I’ve been tinkering with the Ruby I got at the ECLSTS and it’s now running reasonably well on my layout–which is poorly setup for live steam, is there are several gnarly grades Here she is struggling up the hill with a small train of cars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xuMJLYUWK8 Also added a few details
Slowing down on the up grade is OK, so long as you have a way to compensate going down grade. My Shay, which is supposed to be ideal on grades slows too, the first time up the hill. The second time she will slip as the rails are wet and oily from the first pass. I’m trying to figure out how to get past that - R/C sander ???
I guess I could build track wiper cr and put it in the consist behind the engine :o
Good picture ! And where did you get those details? I was looking for similar for my Shay but had no luck. They are brass, yes?
John
Yes, those are brass from trackside details. Really nicely made stuff. I picked them up at the ECLSTS. Trackside details has a terrible website but Warrior Run Locomotive works has then very nicely organized at:
http://www.warriorrunlocoworks.com/trackside.php
I assumed they had to be brass because white metal would melt
The nice thng is I had it running at reasonable sppeds on the slight downgrade and stll making it up the steeper grades. Once I get RC installed…
Thanks Mike - I poked around Clem’s booth for half an hour and never saw any of that stuff - Oh well. Next time.
Mike,
You’ve got it looking good. Enjoy. 
Mike,
Nice GRR.
The Ruby looks good.
Now you’ll need a bigger one
Ralph
I saw Royce of Quisenbery station today and bought a goodall valve. He’s got a very good price on the AML 0-6-0 switcher…
Mike, good to see your Ruby running well. On a layout like yours, you need R/C to control a live steamer. This would allow you to save steam when going downhill and open the throttle more when climbing a slope. Have fun with the Ruby! Best wishes from Tokyo, Zubi
I just got the R/C installed and did some tests runs–fantastic! It ran really well on every part of our layout, including grades I thought it would never make. Ran like a top, and I could control speed almost entirely with the Johnson bar. Really neat.
Congtaulations Mike.
Now you will have an R/C with fantastic range that will be able to control a battery R/C loco.
mike omalley said:Mike, good to hear that! Ruby uses a reversing block which also also acts as a valve. This is why in principle you can control these engines with one servo only. But using another servo on the regulator helps to limit the max steam volume. The choice between one or two servo operation in the case of reversing block engines is just a matter of personal preference and sensitivity of the system (valves, servo's etc) Things are different on engines with full valve gear and somewhat different on the simplified valve gear loco's. Loads of fun with steaming;-)! Best wishes, Zubi
I just got the R/C installed and did some tests runs--fantastic! It ran really well on every part of our layout, including grades I thought it would never make. Ran like a top, and I could control speed almost entirely with the Johnson bar. Really neat.
Mike,
I’d enjoy seeing a video of the engine under r/c compared to your first video. Only if the fancy strikes you and you have time.
I’ll try to do that tomorrow–my wife an daughter were away visiting her sister and took all the cameras. They come back tonight.
Zubi -
When I put R/C in my Shay I elected to go with one servo only. If I were to upgrade to two, what operational difference should I expect?
Jon I’m such a novice my response hardly counts, but I’d say the only advantage is more subtle speed control. If I set the throttle to full and use the johnson bar, it’s effective but a little crude. If I mess around with the two at the same time, I seem to get more realistic operations–smoother, less jerky and it’s easier to maintain a constant speed. I imagine with a Shay it’d be less of an issue, because of the gearing