I read about this little beauty in Engineers and Engines Magazine. This was a discarded, worn out engine that had been scavenged for parts by steam hobbyists for years, when the old boy you see operating bought it and began restoring it. Most of the parts you see are new. The boiler, the rear wheels, the crosshead guide, and most other parts were lovingly re-created by the owner and his wife. If you like this sort of thing you really should subscribe to one or more antique engine publications. I started reading the Iron Men Album in 1965, and that created a lifetime hobby. Anyhow, watch this little cutey go!
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4 comments:
One thing about steam - those horses had REALLY BIG FEET to pull like they did!
I wonder if those repro boilers are actually riveted, or just have rivet heads for appearance? In today's world I have to wonder if anyone can actually make & sell a riveted boiler - they're very dangerous you know :)
Merle
The rivets you see are at the front flue sheet, and I think that part is riveted in. The flues, and bolts above the flues help hold it all together; the flues going to the firebox, and the bolts going to the back of the boiler. Photos in E & E Magazine show this as smooth shell, with no lap or butt joint.
I learned to operate a traction engine on one very similar just about 40 years ago. It was a sweet engine, easy to fire and smooth in the gearing.
There are several large steel companies in Tulsa that make new boilers and exchangers for the oil business. I haven't seen a rivet in years. At the refinery I worked in, the only riveted steel was in the bone yard.
Looked like he was going to take out that pickup truck for a minute.
Funny how much 6 horses could do back then. I have a lot more than that in my lawnmower today and it barely has enough power to drag itself up a hill.
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