New photo gallery and photos

[Harlock]

I created a new photo gallery that anyone can use if they wish, stimulated by Gordon's need for a place to put his photos.

I have uploaded 192 of my photos so far, from Golden Gate Live Steamers, Bitter Creek Western and the Swanton Pacific pictures I posted here earlier. Lots and lots of interesting stuff and inspiration.

I did not use the Yahoo group because it is inappropriate for managing such a large number of images, and with this gallery you don't need to log in or join to view the images.

Gordon will likely be uploading his images shortly, in the mean time mine are located at www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=23

The gallery will be re-located to my primary domain at some point, but I will put a forwarder so the old URL still works.

If anyone else would like to put their images up there, let me know and I'll create an account for you. This is not intended to replace all of the effort that has gone into the Yahoo group, just another option to have.

Cheers,

--Mike

[gordonfrench]

Thank you, Mike,

For starters I've put up picture of the Hunt Family Locomotive. There is an interesting story that goes with the picture. Dave Hunt bought the locomotive and knew that if something happened to him, the thing would sit on s shelf someplace, or under a tarp out of sight and mind. So when he died, he made arrangements for a GGLS member named Larry Anderson to get the locomotive out twice a year and steam it up at the GGLS site for the Hunt family to play with under Larry's supervision. What a great idea that was. Larry Anderson is a Rolls Royce/exotic car mechanic who has a small shop in Berkeley not far from the track and is knowledgeable and thorough. The picture that I've uploaded shows the Hunt's oldest boy and his son. (Dave's son and grandson) happily going around and around. The picture should be tittled "any kid can do it!"

www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/

Gordon

[gordonfrench]

The next picture is of me and "Elsie" She is an 0-4-0 almost identical in size and weight to Kozo's A3 in 3/4. She has Baker valve gear and is a tank locomotive, so no tender is required.

You will note that she is coal fired. The method I use is to apply air to create a vacuum in the smoke box and put the coal in the firebox and stuff a propane torch up the grate. Doesn't look nice, but works wonderfully. The riding car is a little unusual in that each wheel has it's own bearing so that there is virtually no friction going through turns. It is padded which helps.

I'll say more on this later, but coal firing requires that the fire have some thickness. It must be virtually incandescent on the grate and mus be only thick enough to draw air up through the fire easily. Believe me it takes some practice to do that right! Too much and the fire becomes choked and won't burn. The temptation is to put more on, but you will learn not to. Don't take the propane torch an poke it in above the fire. I can't really tell you why that doesn't work; it just doesn't Start with a few coals and lots of propane on the grate and work more coal on gradually. Practice will tell you what to do. I'd say that most folks put a way too much coal on; then say that something is wrong with the design of the boiler.

Gordon

[Harlock]

Love the little pacific. Just like the larger ones at BCWRR.

Gordon, can you do me a favor at some point and help me identify some key folks in my GGLS gallery at www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=27?

Trying to remember the name of the guy with the long hair who has the 4-4-0 with the antlers. I ran into him at BCWRR too. Would also like to know who owns the beautiful oversized lionel lines and the similarly polished American which I couldn't help taking a zillion photos of.

I've only dropped by GGLS the one time and didn't talk to a lot of people at that point, was just observing. I did send in a 'long distance' member application yesterday. (I'm 370 miles from there but make it up to the Bay Area about once a month.)

I'd like to add some labels to the GGLS images as I have done for the BCWRR ones.

-M

[Harlock]

Thanks for the coal firing tips, BTW., and Elsie is a cute one, all nice and compact. I have driven a full sized hunslet quarry locomotive that had it's original coal firebox and original boiler. Due to physics of scale it was a bit easier to fire, but I was mostly doing yard shunting with that one so it didn't need fuel very often.

The only scale loco I've driven so far is propane fired (the "Pleasant Valley" 3 3/4" gauge loco in the BCWRR photos) and it was very fun driving something you sit IN but still have a view over the top. Looking forward to getting some experience on smaller locos before the A3 is done.

--M

[phutcheson]

Ok guys ... you two are having way too much fun .

Mike ... it's great that you are providing space for others ... outstanding in fact.

Gordon ... thanks for sharing and hope to see lots more!

Pat H

[gordonfrench]

The third picture is Elsie at the water tower.

www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/

If you look closely, you will see that she is blowing off. That is a sign of a good hot fire.

Water management should get your undivided attention! Even real men get thrilled to see the water disappear down the glass. One thing that will put you out of action is for just one of the two or three means to get water in the boiler starts to fail. Pack up. Go home. Fix it and come back.

Firing gets water hot and when the safety lifts, get on board and go. If you are chuffing the fire up and the safety still is blowing, add water. Close the bypass or pump more in. The cold water will calm the safety. If you are running for instance down hill and the safety lifts, open the fire hole door and let is stand ajar.

This is easy to talk about, but surrounded by children asking how fast it will go and adults asking where you bought it, and your sweetheart asking if you can quit now, firing and driving can get really exiting!

In this picture you can see the little saddle tank more clearly. It holds EXACTLY enough to get around the 1,100 foot track at GGLS.

I told you before that this would be about OPERATING 3.5 inch gauge locomotives.

Gordon

[Harlock]

Interesting re: the capacity being enough for just one lap. I wonder how the A3's tender compares. The A3 has a hand pump and a axle driven feedwater pump. One of the mods I was thinking of doing later is a working scale westinghouse steam water pump.

There is an example of a working 1" scale pump here: www.locoparts.net/newpump2.htm

So the technology may be able to scale down to 3/4".

I'm very fond of westinghouse pumps, not only for their practical qualities but because they give the locomotive more character, especially when idling.

Has anyone ever made a working venturi steam injector in 3/4" scale?

[patyoung]

Hello Mike,

The GGLS member that has the antler locomotive is Dave August who manages the
GGLS web site. The owner of the Lionel 2-6-0 mogul is Bill Smith who I understand
was built by his father. The chrome 4-4-0 American locomotive is being driven by
Jeff Smith, nephew of Bill Smith. I'm believe it was also built by Bill's father.

Hope this helps,

Pat Y.

[Harlock]

I remember being told the story about the father building the locos. Thanks. and now I know Dave's name next time I see him.

[gordonfrench]

The fourth picture is of me and Maisie. This shows the arrangement of the propane car behind the riding car. The riding car is long enough for two riders, and the tank car has a knuckle coupler for connecting to the GGLS 4.75 riding cars. The gas is piped out to a regulator that drops the pressure to less than 7 PSI and the gas is led by propane hose to a ball shut off valve located right at the riding car brake lever. The necessary connections are by 250 PSI propane quick connect fittings. The pressure supplies 6 solarflo barber jet burners in the firebox. I have fitted a stainless steel arch to keep the flames from direct blast on the tube ends. The gas pressure has been adjusted to keeping the fire just below the blow off boiler pressure. If I plan on a heavier load, I can adjust the pressure up.

Gordon

[siggy]

Hey Gordon - I don't see a 4th picture. Maybe something went wrong with posting it to the server?

Keep 'em coming - I love to see pics of other's engines.

Do you ever make it to Portland and the GEARS show? I'd sure love to see you exhibit some of your engines at this year's show!

Robert

[Harlock]

Yep, I don't see it...try upping it again Gordon.

--Mike

[gordonfrench]

Well,I finally did get the fool thing uploaded. It was too big!

I have tried to get to GEARS in Portland the last two years, but I never seem to have enough money anymore to buy the gas and the room and the meals. I have an offer to take one of them up, and I may do that. My little Tich was displayed in the next to the last PRIME show.

Speaking of Tich. I have a picture of her taken with me aboard sticking my tongue out. The reason why is that one of my mentors said to me that I would never have the stick-to-it to finish Tich. Well that made me mad and just to spite him I finished it and ran the daylights out of her. So I had my son take a picture of me on her sticking my tongue out at him in taunt. Unfortunately she was not in steam at the time and was not doing what she does so well and that is to pull me along quite nicely.

Incidentally, I read messages on the English boards where it is being said Rob Roy is too small to pull more than one person. Do you know why? It takes time to learn how to fire and drive and I think that most constructors don't take the time to learn.

Okay, now that I've told you about the tongue out picture, I guess I better post it.

www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/

Gordon

[gordonfrench]

I admit that I don't remember where I got the kid's picture. (Image with the kid straddle)

www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/

but, you gotta know he's having fun. And it IS, for those of you who have never tried it. It puzzles me how folks can spend thousands of $'s for big garden railway live steam locomotives when for just about the same money you can ride! What a difference! (Please, I don't mean to offend any Garden Railway folks, I'm just expressing an opinion)

Gordon