First live steam loco

C

Chris71

Registered
Hi everyone
Just received my first live steam loco,Accucraft Ragleth in green. ;)
Just need some advice on a few things please.
Loco arrived boxed up neatly except for the plastic covering that came with the loco which was just put in the box next to the loco.
Got certificate and extra bits likes gloves and syringe and a bottle of complementary oil I think.

Bought new from shop online, but was told it was on show in the shop.
Very happy with it except for a couple of little things.
Looks like the water release valve and top up water valve/screw look rather corroded.

Are these locos tested before hand? that could be the reason or maybe it has been tried in shop.

Will post up a couple of picture's later.
 
As far as I am aware only Roundhouse test their locos and then only on air. If in doubt contact Accucraft UK to check you have bought from authorised dealer. If it has been steamed there will probably be evidence of oil in the chimney and some heat discolouration of the inside of the smokebox door. Open the gas valve to see if there is any gas residue there. Max
 
Just checked their website its from an authorised dealer.
tried ringer accucraft a few times, but its a bit late now must be closed, will ring them tomorrow.
 
Here are some pictures of the loco.
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Having just looked at the same bits on my Caradoc, i would say yours has been run a couple of times using hard water. Should still be fine - try running it on a couple of wooden blocks so the wheels are suspended in mid air. Easier to see whats going on rather than when it is whizzing round on the track.
 
Hello Chris,

I wouldn't worry about it. The safety release valve is just discoloured. Don't worry about it corroding as it can't corrode as its made out of brass. The thread you show where the valve screws into is again will not corrode as its either brass or copper. Its usually brass bushes on boilers but looking at my accucraft edrig, it doesn't seem to have a bush but the thread directly into the boiler which is made out of copper. Either way neither metal will rust or corrode.

Brass does discolour and darken over time so it could be from where it has just been on display. Some brasso and elbow grease will sort the problem on the safety release valve. Contrary to earlier posts, accucraft does test the engine before dispatch as it has to for its steam and hydraulic tests which is the paperwork you refer to.

Get it steamed up and it'll soon show you whether everything is ok or not!

Regards

Daniel
 
I really don`t think there is anything there to worry about, as Dan says, steam it a few times and get a feel for it.

Some correction to the info above though. Brass and copper can corrode, but all it does normally is to discolour somewhat, it`s not like rust where flakes of it will fall of leaving a new surface for the corrosion to start again. A bit of spit and polish will soon restore the correct colour. I use Solvol Autosol, a chrome polish from Halfords, that will polish just about anything.

There can occur conditions within boilers where brass fittings can `de-zinc` (Brass is an alloy of copper, tin and zinc), the zinc can be leached out of the brass, leaving it porous. I`m certain this isn`t the case with yours as it takes a good while, and some use, and also for this reason, boiler fittings are usually made from bronze or gun-metal, so it can`t happen.

One other point is that Pressure Equipment Regs. require that all fittings to copper boiler are through bronze bushes soldered into the boiler. Threading directly into copper is NOT allowed.

Here is a picture of what Solvol Autosol did today for my new chimney crown.

Chimney (4) (450 x 600).jpg

Welcome to the world of live steam!
 
Llongfordrailway said:
Contrary to earlier posts, accucraft does test the engine before dispatch as it has to for its steam and hydraulic tests which is the paperwork you refer to.
Click to expand...
What I should have said is test run the whole locomotive to check the motions and valve timing. Naturally Accucraft will test the boiler and gas tank for their integrity. Got those certificates too with all of mine.
Looking at the pictures there would seem to be nothing obviously untoward. Yes, the staining shown on the safety valve and threads on the boiler cap might indicate hard water use but in all probability they are residues from the manufacturing processes only. The images seem to show a pristine unused loco. Max.
 
That's a nice engine bobg, is it a 5" engine?

I stand corrected too, I'm getting terminology mixed up. Brass and copper cannot rust but indeed as has just been pointed out, it can corrode. Oops, my bad! Keep it clean and you should be fine though for the purpose we use our engines for. They last for donkeys years. I have a 5" live steam engine which is 25 years old with it's original copper boiler and it's had heavy use too. I wouldn't worry :)

Regards

Daniel
 
Llongfordrailway said:
That's a nice engine bobg, is it a 5" engine?

I stand corrected too, I'm getting terminology mixed up. Brass and copper cannot rust but indeed as has just been pointed out, it can corrode. Oops, my bad! Keep it clean and you should be fine though for the purpose we use our engines for. They last for donkeys years. I have a 5" live steam engine which is 25 years old with it's original copper boiler and it's had heavy use too. I wouldn't worry :)

Regards

Daniel
Click to expand...

Absolutely! ;D

It's actually 7 1/4", there's some more about it under "Steam Powered KroK" in the Coffee lounge.
 
Thanks guys.
Thought I bought a used loco that was advertised as new from a shop.
Will get a steam up in the next day or so, just got to find a gas adaptor for these cans.

Had these lying around from last camping trip.
Also can pick these cans up cheap at home bargains.

I have the gas adaptor en417 for the screw on cans, just haven't bought one yet.
 
some more pictures of loco.






Also got this oil il have to ring up the shop to find out what grade this stuff is.
Ordered a summerlands chuffer should be here tomorrow.
And a load of tools from track shack, and some Accucraft steam oil.
Just need to get to b&q, for a gas can that's got an en417 thread.
 
Mike Darby at Chuffed2bits (an Accucraft service agent) does and adapter to fit those spare camping gas canisters. So long as they are butane they should be ok. Tip to avoid blocked jets - store gas canisters upside down and give a quick squirt to clear any contaminents that might have accumulated at the "squirty" end before connecting up and filling gas tank. Even the most expensive brands - e.g. "Go System"- can suffer this problem.

There is also another trick involving a small rolled up bit of blotting paper placed inside the jet itself to minimise risk of blockages. Somebody else here will have the full gen on that one. Max
 
Thanks max
looked at Chuffed2bits but he's sold out at the moment on them adaptors.
Il give mikes models a ring he close to me and a accucraft dealer, see if he's got one.
before

And after

What brands are best for gas guys.
 
OK, having just spoken to Chris on the 'phone there are a few points we (Accucraft UK) would be grateful for folk to take on board.

1. Having taken a look at these photos I'd say there is nothing wrong with the loco or the service Chris has received from his dealer. All Accucraft locos are steam tested before they leave the factory - although they are cleaned afterwards this does mean they will exhibit evidence of running. You can see the test tracks in the background in this illustration of the a batch of 7/8ths" Quarry Hunslets being readied for shipment - in fact a QH is actually being run.

China-2013-06-625x390.jpg


2. Although forums such as this are invaluable, we would always expect a customer with a perceived problem to contact his dealer first and, if not satisfied, ourselves second in order to resolve any issues.

3. Any new Accucraft live steam locomotive will be accompanied by a boiler and gas test certificate and is warranted for two years.

4. Our locos use 460 grade lubricator oil and buyers should check that oil supplied with one of our locos is to this specification. Although they have been tested at the factory we always recommend a period of running in with new locos.

Hopefully this will answer some of the questions raised in this thread and that Chris enjoys running his Ragleth. Happy steamings!

Graham.
 
"And what do you do for a job sir?"

"I test new live steam locomotives"

"Is it a high pressure job"

"It varies, some days 40PSI others 60PSI"


I could handle that job I think :D
 
Chris71 said:
Loco arrived boxed up neatly except for the plastic covering that came with the loco which was just put in the box next to the loco.
Got certificate and extra bits likes gloves and syringe and a bottle of complementary oil I think.
Click to expand...

Gloves? You get gloves with a live steamer these days? [Grandpa Simpson Voice On] In my day..... [Grandpa Simpson Voice off]
 
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