live steam

[Anonymous]

I currently run track power and have a 1920-30 period American theme. I would love to run live steam occasionally but dont want to spend a fortune or get something so complex it takes hours to steam up . Any suggestions on a reliable simple steam that looks or can be made to look american and is likely to be available in the uk. Many thanks

[whiterab]

I run both steam and electric. As to spending hours "steaming up", by the time I get the transformer hooked up and the track cleaned I don't see that much difference in the time it takes to get an electric running over a steamer. It takes me about 15 - 20 minutes to get mine to running pressure from a cold start.

The steamers do require a lot more attention when they are running and are not something you sit back and watch.

Two problems with running mixed.

- The steamers do leave behind a little oil on the track that occaisionally has to be wiped off before running sparkies.
- Not all steamers have insulated wheels hubs. Those without insulation can't be run at the same time as an electric or you will pop the circuits on your transformer when you turn it on.

You can expect to pay about 2 to 3 times as much for an equivalently detailed steamer over a sparky but there are some nice small ones available. The Accucraft Ruby comes to mind if you don't have any big grades.

DISCLAIMER: Running steam engines can be highly addictive and can lead to starving children and disgruntled wives.

[John Busby]

Hi davenower
HEALTH WARNING
Steam Is Addictive after one use you will not want to use electrics again.

Note steam is not instant power and you will have to learn to drive the beast
once you have learned to get the best from it you will not want anything else[:D]
Acucraft Ruby with a few mods from
http://www.sm32.co.uk/
would be my sugestion, or a Roundhouse Sammy
both are inexpencive as far as steam goes.
If you are a UK resident then I would have to say the Roundhouse Sammy is the better bet.
Coming from Doncaster makes it esier to acsess Roundhouse in the event of problems.
I live in Aus and have found Roundhouse exelant to deal with and have heard others say the same thing
I am just a happy Millie owner also a Roundhouse basic locomotive but not the one suited to your requirements
Regner do what looks to be an interesting logging type loco but I don't know anything about it.

Whiterrab
I got into steam because the locos where cheaper than the
LGB ones I wanted[:D] lucky me
regards John

[Anonymous]

Many thanks for the advice so far - I need to check out new and e bay prices I think . A ccucraft and roundhouse seem to come up often for sale.

[John Busby]

Hi davenower
Before going Ebay
Make sure you are fully aware of the brand new price of the beasty, I once saw a
Millie go for the price of a more complex locomotive from the same manufacturer ie way over price of brand new.
If you dont know anything about live steam I would suggest getting someone who does to assist this is one loco purchase you don't want an mistakes
or repair issuies to deal with.
My advice is save a little longer buy Brand New then you have manufacturer after sales back up to assist if necasary.
regards John

[piercedan]

Aristocraft has a live steam engine. The Mikado comes with Radio Control, and includes whistle and bell sound coming from the tender.
Running time was over 30 minutes.

[John Busby]

QUOTE: Originally posted by piercedan

Aristocraft has a live steam engine. The Mikado comes with Radio Control, and includes whistle and bell sound coming from the tender.
Running time was over 30 minutes.

Hi piercedan
RC not one of my favorites when it comes to the simple which the thread starter specified.
Ruby or Sammie will make it round LGB R1 a good thing since we don't know what track radius is involved.
What radius does the mike need to be able to run and the aristocraft certainly is not a simple engine nice but not a simple one and pretty pretty expencive.
regards John

[Anonymous]

radius on mine is sadly 4 ft ish as my track is limited to a long run down one side of the garden -constraints of large dog and small child. it is however level with only a passing bay. i was thinking of something that will run at a set and low speed without radio control .thanks to all for the advice and i will definately try to chat to someone running a live steamer.

[FJ and G]

how bout live steam for O gauge for less than $200? or at least for Ruby price.

[John Busby]

Hi davenower
4'
If that is the case you are pretty much restricted to sammie or Ruby
or other 040 type, even then you will have to make sure it isn't a
minimum larger Radius requirement for curves.
There is not a lot around that will make it round the train set curves
I know I have the same problem the locos I like I cannot have.
most steamers can be set at low speed and left to run but you cannot leave it
you will have to make adjustments from time to time in other words you have to drive it.
regards John

[John Busby]

Hi FG&J
There are plenty of "O" gauge live steamers about
The problem is they are not "O" scale but a larger scale
The only "O" scale and semi scale at that are as far as I am aware
made by Aster or are so old as to be collectors Items that should have a thorough safety check before use.
You will not get a good loco at your $200 wish.
It might be worth doing a bit of net surfing because I would love to be proved wrong even if "O" is not my thing nothing beats the smell of warm steam oil as it wafts over the garden mixed with the perfune of the flowers.
Well there is one thing but I cannot afford coal fired
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi davenower
i run a ruby + track power trains(not at the same time as it is not insulated)the oil doesnt cause problems+ruby is a good fun starter loco.i r/c'd mine as it goes like a scalded cat on any slight gradient it was very simple to do.they are right steam is adictive but i wouldn't give up track power as it is quicker to set up
p.s.if you want something slow+us style try an accucraft shay i've heard they're good

[FJ and G]

John,

I'd settle for an O gauge live steamer then and run it at a separate operating session from the O scale stuff. Heck, I'd even be willing to scratchbuild larger scale rolling stock. I just don't have a heap of money lying about.

[John Busby]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

John,

I'd settle for an O gauge live steamer then and run it at a separate operating session from the O scale stuff. Heck, I'd even be willing to scratchbuild larger scale rolling stock. I just don't have a heap of money lying about.

Hi FG& J
Well in that case look at the Acucraft UK outline locos particularly the ones that specifie dual gauge they can be 32 at home and if you visit a 45mm gauge friend take it and the gauge and key that comes with it and run it at your friends.
You might have excuse to build 16mm scale maine two footers after all[:D]
I spoke to a friend tonight our time he tells me Basset Lowke still do a I think he said it was a 260 tender loco in "O" scale live steam.
Its likely to be a little smaller than your stock but being a UK loco it should be I don't know about price.
I still recon to do a net surf and see what turns up.
The reason I mention the Maine two footers they are the only US narrow gauge I know
existed truth be known I would not mind some more info on them myself
They would also be the right scale and gauge for the Acucraft UK outline loco
its not as oddball train as you might think at first.
steamers are not cheap but it is an achievable goal it must be I got a couple
only waited a long time
and I don't have what could be called a high paying job.
Its with the railways here so I have no intentions of changing it[:D]
regards John

[FJ and G]

John,

Thanks. I'd like for the price to be under $200.

The other possible limiting thing is that I'm running Lionel toy trains outside which have extra wide tires on the wheels, about 3 times scale. And my track may not be perfect enough if the wheel surface area is thin.

Here's a photo so you can see the wheel and get an idea...

[cabbage]

As a member of the cheapskate garden railway club...

Could I suggest a Mamod / MSS kit? that is how I built mine and it still runs -if somewhat suicidally!!! The wagons it pulls are from HLW plastic kits -the wheels have been narrowed from 45mm to 32mm with the aid of a kitchen knife, (I kid you not).

regards

ralph

[John Busby]

Hi FG&J
As long as it is coarse "O" you wil be fine thats the 16mm wheel and track standard.
Mamods Hmm they went down hill badly you need a lot of mods and replacements for the orriginal parts which are avalable to tame them
Don't Know anything about the new MSS locomotives they are not expencive haven't seen anything from anyone who has one.
Hope they got rid of the rocket like tendancies in the new one
But would sugest geting the gas burner mod and looking at other mods avalable if it needs taming
regards John

[ghmiller]

One thing to keep in mind, a steam engine will really respond to grades. It will really speed up going down a 2% grade and really slow up going up a grade. I have radio controlled almost all of my steam engines except for the geared ones which are a Shay, Climax, and a home built geared one. That said I have been able to set my Millie so it will make it up the grades and down slow enough to stay on the track without using the radio. Live steam is a lot more fun to run.
Geran

[Takasaki Matt]

Just as soon as I can find a mamod on Ebay for about $100-$175 I'll move into steam.  Of course, if I win some on the lottery I'd love a Roundhouse Millie / Bertie / Katie / Billy or an Accucraft Edrig!

One day...

Until then I'm running on batteries and so are my locos.

[hotcoals]

Hi Guys

 I run 0 Gauge Love steam and stud Electrics together and have had no problems over the past lifetime  since i started in 1949, present layout is in the garden and has some hefty grades, these restrict train lengths unfortuantly to around 4-5 coaches in steam and with electrics 8 coaches is the max for single loco then its double heading  steam or electric.    or maybe tripel heading on wet tracks.  we then have problems with train length at the termini stations.   lot of work for station pilot.     i live in the uk.  run both uk prototype 12-20v dc, or US  20v ac, however not together.  plus STEAM !!!

good running    Brian

[climaxpwr]

what to get depends on what theme you want, american narrow gauge, UK narrow gauge, logging ect.  For the money you really cannot go wrong with Roundhouse.  They tend to run perfectly out  of the box, more so for the classic series, ie Lady Anne, Billy, Katie ect.  The basic series doesnt get the break in time that the classic series gets.  The basic series also has slip eccentric valve motion, if you want to go radio control or more of a hands off approach, the classic series would be better, also Roundhouse uses D valve cylinders which wear in rather than wear out. The Accucraft steamers use fixed valve gear and piston valve cylinders, with a reversing block, rather than proper valve gear and slide valves ( D valves). That is all done to keep the costs down and make the locos more affordable.  I myself prefer a good old fashoned British built live steamer over one made in china.  Just a personal choise, Accucraft has brough live steam to the masses, for better or worse.  As with any new company there has been teething problems, but from what I have heard the customer service, atleast on the USA side is excellent.   If you are near the Roundhouse works, drop in to thier show room and put your hands on one of thier excellent locos.   Welcome to the world of live steam.    Mike