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How to build a steam engine 1:1

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  • From: Southwest US
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Friday, December 11, 2015 7:01 PM

G Paine

Interesting setup on the cylinders. Two on each outside the frames and two more sets between the frames driving a crank on the axle.

Actually a cylinder and a valve chamber on each side, cast together.  She's a four cylinder compound, HP cylinders inboard, LP cylinders outboard.  Common east of the Atlantic, totally unknown in North America.

IIRC, the first hard hats were home-brewed by the folks building the Boulder (then, Hoover now) Dam.  Take two baseball caps and some asphalt...  That was just about the time the film was being made.

The Hoover Dam builders needed hard hats.  Imagine being hit by a one inch diameter pebble that's just fallen 750 feet or so...  Of course, they didn't help much for large chunks, or falling bodies.  The high-scalers earned their extra pay.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by G Paine on Friday, December 11, 2015 4:19 PM

Interesting setup on the cylinders. Two on each outside the frames and two more sets between the frames driving a crank on the axle.

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, December 11, 2015 1:00 PM

Rich:

Yes, I did feel like a dummy! Not to worry, maxman saved my butt.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, December 11, 2015 6:03 AM

hon30critter

Sorry folks. I was trying to post a video of a steam engine being built in the 1930s but I lost the link and I can't find it.Dunce

Dave, you are beginning to give us cause to worry about you. Huh?

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, December 11, 2015 5:59 AM

Sheldon:

I had to wear a respirator for several hours a few years ago while we were cleaning the bat poop out of our cottage attic. It was horrible. I could hardly breath. I can't imagine having to wear one for a living.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Water Level Route on Friday, December 11, 2015 5:57 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
All the safety gear in the world will never replace common sense

  True, but remember that part of the reason we have all this stuff is because too many people choose not to use common sense.  And, unexpected things can and do happen.

Mike

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  • From: Maryland
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Friday, December 11, 2015 5:50 AM

hon30critter

Heck Southgate, they were just using rags to handle white hot rods and castings and that was peanuts compared to the real risks. How about the insulating panels that went into the boiler walls. Do you think just maybe that there was a bit of asbestos in there!? How about the guys who were cleaning the sand off of the castings? No breathing masks. Little did they know, but while you are enjoying the nostalgic scenes, remember that many of those men died early deaths.

Dave

 

Yes, the hazards of breathing the air where way higher than the physical hazards that a hard hat or goggles would protect you from.........try wearing a resporator with goggles and a hard hat.........I'll take a full face resporator and skip the hard hat.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Friday, December 11, 2015 5:45 AM

Southgate

Wow. No safety goggles or hardhats!

 

Having worked in industrial invironments a good portion of my life, I can tell you that in many cases, too much "safety" gear makes work more dangerous, not safer.

Sure, safety goggles are important at times, but try wearing them with a hard hat and actually doing any "work".

All the safety gear in the world will never replace common sense.........

Sheldon

    

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, December 11, 2015 5:02 AM

Heck Southgate, they were just using rags to handle white hot rods and castings and that was peanuts compared to the real risks. How about the insulating panels that went into the boiler walls. Do you think just maybe that there was a bit of asbestos in there!? How about the guys who were cleaning the sand off of the castings? No breathing masks. Little did they know, but while you are enjoying the nostalgic scenes, remember that many of those men died early deaths.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Southgate on Friday, December 11, 2015 4:02 AM

Wow. No safety goggles or hardhats!

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, December 11, 2015 12:14 AM

maxman!

That's the one!

Thanks

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, December 11, 2015 12:12 AM

I came across that film about six months ago. Very informative and enlightening!

I love the scene in the forge where the men are counterbalancing the boiler throat plate in the furnace at 5:18 .

Can you imagine the job description!

Dead weight wanted. Nice sit-down position. Toasty work environment. Room for advancement.

Ed

 

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Posted by maxman on Thursday, December 10, 2015 11:52 PM
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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How to build a steam engine 1:1
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, December 10, 2015 11:36 PM

Sorry folks. I was trying to post a video of a steam engine being built in the 1930s but I lost the link and I can't find it.Dunce

Edit:

maxman was kind enough to dig it out for me. Scroll down.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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