Isaac Dixon

[spikey faz]

I'm starting to add some of the smaller parts, which indicates to me that the end is in sight.


One thing I'm not sure about is whether the regulator should be upright...


...or at an angle. What do you think?


Thanks
Mike

 

[Osgood]

Angle looks so much more interesting and balanced - and I think there is precedent for it too (but can't think where to look for evidence)?

 

[RichardG]

Another vote for the angle.

I do wonder if the regulator was turned from side to side in the conventional way. It would be difficult to control it with a fore/aft movement during shunting. Though the modelling is beautiful!

 

[spikey faz]

Another vote for the angle.

I do wonder if the regulator was turned from side to side in the conventional way. It would be difficult to control it with a fore/aft movement during shunting. Though the modelling is beautiful!

Yes, I agree. However, my interpretation of the pictures indicates the push/pull variety, so I thought 'let's go for that'. And, I also agree: angled!

Thank you for your compliment.

Mike

 

[Osgood]

I think most if not all traction engines had pull-push regulator levers (but not through the boiler backhead, instead a long rod into the cylinder block).
Probably best not to peer too far down this rabbit hole - an 1875 Baldwin loco INYO for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad (and no, I have no idea what's going on here....):

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

The Stirling's and their successors used a pull out regulator positioned horizontally but with an extended lever right across the boiler so it could be used from either side. Useful on a shunting pug! See this drawing of a Hugh Smellie 2-4-0.

 

[spikey faz]

Thanks for the additional info/pics. Think I'll need to add a bit more detail my 7mm version of the regulator.

Mike

 

[spikey faz]

Finished off the regulator.


Although I was able to source and modify some LG Miniatures parts for the reverser and regulator, I had no such luck when it came to making the safety valve. On the face of it there's quite a bit to it, but break it down and it's not too difficult. Just time consuming. My first effort ended up in the bin! Anyway, here goes.


This fret is a really useful resource for modifying and making the little brackets.


Mike

 

[Crimson Rambler]

@spikey faz - Talyllyn Nos 1 & 2 which are both 1865 vintage have fore and aft acting regulators. The handle is inclined upwards to the right (they are right hand drive) approx 20 or 30 degress (from memory). As an arrangement it worked fine, even for shunting, but you had to be patient - after opening it a 'tap', allow time for the steam pressure to build up and then the engine would move.


Crimson Rambler

 

[spikey faz]

I'm hoping to tap into the collective knowledge that abounds on this forum.

I'm trying to figure out the position of what I assume is the blower pipe.
As ever the plan I'm working from is wonderfully vague, so I've mocked up a couple of versions in the following pictures.
Please feel free to agree/disagree with my take on this. I won't be offended!


Cheers!

Mike

 

[PhilH]

More likely to be in a gentle curve rather than a sharp 'S' bend - on the left hand side of the tank filler if the drawing is anything to go by.
There appears to be a valve just in front of the tank, with some kind of bracket (?) fixing it and the pipe to the tank. Maybe its the on/off valve, unusual, but the blower is normally used only when the loco is standing. If so there would be no need for a valve at the footplate end, just a direct connection to the boiler.

 

[James Spooner]

I scrolled back but obviously not far enough to see the drawings. I think it is unlikely they would have run the pipe work across the top of the tank where any clumsy fireman could accidentally kick it out of place or tread on it. Also, I should have thought it was unlikely the pipe would feed into the chimney. Normally blowers are a ring with several holes fitted on top of the blast pipe and so feed into the smoke box rather than the chimney.

Given both of the above points, a sensible run for the blower pipe would be from the firebox turret and either below the tank or squeezed between the boiler and the tank (as the Victorians were very prudish and liked to hide things as much as possible!), coming out at the front end and into the smoke box. Definitely a valve in the cab as the blower is an essential tool for the fireman, not just stationary, but if the driver has to quickly shut off steam it can prevent a blow back.

Not sure that helps much and if not, sorry!

Nigel

 

[Andrew Young]

@spikey faz - Talyllyn Nos 1 & 2 which are both 1865 vintage have fore and aft acting regulators. The handle is inclined upwards to the right (they are right hand drive) approx 20 or 30 degress (from memory). As an arrangement it worked fine, even for shunting, but you had to be patient - after opening it a 'tap', allow time for the steam pressure to build up and then the engine would move.


Crimson Rambler

Excellent work @spikey faz your patience and perseverance is most impressive!

Regarding the regulator, as @Crimson Rambler has already used the Talyllyn example, if you incline the regulator to one side it makes the regulator easier to get at whilst also seeing where the driver is going rather than just seeing the backhead in front of you!

This is a photo of TR No 2’s as an example:

https://flic.kr/p/yCRpb7

Personally, prefer No 2’s to No 1’s, it tends to need less force to use. But once you get used to them you can get some fine adjustment out of them.

Andrew

 

[simond]

I scrolled back but obviously not far enough to see the drawings. I think it is unlikely they would have run the pipe work across the top of the tank where any clumsy fireman could accidentally kick it out of place or tread on it. Also, I should have thought it was unlikely the pipe would feed into the chimney. Normally blowers are a ring with several holes fitted on top of the blast pipe and so feed into the smoke box rather than the chimney.

Given both of the above points, a sensible run for the blower pipe would be from the firebox turret and either below the tank or squeezed between the boiler and the tank (as the Victorians were very prudish and liked to hide things as much as possible!), coming out at the front end and into the smoke box. Definitely a valve in the cab as the blower is an essential tool for the fireman, not just stationary, but if the driver has to quickly shut off steam it can prevent a blow back.

Not sure that helps much and if not, sorry!

Nigel

I think I’m right in saying that some traction engines or road rollers have the blower nozzle mounted in the chimney, rather than around the blastpipe. I’d have to go & look for pictures.

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

I think I’m right in saying that some traction engines or road rollers have the blower nozzle mounted in the chimney, rather than around the blastpipe. I’d have to go & look for pictures.

That is correct! Just a bit of pipe straight from the bottom of the cylinder block into the base of the chimney with a simple valve on the pipe, no control from the footplate. Nothing complicated in the chimney, just a single nozzle pointing up. The tall chimney on traction engines is good for natural draught through the fire.

 

[spikey faz]

I scrolled back but obviously not far enough to see the drawings. I think it is unlikely they would have run the pipe work across the top of the tank where any clumsy fireman could accidentally kick it out of place or tread on it. Also, I should have thought it was unlikely the pipe would feed into the chimney. Normally blowers are a ring with several holes fitted on top of the blast pipe and so feed into the smoke box rather than the chimney.

Given both of the above points, a sensible run for the blower pipe would be from the firebox turret and either below the tank or squeezed between the boiler and the tank (as the Victorians were very prudish and liked to hide things as much as possible!), coming out at the front end and into the smoke box. Definitely a valve in the cab as the blower is an essential tool for the fireman, not just stationary, but if the driver has to quickly shut off steam it can prevent a blow back.

Not sure that helps much and if not, sorry!

Nigel

Thanks Nigel

I tend to agree. The pipe running over the top of the tank is clumsy.

Mike

 

[PhilH]

So, if the pipe running over the tank and possibly (?) into the chimney is not the blower pipe - what is it ?
Don't forget this is not "normal" or "sensible", its make do and mend I.W.Boulton !

 

[spikey faz]

So, if the pipe running over the tank and possibly (?) into the chimney is not the blower pipe - what is it ?
Don't forget this is not "normal" or "sensible", its make do and mend I.W.Boulton !

I wish I knew!

On the one hand I could play it safe and just run a small pipe into the side of the smokebox, with a control handle in the cab. Or, I could just run the pipe as I've mocked up.

The way the pipe is drawn it appears to run over the top of the tank and to the left of what I assume is the water filler. It then crosses back over to the right hand side of the cab. Very strange. Very Boulton!

Mike

 

[spikey faz]

I think I'll go with this:


By the way, the close-up of the chimney makes it look horrendous! But I can assure you it is relatively smooth.

Mike

 

[spikey faz]

Getting closer to finishing off the pipework. Need to fit a whistle next.



Mike