Sounds good

Were shall we start Rick?

I like the idea of the ACE3000 and plan on building a model based on that concept. Perhaps with R/C control.

Bernd

P.S. for the lovers of steam have you seen the new engine house built in Ohio?

http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/Report%202010-12.html

Firing Coal

Benny found some interesting stuff on firing steam locomotives with coal.  The conjecture about the experience required to master the art is well founded.  My running experience has been with oil burners, but I was a night watchman on N&W 611 (4-8-4) and NKP 765 (2-8-4).  While this took a bit of skill with a scoop, the engine was standing still and the firebed was visible in the low fire.  Both these engines were stoker fired so a whole different set of conditions prevailed when they were working.  Adjustment of the stoker throttle would control the rate of the coal going in, while adjustment of the steam jets controlling the distribution would keep the fire bed even.  These are skills like learning to walk, learning to ride a bike, and learning to do tricks on a skateboard.  Such skills are learned by doing and can't be explained in a book.  Thus, we have the situation of having very few coal burning locomotives to practice on.  Fortunately, we do not need these skills to operate electric powered steam profile models!

On a hand fired coal burner, it would be common for the engineer to control the water level in the boiler.  On a modern stoker fired coal burner, the fireman would control the water level with a feed-water heater system. 

All of these appliances have unique sounds and eventually, DCC decoder suppliers may get around to coordinating these sounds with the operation of the locomotive.  The distinctive sounds of the turbo-generator and the occasional operation of the water injector are in place for the ambient sounds of standing steam.  Next, maybe will hear the slap of a scoop or the rumble of the stoker as the locomotive starts to pull.  There are also the cylinder drain cocks which are operated to clear condensate from the cylinders when the locomotive starts to move.  Some discussion of this feature suggest that there should be a timer so that cylinder cock noise does not occur every time the locomotive starts to move, but only after it has been sitting for awhile.

All of these sounds are the dramatic soundtrack of steam locomotive operations.  While we do not have to master the skills, some knowledge of the operation will help us appreciate the music. 

Santa Fe Hudson (4-6-4)... the new ACE 3000?

There is a group that is looking into modernizing a Santa Fe Hudson for high speed operation, and burning bio-fuel.  This group is picking up the work of Wardale and Porta in advancing steam technology rather than reinventing it.  There is an article in Steam Glory 3, that suggests that radical departures, like the Pennsy T-1, tend to suffer in the down-and-dirty railroad world.  A proven product like the Santa Fe Hudson is probably a better place to start... and looks better than the proposed ACE 3000... in my opinion.

Santa Fe engine

Rick,

Any links to that project?

Bernd

Santa Fe 3463... the Green ACE 3000.

The University of Minnesota, and Sustainable Rail International http://www.csrail.org/ ,are working on this project.  The bio-coal is a wood fiber product being developed by UoM.  Check it out.

Engine 3463

I thought that looked familiar. I found that web site several months ago.

Have you been to the Age of Steam Roundhouse site? http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/Report%202010-12.html

Lots of money spent there. Wonder what they're up too.

Bernd