Boiler Certified

[builder01]

Finally was able to get to my club track to get my boiler inspected, tested and certified this past weekend. Everything went quite well. No name plates or hand rails, (yet), just pure miniature steam locomotive! Plate work will no doubt be next. By the end of the day I was able to take my locomotive all the way around the track, without stopping!! Not bad for 23 months of work.

A special thanks goes to the guys that help me at the Finger Lakes Live Steamers club in Clyde, New York. 

Also, thanks goes to folks on this forum and especially to Julian Atkins for his boiler build thread and other words of wisdom. Thank you for taking the time Julian! With his explanation of the use of propane and simple techniques, I was able to build this boiler completely by myself. 

Keeping a good fire going in a small locomotive is a real art!! I can't wait to get some more practice!!


IMG_20170520_135701 by Builder16, on Flickr
IMG_20170520_134300 by Builder16, on Flickr

[jma1009]

Hi David,

You have done an excellent job there!

David's loco is a modified Martin Evans' 'Super Simplex' in 5"g but adjusted for 4 3/4"g used in the USA.

I don't think that there are many UK miniature loco designs built in the USA, and our traditional type of copper silver soldered boiler even less.

David's loco incorporates a number of significant improvements on the Super Simplex design correcting a number of errors in the Martin Evans design. The boiler has a double flanged throatplate, and proper girder type crown stays, more firebox stays (that are all silver soldered inside and out), and Jos Koopmans draughting of the smokebox. David also reduced the cylinder bore from the dustbin size specified by Martin Evans.

Not bad for a first attempt!

Cheers,
Julian

[builder01]

Thanks so much Julian!

Yes, there are very few UK style locos built in the USA and even fewer locos with copper boilers. I had long list of requirements for a first time loco and this one seemed to be what I needed. There was not anyone at my club that had any experience making a copper boiler. Most of the locos on the 1"scale track are diesel/electric. I really had to teach myself and used your boiler thread as a guide.

As you say, I did make a few adjustments including squeezing the gauge to 4-3/4" and reducing the cylinder bore to 1-3/8". It seems to have plenty of power and can easily spin the wheels. Hopefully this has reduced the steam needed for these hungry cylinders.

I actually finished the boiler and hydro tested it at the end of December last year. I did not want to announce anything until I actually had a certificate. I did not know if I had a boiler, or, a boiler shaped object until just a few days ago! The last 5 months has been out-fitting the boiler getting it ready for steam.

23 months from laying out the frames to going for a ride behind the locomotive! It's far from finished, but, in the meanwhile I will have a lot of fun with it!

David