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Post by harryrobinson on Jun 22, 2019 17:58:24 GMT
Hi guys,
A few months ago, I was given a 3 1/2 inch gauge small boiler Tich by another club member. It was in a fairly bad state, and I started work on it, but never got very far. Luckily one of my friends, much more experienced in model engineering than me, offered to complete the work for me, and within a week it was ready to steam!
Although I’ve driven a few engines before, most of them are quite large, and nothing like little Tich! Does anybody have any tips for firing and driving?
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 22, 2019 19:42:10 GMT
Small shovelfulls, try not to put water in until safety valves are about to lift, don't try to pull more than the driver
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 22, 2019 19:45:04 GMT
Running a tiny loco in comparison to a larger one is a bit like riding a small motorbike in comparison to a superbike. You have to thrash it to get the most out of it
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Post by gingerneer on Jun 22, 2019 22:02:00 GMT
A little and often with the firing. Keep the axle pump bypass putting in a small amount of water. It's difficult to describe really but you are looking to balance steam production to mataining the fire and water levels.
A good pop safety valve cuts downs on unessary steam waste and a radiant steam dryer. Also a free running drive trolley helps, a Hudson self steer wheel sets cut down the drag for the longer runs
Will
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Post by gingerneer on Jun 22, 2019 22:09:52 GMT
Some video steam my Canterbury Lamb
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 22, 2019 22:20:29 GMT
A tap of the shovel prevents excessive steam loss
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Post by harryrobinson on Jun 23, 2019 6:45:55 GMT
Thanks for you replies.
My club has supplies of both welsh steam coal and anthracite. Which one should I use?
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Post by gingerneer on Jun 25, 2019 9:54:32 GMT
How long is a piece of string? I depends on the loco, what the driver preference is work sort of running you will be doing..................
You could try blending.....
A rough and many not be correct generalisation is the anthracite fire will need to be kept hot and driven all the time (blower when not running) the welsh steam coal has a bit more give and can be bought back up to heat. Although a Tich grate is small you need to keep the fire up and pressure up.
Were is your local club? If you fancy a visit to Bournemouth ME for a play and thrash around our track you would be welcome.
Will
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Post by delaplume on Jun 25, 2019 15:45:53 GMT
Just by way of thinking "Out of the box" as it were}-----if you get the chance spend some time with the 2.5" gauge lads, especially when they are driving..........it'll make your Tich seem not so small after all ( so it'll be a confidence booster ) and you'll get some useful tips as well.....
Generally speaking the smaller the boiler the quicker it is to make steam, and conversely the quicker it will be to loose it as well.......ergo you have very little lee-way for driving / firing errors....Notice that the Canterbury Lamb driver is constantly in attendance at the controls..
I agree with Andy and pull only yourself as passenger..
Alan
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Post by harryrobinson on Jun 25, 2019 16:03:20 GMT
My local club is the Brighton and Hove Society Of Model Engineers. At some point I’d like to visit some other clubs, but I’m a young member, and visiting other clubs really relies on my parents taking me there! (Which they aren’t too fond of doing!).
Also, I’m not planning on pulling passengers, our track in B&H has quite a long 1 in 50 gradient, which is quite difficult to climb in smaller locos.
I think I might try welsh steam coal (think of the lovely smell!), but I’ll try anthracite first, as I’m used to firing other members locos on it.
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Post by delaplume on Jun 25, 2019 16:40:55 GMT
My local club is the Brighton and Hove Society Of Model Engineers. At some point I’d like to visit some other clubs, but I’m a young member, and visiting other clubs really relies on my parents taking me there! (Which they aren’t too fond of doing!). Also, I’m not planning on pulling passengers, our track in B&H has quite a long 1 in 50 gradient, which is quite difficult to climb in smaller locos. I think I might try welsh steam coal (think of the lovely smell!), but I’ll try anthracite first, as I’m used to firing other members locos on it. You could always "Watch" them on You-tube ??--------- Anthracite "Peas" I think might be best for your grate.......Attacking a long gradient in full cut-off is the time to be firing and watering to match consumption and get that safety just about to blow, remembering that an incline will give a false reading on the water gauge !! Good steaming !! Alan |
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 25, 2019 17:06:11 GMT
An even warmer welcome as you are a younger member, well done for getting into such a rewarding hobby so early.
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Post by harryrobinson on Jun 25, 2019 18:08:04 GMT
An even warmer welcome as you are a younger member, well done for getting into such a rewarding hobby so early. Thanks! I’m planning to start building a Sweet Pea at some point soon, I already have the drawings. I figured that this would be a good time to start working on something a bit bigger, as I don’t really have any proper responsibilities, and my GCSE’s are still a little while away. |
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,912
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Post by JonL on Jun 25, 2019 18:48:30 GMT
Sweet pea is a fine choice in my opinion. Best of luck.
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Post by delaplume on Jun 25, 2019 21:25:37 GMT
One of our new but-no-experience lads ( 85 !! ) has just bought a 5" Sweet Pea from the chaps at Canvey Island MES and he's chuffed to bits with it........Our Club Loco is also a Sweet Pea and has done many years sterling service for us on the now-extinct portable track....
Might I suggest you consider buying a commercially made boiler ?..........OK, it'll cost a bit but so will buying and building the boiler from scratch but you'll be able to get a running loco in a much shorter time ... Also, when it comes to boiler test time the Boiler Examiner's mind will be put at ease with a proper, professional job that should give him/her little to be concerned about.....I have in mind a Tig-Welded item...
Do keep us informed
Alan
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miken
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 481
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Post by miken on Jun 25, 2019 21:59:06 GMT
Harry, you're going to have to start washing more cars and maybe get a paper round.
See you,
Mike
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jun 26, 2019 2:35:36 GMT
Sweet pea is a fine choice in my opinion. Best of luck. Fur tips on Sweet pea building watch Nr Factotum on You Tube as he describes every detail and how to build her wi out CASH! Sorry BRASS. His accent reminds me of MI MUM! David and Lily. |
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Post by harryrobinson on Oct 15, 2019 9:37:21 GMT
Hello again,
It’s been a while and after discovering a few more issues and sorting them, I finally got Tich steamed properly.
I spent quite a while sitting on the steaming bay, and she did seem to come up to steam nicely. I only put coal on when the fire was bright white, and that seemed to work.
But I did discover a new problem: priming. I put her down on the track, went no more than a few metres, and had to stop due to the priming blowing nearly all the water out the boiler! Is there any way to stop this, or is this just a problem due to the position of the regulator?
Other than that I think it went quite well.
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Post by ettingtonliam on Oct 15, 2019 10:02:13 GMT
Contamination in the boiler can cause priming. Try washing it out several times with hot water.
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Post by harryrobinson on Oct 15, 2019 14:54:29 GMT
Contamination in the boiler can cause priming. Try washing it out several times with hot water. Thanks for your reply. I tried this a few times before steaming it. Also, on emptying out the boiler after use (my Tich has no blowdown), the water appeared to be clean. Whether it was originally in this state or if it was clean after condensing I do not know. I think a lot of the problem is just due to the lack of steam space. |
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