The Home Machinist!

It looks like the seat for the ball has been steam cut, and does not seal any more. This happens when it gets a build up from calcium or other minerals in the water holding the seat open, and the steam leaking by cutting the brass or what ever it is made of, even SS will cut. The only fix is to rene...

Thanks for sharing your pictures with us. So many wanted to know about this place, and the owners.
Maybe some day they will come out to run their Loco on another track where people can meet them and talk trains with them.
Will

A lot of machine shops use power draw bars. It really speeds up changing tools. There are also hobbyist using them out there because of the reach to the top of their machine.
I have used them on mills and it is a lot easier with one on it.
Will

I would not use SS for the slides. I have always used 660 bronze for better wear. I have never had to replace any that I made for myself or other engines that I have worked on. I don't know of anyone else ever saying that they had to replace their bronze slides. Just my opinion from many years of ru...

Glen
1200' of track = aprox 190' circle. is that going to be enough for a large scale Loco?
Will

You may be able to find used machines to do the job with $4000. How big are the parts you want to make? Larger machines cost more, but can make large and small parts. With the types of material you talked about you will need strong machines, not toys. You may want to have castings made up to reduce ...

Please email me the PDF file.
Thanks Will
will93644@gmail.com

You might want to start out cutting the rings with a hole saw. Then finish turning the rings on your lathe.

If the parts you are making will cast in sand, they must be able to be pulled out of the sand, and have enough angle on the details to not let the sand stick in sharp corners or holes etc.
Most 3D prints are used for lost wax castings to get the best details.

Pat's grandson said he built 11 engines in his time

Yes, that is the engine.

The Loco's valves are inward of the cylinders, with Stephenson motion.
The best I can tell it is 9 3/4"
Will recheck next time I see it. It has castings with PC on them. Builders plate "Patsy Carafeno 199 Laurel Street, East Haven, Connecticut"