Introduction to Live Steam Shay (Part 3)

The conclusion of my 3-part series on running Accucraft's 3-cylinder live-steam Shay.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• model
• railroads
• trains

[qsmee]

do you know leaving water in the boiler will rust it you should never leave water in a trains boiler when not running!!!

[WA1LBK]

@qsmee - How does a silver-soldered COPPER boiler "rust"??? Get a CLUE about what you're talking about before criticizing someone! The boiler sees ONLY distilled water into it so sediment isn't an issue either.

[tweetercat2]

can u use Lucas Oil Treatment for the lubricator? ive got a video on the useage of Lucas on my HO scale trains but i wonder if u can use it on your live steam

[WA1LBK]

@tweetercat2 - I have NO idea of the characteristics of Lucas Oil Treatment & wouldn't recommend it. At @ $7 a bottle, the Accucraft steam oil is not overly expensive, the loco uses only about a thimblefull of it per run.

[WandATexas]

You say to put water in the boiler after shut down for the next run, what if one doesn't know when the next run is? Say its a few days or even months later. How should I store the locomotive. 

[WA1LBK]

@WandATexas - No problem if the loco is stored indoors at normal room temperature. If it's stored where it may be subject to below-freezing temperatures (or even transported to a meet, for example, in sub-zero weather), then it MUST be drained.

[WA1LBK]

Your comment on over-oiling is a good point; not so much from dirt pick-up (if you wipe the loco down at the end of a day's running as I recommend), but excess oil WILL make its way down to the rails & cause driver slippage (especially on a railroad with grades like this one). I've often had to wipe the rails down with an alcohol-soaked rag towards the end of a day of heavy live steam running (EVERYTHING slips trying to get upgrade). Periodically, I go over the rails with a sander as well.

[WA1LBK]

Thanks for your comments! :) I've had so much positive feedback on this series that I'm considering reshooting the series in HD this summer, & making them available on DVD.

[WA1LBK]

Yes, I've installed RC in all 3 of my live-steamers myself. (I also do RC airplanes). It's not an absolute necessity on the Shays; they'll maintain a reasonable speed downgrade. A rod engine like the Ruby is ANOTHER story entirely - prior to installing RC, my Ruby wrecked spectacularly a couple of times! (Downgrade without RC, the Ruby was a 150 scale MPH "Acela-wanna-be"!). With RC, I can now put in slightly in reverse to hold it back downgrade.

[WA1LBK]

Yes, it is. 20 ~ 25 minutes in NORMAL run time for these Shays, the fuel tank is relatively small. My Ruby 2-4-2 runs approximately the same time or even less (as little as 15 min.); my 2 cylinder Shay maybe 25 ~ 30 minutes. Assuming you're talking the Accucraft SP Daylight 4-8-4, believe those have a MUCH larger fuel tank in a water bath, hence the longer run times. Love to have one, but my curves won't accommodate a loco that large; considering the AMS PRR K4s as a possibility. ;)