The Home Machinist!

doesn't mercer still make various boiler checks? albeit not a top mount. I think having a website with a list of products and online purchase options give EE a distinct advantage. I'd imagine there is a direct relationship between sales numbers and having an online catalog with the ability to purcha...

Out of curiosity where do you find drawings for all these appliances?

You could very easily put tom bee trucks with air brakes under the tender, then have a trailing boxcar with the air setup and a tool box etc. That'd also give you the easy option of air brakes on the train.

Didn't he also design a "heavy" piston valve 4-4-0 / 4-6-0?

One of the most enjoyable aspects of 7.5 is the opportunity to visit other tracks and the general mobility of equipment. It's completely possible to transport a 0-4-0 with a car or two in a minivan or f150. How many people at this point are really going to start in a new direction with a new gauge t...

Ever thought about partnering with a supplier etc to make your S-160 castings/drawings available to other builders?

Every 7.5 gauge engine I've seen with tiny flues have had issues with getting clogged after multiple hours running. You can run all weekend using 7/8 flues. It's more just a matter of why bother if the larger flues are better suited for coal.

I think most people used to be of the mindset that more smaller flues = better. So more 5/8 flues are better than a few less 3/4. But I think what people have started to realize is that an engine with 7/8 will actually steam freer since less likely to have cinder obstructing air flow and most of the...

Use 7/8inch K copper flues. Makes it easier to clean and will steam just as a good as more of the smaller flues. You won't be disappointed. Bigger the better for firebox and boiler. Might be able to make the firebox 2 inches longer and an inch or so wider. More grate area=easier to fire. I think som...

building a new locomotive paul?

How badly damaged would a steamer be after the fire?

Would questions about boiler integrity, frame integrity etc become a concern? Or would it mostly just be sheet metal etc damaged?

What happened to the 7.5 gauge Niagara that was being built in Florida?