Minnie Traction Engine Running on Steam
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- čas přidán 19. 05. 2019
- Minnie Traction Engine first run on steam 19/5/2019.
Following an 11 year build, this is a video of the first steaming of the engine on coal. It was not easy to film and keep the boiler topped up with water and maintain the fire. As for a first steaming though was very pleasing to see it running. Just a few small jobs to do and hopefully many more steaming to come in the future. - Krátké a kreslené filmy
The shoot is made from a flat piece of brass sheet about 0.8mm or 1mm thick just folded rough it wasn't meant to be perfect just to stop the coal dust getting on the bearings. The coal is probably Welsh Steam coal but more recently they buy it from Poland (cheaper). I think it runs better on charcoal (cleaner) or at least this helps to get the coal burning properly because the heat you need to get the coal to break up in such a small firebox. So I used charcoal to start it then put coal on after the smell is amazing when burning bright yellow coal smoke.
Thanks for that also makes it easier to get coal in the box with a chute. Thats all useful info. I use charcoal and then add coal. Tend to use the smokey Russian coal as doesn't need much draft . You tried it ?
@@mattseymour8637 using some i acquired from Bridgnorth some time ago.
Are you from that area ?
@@mattseymour8637 not far away Halesowen.
That's good .it's a nice railway there. Do you go often?
Yeah mine has a water pump in the side. Was one that I said was having problems with. I had the boiling in the tender too. Apparently it's dirt getting into the pump causing it to back up. I can't get mine to pump water into the boiler properly. So going to put a pump on. Shame you not more local as need someone to do it.
On mine its either the pump having air trapped and so releasing that starts it pumping or heat from the boiler stops it working and so i have a Tufnel spacer to isolate it. Also one of the balls i swapped for a Nitrite ball so it seals better.
Lovely engine and well ran. What coal are you using? Also how did you make your coal shoot?
Hello coal is courtesy of near the coal stage at Bridgnorth SVR. The scoop was 5 minutes of bashing in the workshop around a broom handle. Thanks !! 11 years work.
That sounds good. Would like to see another video. I need to do that work to mine but can't do it myself as don't have the knowledge and tools. but getting it sorted by someone else hopefully. Are you going to paint her?
I wasnt going to paint it yet, whilst running it maybe in a few years when im not running it on coal. I do have the paint would be burrell light green like the flywheel. Maybe just paint smokebox black stop it rusting if i can get high temperature paint.
@@novagsi0 fair enough. Burrel green is a nice colour. Why not paint it while you running it on coal?
@@mattseymour8637 think the paint job would be spoilt after a couple of runs, I actually prefer it in brass and copper. Also i'm always taking it to bits to improve things so I guess no time soon. I also am looking at starting a new one 3" Burrell and have drawings ready.
I understand that but find the coal and oil doesn't harm the paint if you keep it clean. Also looks nice in green when in steam I think.
Oooo nice. What model of 3 inch ?
@@mattseymour8637 Plastow Burrell 3"
the one done by Bridport foundary depends on time and costs of the castings.
Thanks for that and no I haven't as didn't build my engine myself I bought it. Have they got a website ?
www.blackgates.co.uk/
Thanks that would be appreciated. But how would you get the material to me ?
If you send us your address safely somehow, assuming i find some in the workshop , ill post you a bit next week. People have helped me out in the past , return a favour back buddy no charge! Happy to help... steve
Just thinking could do with a bit of copper pipe the same size as yours in the video if you could send that?
Sorry not got any spare pipe, id recommend Blackgates Engineering I think there up by you, but mail order id guess you must have heard of them because they do all the castings/parts for the Minnie.
How did you attach the tyres?
Thanks where can you get this from?
I'll have a look in the work shop if i have a bit left. However to fit it you will have to drill the holes to mount it and also bend your pump connecting arm a bit to allow the pump to stand off a bit. The thickness of the gasket. Basically i don't trust the pump yet.
That's cool. No not local unfortunately but live in Lincolnshire. But I volunteer at Nene Valley. Thanks I don't like steam to be displayed but living. But mine needs some work doing as need a pump and whistle putting on..Shane you not local ...
Does your engine have the water pump on the side? I didn't notice from the video. I was going to ask you, how you got it working. I don't trust mine, that's why I have an additional hand pump for safety. When I get the hang of firing it, I will sort this out currently it bubbles steam into the tender when you open the bypass tap just a seal problem I think. I have seen mine pump water briefly when it's cold, So if no pump I guess you must be filling the boiler then dropping the fire before you run out of water? Mine gets through the water like wildfire because of a few leaks as it's new, and on coal to get it into steam at say 20psi takes about 20 -30 minutes.
Yes has it on the side but doesn't work great. Going to put a handpump on. Does yours work well?
@@mattseymour8637 the water pump is ok i think but the bypass leaks so im going to blank the pump return off , and try it so to rule the shut off valve out. The hand pump is hard work to get water in.
@@novagsi0 all good stuff, what coal and size do you use now?
@@mattseymour8637 i use welsh steam coal smashed up small say 10mm square bits, and charcoal to start it.
What's the spacer you use ?
Its a piece of Tufnell like bakerlite material heat proof. Acts like a gasket to keep the pump cool.
Thanks for that info. It takes time to build these things. Is it Scottish coal then? What did you use to make the shoot?
So looks like yours doesn't work much better than mine the mechanical pump.
Yes at the moment, but making some new parts to hopefully correct this. Just takes time to make new parts and get a good idea. Maybe in a few weeks ill have a new video with it working.