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Archive for the ‘Steam’ Category
Steam Photos December 2009
31
Dec
Traction Engine Lesson 1
17
Nov
Earlier on in the year I had my first ever traction engine lesson and it went something like this…
As you will see from this photo, there is quite a bit of soot in the smoke box…
and the first thing I had to do was use a metal rod with a wire brush on the end and clean it all out…
Once I had completed this task it was then time to get the paraffin soaked pieces of wood, some dry pieces of wood, some coal, a car battery and a heater motor from an old car and take them outside on to the lawn along with the all important large jug of water!
My next task was to fill the boiler and then the water tender with water, ready for it to be turned in to steam to power the engine.
Using a pair of pliers I then had to place around 7-8 pieces of the wood that had been soaked in paraffin and place them in the firebox. We then took the car battery and connected up the old car fan heater motor and placed it on top of the chimney to help draw air through the engine, this helping get the fire started.
The fan heater was then turned on and a lit paraffin soaked piece of wood was placed in the firebox. Once the fire has got fully underway, several pieced of dry wood were inserted before finally shovelling in the coal.
Once the fire has fully got going, the old car fan heater motor can then be removed and the engine is then ready for use.
There are 3 very important things that you need to keep your eye on:
1. water it has to be kept at just the right level
2. pressure too much and the safety valve will blow and too little and the fire will go out and the engine wont go anywhere
3. and last but not least is the fire if you let the fire go out then you wont have any steam!
Once you have these 3 things under control you can put her in to gear and go full steam ahead around the garden!
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All Steam Ahead! – Nene Valley Railway
24
Apr
When he was a youngster, it was my Dads dream to be a steam train driver and as he retired last year I decided that for his Christmas present I would make this dream become a reality…
The Nene Valley Railway offer a Drving Experience where you can choose either a diesel locomotive or a steam locomotive!!! So that’s what I got him for Christmas.
The other day my Dad, Mum, Sister and I set off for the Wansford station in Peterborough which is the home of the Nene Valley Railway.
On arriving we were greated by the instructors who showed us where we needed to go. Dressed in sensible shoes and his paint splattered overalls my Dad sat down in the training room (a former BR waiting room) awaiting for the other participant to turn up so the training could begin…
The rest of us took a wander around the station to see what was what whilst the training took place. About 45 minutes later they were wandering around the track taking a look at the Steam Train before boarding and heading off down the track.
There are a couple of places along the 3 mile stretch that are ideal for taking photos, so we hopped in the car and drove a few minutes up the road and went down a station road where we were quite litterally righ beside the track – as you can see from the photos below!
After an hour or so and the two participants taking it turns to be the driver and fireman, the train returned to Wansford station where a debriefing took place where a goodie bag (including a certificate and graduation mug) were handed out.
We then all wandered up to the signal box where it was explained what the signalmans job was.
The event was finished off with a spot of home made lunch (steak and kidney pie and veg) in the NVR cafe before we headed off home stopping at a country pub on the way back of course!
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