The Home Machinist!

Vic and his son showed up Saturday and spent all day getting the engine ready. Looks like we will be running it next week end.

LSGOD

One thing I noticed real quick while I was building my cab forward was that I had to design the trailing truck for 1.6 width and 1.5 length. Also the cylinders are outside the running boards. My SP&S Z8 is being built to 1.593 scale. Much easier.

LSGOD

If all the linkage is correct timing is simple. Assuming the valves are line to line (exhaust) disconnect the lap and lead lever and set it vertical. Place the radius rod centered in the link. Adjust the valve so that its line to line at the exhaust. Done. This also works for Baker. The eccentric ro...

And there are the answers! Must have been very satisfying running it for the first time after having people say it couldn't be done. Very impressive ingenuity and machining. It was so much fun the first time. I had a few problems but they were cured. I forgot to say the steam guage was put in the b...

OK I guess I will have to divulge all my secrets about the Cab Forward. Many years ago some of the great brains in the hobby said it couldn't be done when I said I wanted to build a cab forward. After all, all the experiance I had in live steam was a Little Engines 1" 0-6-0 . They asked what si...

Hello everybody, I have resently been looking for drawings of a 30" gauge, class a shay with no results. If anyone has any resources that regard this topic. Please let me know. I would be more than happy to aquire a set of drawings. Best wishes, Nico Amato If you can look at a copy of Hirsimak...

Hi guys and gals, I had the opportunity to talk to postwarbob last Friday at which time he suggested joining and reaching out for help. I am brand new to the hobby and am entertaining the construction of a 1939 Milwaukee Road Hiawatha. I have been unable to find drawing/plans for this engine and te...

FITTING TIRES IS ALWAYS .001 PER INCH OF WHEEL DIAMETER. I FIND THAT WHEN SOLDER MELTS ON THE TIRE ITS HOT ENOUGH.

LSGOD

I continue to be amazed at how many people Are afraid of stainless steel tubes. Stainless steel will conduct heat much better than soot or scale. I made my tubes for the cabforward out of .110 wall 304 stainless that came off a scrapped test stand at Aerojet. I decided on the .110 wall instead of th...

All the Pennsy drawings can be obtained from the Pennsylvania State Archives at Harrisburg. Just send them the Engine, car or whatever you want. They will send you a list of the applicable drawing numbers. They charge for the list. They will make a copy of the drawings you desire for a fee, from ori...

I'm so sorry to hear about Ed's passing. Many years ago while on a trip to California, Ed stopped by to pay me a visit. He had one of the valve gear boxes for the poppet valve gear with him. It was a box with 2 complete Walschearts valve gear inside. Absolutely beautiful work. The engine required 2 ...

Don, You are correct. We visited the engine at Rio Vista several times for pictures and sketches. The smokebox cover and door are aluminum. These engines are similar to USRA mikes. LSGOD Thanks for posting the pics. This engine is of the same design as the WP 334 that is at Rio Vista, correct? Thes...