The Home Machinist!

Blowdown-1.jpg I agree with Marty and Berkman. Dropping the firebed would not have even been part of my methodology for the situation at hand. I would have brought the engine up to full pressure to see what the offending blowoff cock did. Those blowoff cocks leak, by design, when there is no or lit...

I’m glad aopagary posted this question on this forum as this venue has a very broad and knowledgeable bass among its members. This would certainly be the place to ascertain the correct technical info and allow one to come to the right decision. With that being said, let me admit upfront that I do ha...

Beautiful work!

It is going to run, a lot, mainly at LALS and RLS.

Jim Kreider

A small, big engine - NKP 2-8-4!

Jim Kreider

NKP 700 series Berkshires had two methods of operating the whistle: a pull chord, and a Viloco air-actuated piston. The air valve was located at a convenient location in the cab near the brake stand. The whistle could not be “played” using the air actuator like it could be with the big pull chord op...

George Byrkit of Largo, FL and his son Steve are recreating my 1-1/2’ scale Berkshire in wood, even using my drawings. The wood is walnut and no fillet material will be used. It will be displayed using the natural walnut coloring with a wipe-on polyurethane. Regular metal fasteners are used. Sketchu...

Bill Shields:

Very true Bill.

Jim Kreider

Good point that Marty brought up. Could it also be that by not extending the fitting at least all the way through the backhead that a corner cavity could be created which may allow sediment buildup?
Jim Kreider

Only the hot water pump will be working on this engine. Dave Moore did make the working internals for the cold-water pump, but I think only one or two were actually made to work. If working, it could be made to supply any required head to the hot water pump. I don’t think anyone has actually made th...

Here are a few shots showing the tender plumbing. The two connections on the left side (photo left side) are the brake air lines. The one on the left (or outside one) is for the train brakes and the one to the right of it is for tender brakes. The left and right-side water lines come out of the big ...

You did see an oil tank. It is an oil burner.

Jim Kreider