Large Scale Central

Lady Anne (Oliver) finished up and test steamed

Electronics Live Steam
#1

After the post man dropped off a large package from The Train Dept containing my boiler and body kit, I set about finishing my Lady Anne project. After my evening class, I formed and soldered up the body and put it into the dishwasher before bed time so it would be clean and ready for painting in the morning. Next day I went and got an etch primer and high temp gloss black spray cans at the local Rural King store. You can see the results in tne 2 photo onward. The first photo is actualy a video, click on it to link to the actual video. This was the first test run on steam. I am now looking for help to tap into the steam line, prior to the throttle, so I can hook up my Regner whistle along with suggestions on getting a wire up to the front lantern to light it up. I plan to use the engine itself for ground, so only one wire needs to get up there. She runs excellent, even being still a bit stiff and needing run in. I decided to name him Oliver, as I felt the name suited the engine best. I have a request into Roundhouse for builders plates like is installed on thier RTR engines. Enjoy the pictures and video. Cheers Mike

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cadetpwr/media/livesteam023_zpsf96cb734.mp4.html

#2

The link before the first picture is for the video. Mike

#3

Wow Mike, you just dont sleep…

Just in case you are looking for Oliver name plates, I have someone that can make them for ya. Ive used them in the past for other plates.

#4

Well, no job, no daytime classes and crappy weather means I have lots of time to do stuff. When I am not filling out job apps or at class, then I can build steam engines. I did take it back appart as the boiler sleeve had lost some of its color, I am assuming from the boiler heat and the paint job being cured yet. The body, which sat for another day before it saw the heat, has retained its color thru 2 full boiler steamings. Mike

#5

On a side note, I think my buddy Steve is thinking about ordering a Fowler soon, He has been really looking hard at videos of a blue one and a dark maroon one that runs on the Elmtree Line on youtube. Mike

#6

The end of this month sees the second-largest, some say THE largest garden railway show in the UK just up the road from us here - maybe 15 minutes drive.

The UK 16mm Association promises that it will be HUGE, with almost a hundred vendors, many layouts and two full-sized NG locos, ‘Mountaineer’ and ‘Chaloner’, in attendance.

Sooooooooooooo, if any of you want to see the NEW [secret] Roundhouse loco, or any bits and pieces, of a size that I can easily bring with me when we are over in Vancouver/Seattle/Oregon next month, please ask.

Mike - there are whale of bits for ‘Lady Anne’ although I’m sure Jason probably has them. Cylinder covers and extra wiggly bits for the valve gear, as well as proper bolts to replace the notorious RH slotted head screws on the pilot beam…

tac

#7

Tac I have the nicer crosshead/combination lever set on the engine. I do want the safety valve bonnet cover and cylinder covers. Jay doesnt stock them but I am sure he can get them on the next order if I wanted to. The item I cannot find state side are nice name plates for my engine. I plan to name him Oliver. The other item I need is an inline “T” between the throttle valve and the steam turret or split off the pressure gauge line so I can put my Regner whistle on the engine. If RH has deals on those parts Tac, along with the RC fittings set for the Lady Anne, you might grab them and bring them state side when you travel. Might save me a bit on shipping costs. Cheers Mike

#8

Mike, I do stock most of the accessories from Roundhouse. I have so much that I need to get online still. If you saw what’s on my tables at a show you would be amazed.

Cylinder covers, bonnet, lamps, buffer overlays, just some of the parts. I have been working on my track lately and been tied up with some regular work so that takes time away from the website as the time I have is being used up for emails, invoices, packing, shipping and other paperwork for both my business’s.

#9

I guess being busy is a good thing though eh? I need to restock my bank account first, but the safety valve bonnet, cylinder covers are among the items on my want list. I assume RH offers a water top up set up for this engine, where does it tie into the boiler. Trying to figure out how and where to hook up the whistle. An inline “T” just before the pressure gauge would work but have no idea where to get one. Mike

#10

Like many other locomotives, RH, Accucraft and so on, the ‘water top-up’ device is a simple Goodall valve that replaces the the boiler filler plug. Take out one and insert the other, and then use a spray bottle to top it up during the run. I use one made here by Jackson that pumps three times more per squirt than a regular bottle - Sulphur Springs used to sell them in the old days…

You’d need to check the web to see where a whistle goes, and whose you want to fit. Regenr make one, as does David Bailey, or whatever they are called now, and of course, where YOU are, there’s Bob Hytek. If you watch any of Tom Ruby’s locos in action, you’ll see that he has spiffy pop safety valves that sound like a farting bee - these are great replacements for the rather toy-like items that are OE on all garden railway models these days. Bob Saunders of WeeBee makes those.

tac, ig & The Unwanted Assistance Boys - proudly members of the OVGRS

#11

I know Mr Sanders, he is in our live steam group that runs at shows. I already have a Regner Peep Peep whistle kit, just need help tapping into a steam line to put the Regner whistle valve in. The RH safety lifts pretty good, no real dribbling like some safeties these days. I figured the water top up replaced the fill plug under the brass steam dome. Need to get one of those so I can keep her in steam longer. Mike

#12

Best I ever got with my old Lady Anne was 45 minutes, without adding fuel or water.  I had the fire down as low as I could get it, and the throttle just cracked.  There was a very slight rise in the track elevation.  When I approached that spot, she would stop, build up enough stream to go, and then just start walking.

#13

Thats a pretty good run for a single fill. What did you use for underlayment on your track Tom? Looks like treated plywood. My buddy is figuring out what he wants to do for his ground level line in his front garden. Its nothing but mud right now, landscaper wants us to get the main line done soon. Mike

#14

Mike,

That monster run was on a raised layout, at the Cincinnati Garden Railroad Convention, about ten years ago. The picture was taken just coming out of the tunnel at the Pennsylvania Live Steamers track.

#15

I just liked the roadbed underlayment in the picture. Mike

#16

Mike, the goodalls for the Roundhouse replace the filler under the dome on the Lady Anne. I will have these shortly in stock. Also the smaller Billy style fillers I will have too.

Mike on the Lady Anne, Is there more room on the top of the turret that the throttle is attached to? Im thinking of adding a extra output for the whistle valve.

#17

The safety valve sits on top of the turret on the Lady Anne. there is a little room to move the throttle rearwards is a small “T” fitting could be placed inbetween the throttle valve and the turret. Other option would be a T fitting to branch off the pressure valve line. Only other place would be to drill and silver solder a new threaded bung into the top of the boiler body at the rear. The pressure line comes out at this location on the left side, so a tap could be put on the right side. Then the regner valve mounted to such. Kind of crowded in there. If you need better pictures of the cab, let me know Jay. Mike