi I was asked to verify that all of Sir Geoffrey Spenceley's engines are alcoholics. that is they burn alcohol. I can state that in fact all of his locomotives do burn alcohol. The ones at his house that burn the dreaded butane fuel; are in fact mine, right Geoff, and they will be removed tomorrow evening so as not to cause any greater undue stress on the esteamed alcohol buriinig engines you have. I am sorry for the great oversight on my part.;-) There Geoff did I do good? I'll be over tomorrow to pick up my engines ;-) Plaese have them ready. On a more serious note, our esteamed group had a great time at Richard Heisler's Mad River Shortline today. much Butane was burned and alcohol was consumed, in moderate amounts. wish you all could have been there. Maybe next year. Larry Buerer Bayside & Western RR
Re: Lathes for Live (or limey) Steamers
Tony et al. Just a bit of clarification an South Bend 9" lathes. There are three versions and a couple of variations. Most 9" SB lathes are either model A's B's or C's The model A is the most desirable as it has back gears for very slow spindle speeds, power longitudinal feed, and power cross feed. It also has a quick change gear box to easily set feed rates and thread pitches. It uses a key way in the lead screw to move the carriage except when you are threading. Thus you have very little lead screw wear. Prices are usually $600 to $ 1500 (used) for a model A and less for the others, depending on wear and accessories. Logan has similar models at similar prices. There is no comparison between quality and rigidity with a new Chinese lathe, they are not even in the same league as the SB and Logan lathes. The 10" models are even better. My son's boss has a 9" Jet and I have a 9" SB. If he could trade his for mine would he? You bet, in a heartbeat and give me some cash to boot. Larry Buerer
Happy Birthday
Hi All Just a quick off topic note. Today Sept 25 is Geoff Spenceley's 80th birthday. Happy Birthday Geoff 80 years young and still going strong. Larry Buerer
Re: Flying Scotsman
Geoff Spenceley wrote: > It had to be shipped from S.C. to the remote woods on N.W California--where > the retards live.EXCUSE ME!! Who lives here? > > I apologise to NG ers--I love those scales too--and MUCH BETTER for the > pocket book! All three of my local steamers friends are NG--Like Larry > Buerer--a lister also--and Kevin Schindler whose pics always clutter up the > Summer steamups--Pleasanton for example!! Are you bringing it over Sunday? I'm ready for some steamy fun! Larry (Not Retarded) Buerer
Re: List Down?
Hi Geoff Pictures are available,,, for a price! HeHeHeHeHe LOL Larry Geoff Spenceley wrote: > Well, > > Some interesting train wrecks you fellows have!!--and I watched a TV > documentary last night about a bloody awful train crash in San Bernardino! > > My Merlin Hunslet overturned on a friends s/b station a few years ago, > catching fire. No stiff upper lip there--lots of panic! The loco has since > been repaired and the passenger on the platform skin grafted and repainted. > > Geoff. > > Are we turning into Brits?? > > > >Well, there was one amazing display of aplomb and stiff upperlips when a > >collective couple of decades of live steaming experience demonstrated the > >effects of setting a switch the wrong way when two stoutly-constructed locos > >were sharing the track - from opposite directions. Both locos came through > >the demonstration well. But that's all the info I will allow myself to > >reveal. > > > >Steve > > My favorite video I have shot at our club functions is when our illustrious > Yardmaster was monitoring all turnouts and electric locos while a Frank S > zipped around one oval. Of course the ovals crossed at two points to make > things interesting. Well the towering hulk owner of the Frank S stood up in > front of the Yardmaster at a critical junction. My video camera was on a > flat car being pushed by my LGB Forney and the camera caught the Frank S > blindsiding the flat car with a real satisfactory "whomp!" that made all the > HO fellows roar with sympathy pains. Latter they laughed at our spectacular > crash. No damage despite the significant speed of the Frank S. Gerald and > myself remained somewhat composed but reserve the right to razz Yardmaster > Ron for the rest of the time we have memory. This segment of tape is > wonderful to edit into any train tape as a transition piece. For real fun > the tape cycles through 3-4 crashes within 12 seconds just to satisfy that > primitive delight we all take in watching a crash. It is easier to be > delighted since no damage was evident! > Gary - Eugene, Oregon > PS - Were any of the "aplomb" decked with ties? If yes, I expect the steamup > was East Coast not West! > >
Re: Building a live steam track
Jeffrey Where you live there are quite a few steamers. I'm sure some have raised tracks. See what they are using. I've been thinking of using 3" white plastic drain pipe sunk in a post hole with a piece od 1/2" rebar in the middle and filled with concrete. If you paint it with latex paint it will last forever or close to it and be very strong Just be sure to mount any brackets on it before you fill it with concrete. I have seen this method used for small walkway bridges and it is holding up well. Probably a bit of overkill, but it will be stable. On top of that mount a deck made from 1/4' x 1 1/2' x 1 1/2' aluminum angle with a cedar deck bolted to them.. Then put your track on top of that. Should be about as stable as you could get. Seriously, find out what the other guys in your area are doing, copy what works and avoid what doesn't. OR, use the bullet proof method above. Larry Jeffrey Williams wrote: > Livermore, CA. 50 miles southeast of SF. Temp range 20F to 110F. Generally < > 30"/yr of rain. > > =
Re: Building a live steam track
Hi Where in Northern CA? That covers a lot of area. On the coast Geoff's track has worked well. Inland maybe a different approach might be better. Larry Jeffrey Williams wrote: > I live in Northern California, so the weather is probably a lot less severe > than PA > > "Phil. Paskos" wrote: > > > What area of what country do you live? It makes a big difference on what > > will work. I live in U.S.A S.E. PA. What works and holds up here may not > > work where you live. Varnished plywood over cemented in support posts with > > various shimming leveling arrangements works well here and is used > > extensively. But, in other parts of the country will not hold up at all. > > > > Phil.P. > > > > (much sniped) > > > Has anyone done a survey of alternate construction techniques and > > > materials for an elevated live steam track? I'm doing the planning for > > > one of my own and would like to learn from other's experiences. > > > > > > > >
Re: C-16 excessive steam oil usage
Hi It has been a while since I flew control line model airplanes. but you used to be able to but the needle valve assembly for .10 sized engines and larger as a separate part, aside from the engine. Had something to do with people like me who crashed a lot and broke them. Check hobby shops that sell model airplane engines. What you got was a tube that had an outside thread on one side, a hole in the middle for the fuel to come out, and an internal thread on the other end into which the needle valve screwed. I have often wondered if they would make good steam flow regulators. It is worth a try. Larry Harry Wade wrote: > At 12:15 PM 12/18/01 -0800, you wrote: > >Harry et al, > > Hah! I knew that would lure the critter out of his hiding place! > I agree with Geoff on the lubricator valve business. I've often wondered > if there was some product already available that could be adapted to make > this building job easier, possibly make it a hand-tool job, not needing a > lathe. For instance what if one of the model aircraft engine makers made a > throttle valve needle which could be stuck into a threaded hole to make an > oil metering valve? I had a half dozen Cox engines during my early > childhood (currently being in late childhood) and all of them had a short > blackened steel needle valve with a knurled head and threaded shank. Cox > went out of business long ago and the only parts available now AFAIK are > NOS and dwindling fast. A more certain supply would be wanted. > For anyone who knows about such things or wants to pursue it > further the needle valve part numbers for Cox TD-010 and TD-020 engines > (their smallest) are 1309 & 1609 respectively. List price $.60 in 1962. I > have one of these from an 020 in front of me now and it is barely .700" > long from end to end. The shank thread is only .085" OD and the thread is > so fine as to be unmeasurable with the tools I have. This is good . . . . > . and bad. Good because it would allow infinitessimily small adjustment of > oil flow, bad because it's anyone's guess what the pitch is and the thread > would be a bear to make without breaking a tap. > > Cheers, > Harry
Re: Regional Call/uncontactable poms
Geoff Spenceley wrote: > Most Esteemed Harry and and Lunk's Lesser Asst, > > Thankyou for your kind comments. I shall now be the Grand High Poohbah, > but I can never get as rancid as the NG chaps who predominate in this > countg--three of them--just love 'em, smell and all! > Geoff you are already Grand High Poohbah of our local garden railroad society, and Conductor for life. And you want to be a movie star too! Oh such aspirations!!! Larry Buerer Bayside and Western RR
Re: misunderstood New Mexico
I don't know about you, but I remember our last steamup at Geoff's RR. I sure had a good time I'm not sure about the others. I think most of us did except for the one with a screw loose, and something missing or fell off or something like that.. Maybe he is now having a difficult time remembering but not me, I had a great time and will remember it for quite a while. Have a great day Geoff. See you Sunday afternoon. Larry Geoff Spenceley wrote: > Vance, Don et al, > > If I wasn't so dam old. I'd register every one of them too!! So would > Lunk's asst! Actually with the way I steam, it's probably best that I don't > remmber them! > > Geoff > > After all, how many great days of steaming register on your mind? > > > >Every one of them, I think, since they were all spent in the company of fine > >people under pleasurable circumstances. > > > >-vance- > > > >Keep in mind that, before plastics, only rich people could afford to have > >poor taste. > >-- Don Featherstone, creator of the plastic lawn flamingo > >
Re: "Budget" live steam
> I have Steam in the Garden, back to issue 21. I'll have to look through them. > The only article I remember was Charlie Mynhier's steam engine series, but that > was for a propane burner. How close are the two burners? Close I assume. I also > subscribe to Live Steam, Lots of larger stuff but not a whole lot of stuff in > the smaller sizes. If you know of a specific article, maybe I can find a copy or > get the back issues. Thanks Larry > > These sources: > Model Engineer Magazine (UK), Engineering in Miniature (UK), Live > Steam Magazine (US), G1MRA Journal (UK), and Steam in the Garden Magazine > (US) have all had at one time or another articles on Ga1 locomotive > projects which all of course included burners. I don't know of any one > definitive source of burner information though. > > >The articles on using ceramic burners seem to leave out the part > >about the jet and air mixture chamber and the fuel tank and delivery systems. > >You noticed that too? :-) > > Cheers, > Harry
Re: Meths v Gas/ ceramic retrofit
Warning Warning When Geoff takes his boat to Daimondhead this January, keep your boat on the opposite end of the pool. He is a bit of a wild man as a boat driver. How would I know Geoff? Larry Geoff Spenceley wrote: > The Cheddar pintaill for my boat has a ceramic burner and is very quiet The > quietest burner I ever had was on the Locomotion Rail car with a vertical > boiler. It was so quiet one could say it was noiseless. No ceramics, > however. > > I'm still an alcy bloke. > > Geoff. > > What I don't like is the noise (potentially could be eliminated with > >ceramic > >>burners, but you couldn't retrofit a poker burner with a cermic unit > > > >--well maybe you could. The Cheddar Models/Bruce Engineering ugly > >duckling - the name of which escapes me - has a cone shaped disk of ceramic > >material firing along the fire tube. The disk is the same diameter as the > >firetube 'tho the loco concerned has cross tubes in the forward part of the > >tube. Might be worth a try, however. > > > >Art Walker, Guildford, England > > > >
Re: "Budget" live steam
Ok, I have the equipment, I have built a simple pot boiler, Plan on building a simple steam engine. All not too hard. but I haven't seen a good detailed article on building a gas burner to heat the water. Where can such information be found? The articles on using ceramic burners seem to leave out the part about the jet and air mixture chamber and the fuel tank and delivery systems. Harry Wade wrote: > At 11:29 AM 10/26/01 +0100, you wrote: > >Harry mentioned that "affordable" is a relative term. (big snip) > >I currently have 4 live steamers, > >the most expensive one . . . a $900 boiler and chassis kit. > > To illustrate the alternative . . . . for that amount of money you can > buy a reasonably well tooled Atlas 6" lathe and an 8" Delta Home Depot > drill press & bits, and a few files, and Viola! you're in the live steam > locomotive building business and the loco costs drop from $900 to $50 or > even less for the basic locomotive, depending upon your scrounging > abilities. There isn't a single part of a typical miniature steam > locomotive that cannot be made at home by the amateur, still there will be > some items (screws, fittings, gauges, etc) that are labor and skill > intensive enough that for most of us we're better off buying them out, > unless of course you just want the challenge and satisfaction (or > humiliation!) of making them yourself. But then there we go again paying > someone else to do the machine work. > > >I don't think I have more than $3000 invested in the whole lot. > > If you buy carefully, for that amount of money you can have a South > Bend or Logan 9" or 10" lathe, a small benchtop milling machine, and a > better drill press, and a few accessories for all of them and then who > needs Aster. Of course learning how to use these has to be factored in as > a cost (in time). > > Cheers, > Harry
Re: O.T. - "The Train" movie on TCM
Hi Geoff Got me out of hiding. Thanks for the comment about being young. Wish I was (not really). ;-) We'll miss you at our train club meeting, at our house, on Sunday. Being a great Shakespearean actor can sometimes get in the way of your fun. You all should have seen him, we don't get many Shakespearean actors up here in the hills who have an English accent. Great fun. One of the hicks (but not a hic) Larry Geoff Spenceley wrote: > Good thinking on running trains Trent! > > My problem is that I run mine at home mostly alone- it's a worse scenario > than "Home Alone"--except for a couple of chaps like Larry Buerer for eg. > He is young and can chase my King steaming at 150 mph and catch me as I > fall! Not true actually, the King with 4 cyl admission is easy to control. >
Re: Cat? Now horse whipped
Gary My wife, the cat lover about fell on the floor laughing when she read that. Don't worry about cat lovers with no since of humor. Larry Gary Broeder wrote: > >You should be horse-whipped for using such an intelligent life-form for > such a > >menial, demeaning task! B-) > >>73, John de VK2XGJ > > Dogs have Masters > > Cats have staff. > > > John, and any others intent on horse-whipping me, > > I have bestowed an important task upon my worthy cat. She did a job that I > could never do. > > Oh, I suppose I could have installed a feather duster on a battery powered > loco to do the dirty work. > > GaryB > >
April Fools Steamup was New Member Introduction
Well Tag The steamup went off as planned. Geoff has pictures. I'm sure he will share with you. We plan to publish some in the Stean in the Graden web site in the What's New column. Don't believe Geoff's explination for his crash. It is all not true! Another great time steaming. I hope the Bay area steam up went well too. Larry Buerer Bayside & Western RR.
Re: New Member Introduction
Tag As Geoff mentioned, several of the steamers in our area have Garden Railroads, including me. Geoff, myself, and a few others will be steaming up my garden RR on Sunday, April 1. Twist Geoff's arm to bring his fancy digital camera and get you a few pictures of the doings. One of the best Garden Railroads in the area is featured on the Steam in the Garden magazine's web site. There you can see Geoff in all his magnificence, Kevin, Richard, and the back of my head, taking videos. To get there, go to: http://www.steamup.com then choose "What's New". Scroll down to 10/23/00. Choose Oktoberfest Steamup. Enjoy! I'll get Geoff to share your pictures with me later, if you don't mind. Larry Buerer Bayside & Western RR. Tag Gorton wrote: > on 30/3/01 9:32 pm, Geoff Spenceley at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > Tag, you may be surprised how many steamers on this side of the pond do > > run their steam trains thru miniature gardens--probably more so than in the > > UK! They are just not mentioned much on this list. > > > > All the few steamers in this rural area--(5 if us) do so! > > > > Can you send me the JPEG too- off list--Wow, have you opened a can of > > worms! OK, worms?- they keep my GR soil active! > > Hi Geoff > > Certainly I will send - day after tomorrow when I get back from the 16mm > AGM. I always keep a pretty close eye on what is going on in the US via > SitG and Garden Railways and the perception is that the scenic lines have > always tended to be electrically powered. I would love to be proven wrong > on this:-) There have always been some good scenic steam lines in the US of > course. I remember with pleasure the late Grover Devine's garden railway > and his articles in early copies of both SitG and garden railways. > > -- > > Yours Aye > > Tag Gorton > Longlands & Western Railway Co > Trematon Office > > ICQ* 96182312 > >
Re: Guy Fawkes - YAK
To All I guess I had better defend myself. I am the current owner of the shay and the host of the April Fools steamup. Guilty twice. The steamup will start at 1pm and go till we quit. I have lights so night running is possible. If you are in the Eureka CA area on Sunday April 1st. and want to attend let me know. The RR has 4'+ radius curves, code 250 track. It is close to level. My wife's RR uses Aristo track with 24" radius curves. So two tracks lots of running time. We will run rain of shine. Larry Buerer Bayside & Western RR Bayside, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1-707-825-8701 Geoff Spenceley wrote: > To all, > > Thanks Tony for the tale of history, > > Yes, we have a true Brit with a King!! > > I have a friend locally whose name is Heisler. He has a small but > wonderful turn of the century railroad--with a heisler!! Even more > appropriate since this is logging country- as you know! He did have a > Hydeout Mountain modified gas fired Shay at one time--it is still in the > area. We'll be steaming NG on another RR in the back country on April 1 > and there will be pics available. > > Perhaps we can discover the truth of the the Shea and the driving motion. > > I like your b.s. on the watering station in Tunbridge Wells. > > Geoff. > > Geoffrey, (and the Fawkes Group - only), > > My humblest apologies. Did not realise you was a "parliamentarian.". > > And I always thought you very "cavalier". > > I do know you are true Brit with a "King". > > > > To get back on track. (Just for David). > > > > Did you know that Guy Fawkes wife was called Red Ruby and they had a > >son called Shea!. > > > > Also, why were Shea,s built with all the driving motion on the > >right hand side?. > > > > > > "To allow the drivers to keep their swords on the left!". > > > > Question;- What is Tunbridge Wells?. > > Is it > >a watering station for BIG Britannia,s or teeny weeny Rubies?. > > > > Tony D. > >
Re: Track Roadbed and Operating Pit
Geoff Spenceley wrote: > . It's still a > mess in my opinion and takes over the whole small backyard. But as I tell > visiting garden clubs, the garden only serves the railway, or is incidental > to it. > Geoffrey, Geoffrey, Geoffrey Your garden is not a mess. It is artistic whimsy Cassidy loves it and someday you will find all the things she rearranged. > Then I have that blinking 3-1/2" track encircling the house! And great fun it is too. The videos prove it. Your smile is quite large. > However, all in all, local GR club meets here are enjoyed Yep! > ( particularrly by live steamers) because of the elevated 45mm double > track--only 110 > feet (sob) which is elevated with a 3% grade down to the g/l. My > incredulous hindsight tells me that I should have put the track in the > much bigger front garden --as Tony has done. I keep telling you, lets do it. A little fence, and a little track and it's done. The trouble maker! Larry Don't forget Apr. 1 my house.
Re: Traction Engine
Don't forget, Geoff, there are a few other railroad barons in the area who would welcome such "esteamed' personages to their humble digs. Larry, Richard, and Kevin Geoff Spenceley wrote: > Gary, > > We will miss your presence in DH--you are forgiven--Sacramento is a > deal--the dinner is on-- I promise--Salty can buy the drinks!! Of course, > if you come up to redwood country before then you can bring ithe tractor > and a bumblebee to the Nonsensical Secret Garden Railway. --drive my > Britannia,--it's tough with the hodge-podge bunch of coal I have! Run the > tractor in the living room and run some Brit stuff on the 45mm track. Small > tho it is, it does have 11' radii.---plus some other track for NG. > > Apologies to the list for using it for personal mail!! > > Geoff. > > Gary, > >> > >> There is no consideration!! Be in DH, bring the traction engine-- no > >>excuses --I'll oil it, clean it and buy you lunch! > >> > >>Geoff. > >>> Gary > >>>If you are coming to Diamond head would you consider bringing that traction > >>>engine? While it isn't a locomotive it is live steam and I for one would > >>>sure like to see that critter. > >>> > >>>Salty > > > >Geoff, Salty, > >My goodness, I did not realize we had a couple of traction engine fans > >here. It would be a blast to bring it to > >DH but there are 2 problems ( not excuses Geoff but thanks for the > >offers!) 1, I regret that I will not be going > >to DH in Jan. 2, It would present a bit of a problem being carry-on > >luggage! Sacramento next summer would > >be a better bet though! > > > >GaryB > >
Re: Unpleasantness at Milleniums End (was wooden ties)
How did I get into this! LB Geoff Spenceley wrote: > Thanks Sam, Knowing Dan tho--it was "tongue in cheek"! I am a STRONG > believer in timber harvesting and even tree plantations but not the way > some of the "foresters?" have raped the forests here. Listen to their > arguments about replanting and seeding--then fly over the forests as I do > every time I leave this area in a "puddle jumper" > > Gosh, Dan you opened a can of worms--and I opened it further. I now suggest > we keep away from such jokes, politically, environmentally, etc--even in > humor. -- lets keep to trains. One great thing I love about the steamups I > have attended in Diamondhead and the National Spring Steamup is; I have > never heard politics, philosphy etc discussed. A few lovely discussions > (no blows!) about "firing" etc! > > By Jove! I have a lot of redwood and cedar supporting my track. I find > cedar best for ties and rail beds. Cedar seems less liable to split and > has held up for 11 years under my ballasted elevated track. When I "dig" > down thru the ballast I have been unable to find any rot even in our damp, > unheated climate. Our house however, built in the 60's, is mostly old > growth redwood. When I had the roof modified I was left with maybe 100' of > 3x3 (roughly) old growth timber. I have cut it up, sliced it up and used > it for structures and edging. So--my scratchbuilt English pub has parts > that are older than any in England--like 700 to 1000 years old. So the > "slaughtered" redwood should bve happy!! So there, Limeys--such as Sir Art > of the Roundhouse! > > With apologies to Larry Buerer! > > Geoff. > > Maybe when the prairies turn to dust again, and your grain crops fail > >you'd wish you'd listened to the tree huggers a little more closely. > > > >Clue: Read up on how Chaos Theory was developed by an American > >weatherman and you may start to get the idea > > > >Dan Pantages wrote: > > (just don't let the "granola eating tree huggers" find out) > >> > >> Dan > >
Re: Employment Opportunity
That's funny, I didn't see any snails. Looked like a bit too much speed to me. Are you shure you don't want to do that again so I can get it of video tape. Neet fire afterward though. LoL! You all should have seen it. Larry Geoff Spenceley wrote: > Snail Slayer Steve, > > As resident of damp-damp N.N. California, I heartly endorse your > recommendations to the Lunk. However when I tried the beer and set up beer > bars for the snails, the noise of the partying 'til the wee hours of the > morning kept us awake all nite. Have you ever heard a snail sing? 'Twas > worse than the all nite steamers in D.H!! Yesterday at a local steamup, a > Banana slug derailed my Grasshopper-despite the scale 100mph, the slug was > unhurt. > > Geoff. > > Mr. B. W. Lunkenheimer > >CFO > >The Swamp RR > >Florida, USA > > > >Dear Mr. Lunkenheimer, > > > >It is as a fellow railroad magnate that I offer you my sympathies regarding > >employee work standards. I speak to you as a colleague and a friend. > > > >As a long-time resident of the Golden State of California I can speak with > >some intelligence about snails. Snails have yet to be declared an > >endangered species out here, and probably never will, unfortunately. > >Californians who worship Nature's flora strive ever to control the vast > >herds of ferrel snails that creep unchecked throughout the Golden State's > >bountiful growing regions. > > > >Out here there has always been unlimited opportunities for knowledgeable and > >steady snailpunchers. But a good snailpuncher does not come cheap, and his > >time-honored methods are probably more suitable to the wider open spaces > >west of the Mississippi. > > > >Another scourge to a runaway snail population is a duck. Ducks work wonders > >to control snails, but there is a certain maintenance side effect associated > >with employing ducks. The snails could be preferable. Snails certainly > >come equipped with better packaging for manual removal and disposal > >techniques than the debris that a track gang of ducks will leave behind. > > > >One snail antidote that you could try involves decoying the snails off the > >tracks, and this method could be especially feasable given the Swamp RR's > >proximity to an industry for which it is apparently a principle carrier of > >finished goods. I speak of beer. It is said that a saucer of beer will > >attract snails, and in their subsequent ecstasy the snails fail to climb > >back out of the beer-filled saucer and succomb. Saucers of beer should not, > >of course, be placed directly on the tracks, but rather to one side of the > >right of way. Unfortunately I have not yet been able to experiment on the > >local California snails to see how they respond to the beer method. Good > >beer must be shipped out here from east of the Rockies, and there never > >seems to be enough at hand to want to share it with snails. > > > >Regards, > > > >Steve Shyvers > >CEO > >Anypenny Steam Traction & Pump Mfg. Co. > >"We copy the best and build in the West" > > > >
Re: Oscillating in-line twin/track base
Hi I'll add my ignorance to the subject. I have used sand/gravel/cement as a base for quite a while. It sure makes for a stable road bed in our climate. It is not as strong as a cement sidewalk but much stronger than Sand/gravel alone. I don't live where frost heave is a problem though. I can tell you that if you pack it down, it gets quite hard. Makes a good pathway for walking through your RR. Proprotions: 1 of cement to 3or 4 of sand/gravel makes cement. So go to 1:6 or so to experiment. Hope this helps. Larry Jerry Barnes wrote: > Mike Chaney made my osscilating twin for my shay. He used two of his > cylinders that he used to make and put them together for me. If he has any > left, he might make you one. I like the action of the oscillators, cracks > me up, as it goes. > > I love it Mike! Ran it this weekend. Discovered my track is getting pretty > bumpy, with winter frost heaves and such. Major track work to be done this > spring. > > Anyone put any dry concrete powder in their base and wet it down, to make > it more permanent? How does it work out? Proportions? > > Jerry > >
Re: Users list
Hi I'm not sure about the picture idea, some of us are a bit scary. Right Geoffry. But I sure would like the list expanded to both name and city so we coule see who is close by and maybe get together. Larry Buerer Richard Finlayson wrote: > >In a message dated 12/15/99 11:20:07 PM Central Standard Time, > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > ><< Anybody up for attaching photos? >> > > > >I think it is a great idea. We could start at Diamondhead. Then, I will > >followup at my steamups and take "mug" shots of those who are interested. > >Can we then just attach them to an email and forward it to you, Richard? > > > >Jim > > Sure! I can make a table of name, city, photo in a database then have > it spew HTML that I can repost occasionally. My original idea however > was to focus on our chat group for this list as opposed to the > community at large. This is not to exclude, just to make it > manageable. I'd be happy to manage this for Dave if he'd like, or to > provide pix from my attendee list to get his list started. Either > way, at your service on this one. > > A D'head specific list, an NSS specific list, and a sslivesteam > specific list would be easier to manage because the owner is clear. I > have been toying with this idea for Live Steam Chat on my site, but > haven't gotten around to it. > > Later! > > -Richard > > == > Richard Finlayson > > Check out: http://www.steamup.com/legend"Legend Steam Locomotives" > Check out: http://www.steamup.com/trailcreek "Trail Creek Models" > Check out: http://www.steamup.com "Steam In The Garden Online"
Re: Gear grease (was Re: Tips page)
David M. Cole wrote: > > At 7:13 AM -0700 10/5/99, Harry Wade wrote: > >IMHO one only needs two oils, a steam oil of 300 to 450 ISO weight, and > >a good light machine oil, say of ISO of 30 to 60 weight. > > This brings up a problem I've encountered with my Cricket: what kind of > grease to use on the gears. > > The Berkeley Locomotive manual recommends using a grease that is no longer > made (or, at least, one so obscure that four different auto parts stores > didn't recognize the name). When I contacted Mike, he didn't give a > specific brand-name recommendation, but said that "rifle grease" or "any > light grease" should work. I assume that rifle grease comes from a gun > shop, but does anyone have any recommendations for a "light grease" that > would work with the Cricket? > > Thanks. > > Hi David The rifle grease referred to is probably Rig Universal manufactured by Rig Sportsman's Products of Sparks Nevada. Although I use it alot on guns I don't think it would be a very good idea on our trains. I'm sure there are better choices. Lately I'v been using bicycle chain lube. It drys after application and isn't sticky after it drys so it doesen't pick up dirt. Larry Buerer Bayside & Western RR.
Re: Nor Cal Live Steamers...
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Hey I live in Central/Northern California...Santa Cruz County to be exact, > where are all the Nor Cal Steamers? I know where Richard is... and Gary > Broeder... > Just got my Roundhouse Billy this week and this weekend will be putting R/C > in my Ruby. > OH what fun! > > Jeff Badger > Big Trees Flume & Lumber Co. Jeff If you are referring to Geoff and I, you will have to drive about 300 miles north on 101. We are truely in Northern CA. Larry Buerer Bayside & Western RR
Re: Need more bios
Hello All Well I guess it is time I gave my bio.to the list. My name is Larry Buerer. I teach at a local continuation high school. I live in Northern California, just south of Geoff Spenceley. In fact he is partly responsible for my plunge into live steam. I have been more or less active for about three years. I have a Jane and a highly modified Hydeout Mt. Shay. It has a butane fueled boiler and soon to have different trucks as the current ones are worn out. I have a RR in my back yard and my wife has another. Right now hers is operational and mine is not due to the construction of a new shop which covers part of what was my RR. Reconstruction to begin soon. The shop is worth the inconvience. By the way, how many Nor-Cal members do we have on the list? Have a great day Larry Buerer Bayside & Western RR. Bayside, CA
