Track Progress

[Tel]

Lookin' good DJ, but ... I see you are almost back to my suggestion of a centre pivoted swinging bridge.

[drjohn]

Almost Tel, but the reason for the centre post is that the bridge sagged a wee bit with my weight, but it's not a swing, it's still a lift out - easier to make and align.

DJ

[drumkilbo]

Looks great DJ, can't wait to see pics of your loco going round.

Ian

[drjohn]

In case you western people wonder how I get around out here in un-civilsation, here's my service - a 10 - 12 seater with blacked out windows just like our president .

[Deleted]

DJ. With your record for ascerbism (thankfully somewhat diminished recently) I suspect it has to be just like El Presidento's vehicle i.e: bulletproof!
JB

[drjohn]

Dec 14, 2009 8:01:18 GMT simplyloco said:

DJ. With your record for ascerbism (thankfully somewhat diminished recently) I suspect it has to be just like El Presidento's vehicle i.e: bulletproof!
JB

No, JB, and anyway it's El PresidentA - she's a female (or purports to be), but I have flame-throwers under the doors for unwanted guests! ;D ;D

DJ

[Tel]

Well there's another illusion shattered - I thought you rode one o' them buffalo around.

[drjohn]

Dec 14, 2009 8:23:52 GMT Tel said:

Well there's another illusion shattered - I thought you rode one o' them buffalo around.

I was going to Tel, but the family ate the beast before I got the harness sorted out ;D

DJ

[Tel]

They mistake it for a chook?

[drjohn]

Dec 14, 2009 9:59:32 GMT Tel said:

They mistake it for a chook?

Naw, they had half a dozen chooks for pudding to wash it down - big family !!

DJ

P.S. I jest not, and here's what sounds like a strange recipe for you furriners in the west - for turkey left-overs - chop into small pieces, mix with three times the volume of boiled macaroni plus palm fruit (caaong), condensed milk and nestle's tinned cream, raisins, diced apple, diced mango or whatever fruit you have availabe - chill and serve - absolutely delicious - we call it macaroni salad (except we don't have turkeys so we use chicken or caribou or whatever) ;D

In 2 weeks you can tell me if that's not the tastiest way to get rid of the spare Xmas turkey.

P.P.S. And Tel, if you go for crabs and lobster, you really must try Bantayan mangoes - like nothing you've tasted before!

[Tel]

So when do I expect my crate of these delicacies to arrive?

[nigelh]

Hi John - hope you're not too close to the volcano on Mayon - according to EuroNews it will erupt soon. Hope the folk living near it get away in time.
Nigel

[drjohn]

Fortunately, Nigel, we're 600 miles from Mayon so we don't even feel the tremors.

To bring the thread back on track, so to speak, almost ready for the steam-up.

The driving trolley was proving to be a problem with the fixed chassis and no suspension, so rather than fiddling about with springs, I took a different approach. The trolley was derailing itself on some of the uneven corners, so I designed a pivot arrangement whereby the front wheels could pivot to follow the unevenness of the track.



So, while I blog, sticks are being chopped to be soaked in paraffin overnight and with luck, tomorrow afternoon, after making and attaching the leg irons to the driving trolley, Simplex's first real live steam-up will take place.

Pictures will obviously follow.

DJ

[drjohn]

Well, the inaugural steam-up has been completed. A video of the one successful circumnavigation of the track can be seen at dr-john.org/movie/MVI_0840.wmv. For those of you with steam powered computers like Tel, try "right-clicking" on the link and then "save target as" before viewing - my website host is a bit old fashioned too! Excuse the quality of the video, the camera man was running around chasing the loco!

However, a puzzlement - I had the fire going for over 2 and a half hours, but couldn't get the pressure above 70PSI - no leaks.

The fire was lovely and bright, but after the session, there was virtually no ash in the ashpan or the smokebox, and when I dropped the fire I was confronted by these white stones -



This is my supposedly amazing Malaysian/Chinese anthracite which I faithfully brought here - I can only surmise that the Chinese paint slate glossy black to send to Malaysia for water treatment - no wonder the water there tastes so foul!

DJ

[lancelot]

An excellent show D J...congratulations to all concerned.
John.

[steam4ian]

G'day John

I think that is ther first time the loco has steamed with a load. Congratulations, Now on with the Black 5. You need to build a passenger truck/s.

I really enjoyed the video, particularly the kids running along side, such a happy scene. With your own railway you really do live in Paradise.

Regarding the coal. With good anthracite I would not expect much ash. Is there much if any in the smoke box? Certainly it appears to burn smoke free as anthracite should.

Regarding the "rocks" there probably is some shale mixed with the coal. Judging by the low ash residue the total ash content within the specification is made up by a few of your rocks. I recall seeing similar "rocks" in the ash of the big locos.

There may be other reasons why the pressure didn't get above 70psi. As by now you will know I am no expert but do have good power of analysis. I suggest you may have a superheater leak. If you can't get to blow off pressure with the blower only then you may have some other steam leak into the smoke box. This I DO know from experience.

Can't wait to see more.

Regards
Ian

[baggo]

Brilliant John ;D ;D Next job will be some passenger cars then ;D

John

[nigelh]

Fantastic job, John - very well done. Really enjoyed watching it - the happy followers certtainly added to a great occassion.
Bet you are really "chuffed" after all that effort!
regards
Nigel

[redpiperbob]

Absolutly great thats what this hobby is all about FUN. (After all the crying and swearing)
Congratulations John
Bob

[weldsol]

Well done that man. I do envy the speed in building your track.
Keep up the excellent work

Paul