A Project Without End

[carrdo]

Hi All,

Remember that what I am about to describe is just for ONE operation on this never ending project.

I will let the photos speak for themselves.

to be continued.

 

[carrdo]

Hi All,

I am hoping against hope that one day, if I live long enough, that the locomotive will look like this but I am still a long, long, long way from that.

to be continued.

 

[Mike R]

Looking good, soooo familiar with never ending projects. I keep adding more of them too! 5" gauge?

 

[carrdo]

Hi Mike,

It is 3/4" scale and 3.5" gauge. Much like the Martin Evans Columbia.

 

[djberta]

Cardio unreal work, these live steam trains are a huge commitment.

 

[carrdo]

Hi All,

25+ years of work on and off to date.

I did not make the boiler - it was custom made by one of the best boilermakers in the US. It is all steel welded with rolled in copper tubes.

All of the bits and pieces for the boiler mounting/clamping system had to be invented /made as the boiler was too wide to clamp the boiler directly to the mill's table tee slots.

 

[carrdo]

Hi All,

Boiler alignment which was critical for the one operation.

 

[carrdo]

Hi All,

Finally, the actual machining operation. One has to centre the boring head/boring bar and this was done by moving the knee cross slide and the knee height micrometer dials while employing cigarette paper and sweeping the inner circumference with the tip of the boring bar.

The smokebox connecting ring needs to be a very close fit to eliminate any and all outside air leaks as in operation the smokebox has to be under a slight negative pressure and maintained that way to aid in drawing the combustion gases through the boiler tubes. One also needs to apply an anti seize compound to the ring as with such a tight fit, the heating and cooling of the boiler will result in the ring becoming welded in so if ever disassembly is required in the future...

 

[Ishmael]

I really like this. I'm working on refurbishing a Baldwin-style 3.5" gauge locomotive built in around 1900 so I can appreciate the work involved here.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

Nice job on the machining. Looks like it stretched your work envelope, but you managed it well, with good creative work holding. Looking forward to seeing this progress. I have an arms length interest in live steam. Meaning that I love seeing others projects and threads on the internet, or in person, but have zero interest in getting involved personally. Too many other interests, and not enough time in a lifetime.