That thing needs a remote starter
January 9, 2018 5:36 PM Subscribe
Having trouble starting your steam engine? Here's your no-talking, no-music guide.
pjern's blog seems to be offline, but the Wayback Machine has a copy of his How to boot a Steam Locomotive; it's wonderful.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:34 PM on January 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:34 PM on January 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
From this I learned that the Alemite, or Zerk fitting wasn't patented until 1929, before that applying grease was a manual process that had to be done daily. As a gearhead, this is mesmerizing. Thanks.
posted by Floydd at 6:49 PM on January 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Floydd at 6:49 PM on January 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
I just watched the whole thing. This was nifty as hell. Thanks!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:58 PM on January 9, 2018
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:58 PM on January 9, 2018
At the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO.
This K-37 was built in 1902 as a standard gauge engine, and then after 1928 was "recycled" into a narrow gauge engine. The big boiler and wide firebox fit on a frame "outside" of the driving wheels.
Ponderous, and sure-footed, these engines hauled high quality coal from Crested Butte, CO through the second world war, and then oil and gas pipe to the San Juan Basin near Farmington, NM into the 1960's.
Their long survival was due to the capable crews of the Rio Grande, and odd boom-cycle of the Colorado economy. The narrow gauge was always on it's "last legs" for over thirty years, but traffic kept up enough to keep them running, but not enough to be replaced by diesels. A surprising number survived to be saved and preserved.
posted by nickggully at 6:58 PM on January 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
This K-37 was built in 1902 as a standard gauge engine, and then after 1928 was "recycled" into a narrow gauge engine. The big boiler and wide firebox fit on a frame "outside" of the driving wheels.
Ponderous, and sure-footed, these engines hauled high quality coal from Crested Butte, CO through the second world war, and then oil and gas pipe to the San Juan Basin near Farmington, NM into the 1960's.
Their long survival was due to the capable crews of the Rio Grande, and odd boom-cycle of the Colorado economy. The narrow gauge was always on it's "last legs" for over thirty years, but traffic kept up enough to keep them running, but not enough to be replaced by diesels. A surprising number survived to be saved and preserved.
posted by nickggully at 6:58 PM on January 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
There's a non-wayback version google kicks up. ( I saved it off to my harddrive years ago ) W&H MAIN YARDS: How to Boot a Steam Locomotive
or How to hostle without really tiring
posted by mikelieman at 7:31 PM on January 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
or How to hostle without really tiring
posted by mikelieman at 7:31 PM on January 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thanks to Metafilter, I read pjern's blogpost (a few years ago when he must have posted it on here before I moved back to the UK) and it inspired me to resolve to get involved with my local heritage railway when I got back.
Fast forward a few years and I decided not to get involved in the trains themselves, but, fingers crossed, I will be passing out as a qualified signalman this year. I'm less interested in the mechanical side of the railway and trains, but the signalling and operations side fascinates me and I'll resurrect the old blog and document it all one day.
posted by jontyjago at 4:38 AM on January 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
Fast forward a few years and I decided not to get involved in the trains themselves, but, fingers crossed, I will be passing out as a qualified signalman this year. I'm less interested in the mechanical side of the railway and trains, but the signalling and operations side fascinates me and I'll resurrect the old blog and document it all one day.
posted by jontyjago at 4:38 AM on January 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
That was a great 37 minutes. Thanks for posting this.
posted by james33 at 5:14 AM on January 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by james33 at 5:14 AM on January 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by jim in austin at 6:26 PM on January 9, 2018 [1 favorite]