Yesterday being such an acceptable one temperature wise I decided to do something that I have been considering for a while. Just how well can I run my line using Live Steam. My concept of running is always where possible do things in as Prototype way as practically possible. My lines theme is the Sekaktalbahn in the Harz Mountains and a good starting point appeared to be the Steam Runs that are caried out now. This is effectively 2 out and back runs. When you are in your own running it is only possible to be the crew of 1 Train so no other Trains would be present during the session, though of course on the real thing there are Railcars running about to be dodged. With a guest these could be incorporatas well.
But first some admin, the spreadsheet that you see is the result of those runs. The numbers represent the time taken for the runs and you will see that for the first run I did not take account of the Start up time taken to get up Steam. But it would have been similar and Jack was used to shunt stock out of the Shed, make up the Train prior to the first run. At the end of the session after run 2 had been competed the Stock was all put back into the Shed with Jack.
All of the following pictures were taken on the second run. The first one shows the varying clutter required to prepare a Live Steam Locomotive. Gas, Steam Oil, Water and Syringe to put the Water in the Boiler finally the Peter Spoerer TX-23 Radio Controller. Loco was converted to th TX-23 some time back and I am very happy with it. Loco also has a SloMo fitted which makes the driving with TX-23 a superb experience.
The Driver is unceromously dumped on the track, he sits on the Oil Reserviour and can be seen better in the following pictures.
Run Time 03.00 to 03.30
Having perpared the Locomotive got it into Steam and shunted onto the Train she is seen here at Magdesprung.
Run Time 04.40 to 05.30
At Alexisbad she is stopped for around 40 seconds to take water. In my imagination my clock runs 12 times faster so this stop would equate to roughly 30 Minutes. The phot below shows the prototype image of a similar train to that I am creating taken in 2011.
Run Time 06.30 to 07.00
Running theough the industrial wasteland the train arrives at Silberhutte.
Run Time approx 07.30
Running over the viaduct with Steam to spare at this point. On runs like this it is vitally important with Live Steam to not be wasting Steam so regular adjustments to the Gas Regulator are a prudent requirement.
Run time 09.00 to 10.00
Having arrived in Lindenburge (Strassburg on the prototype) the Train is run round and waiting for the retuen deoarture at 10.00 Minutes into the run. In real life this train would have run through to Hasselfelde or Eisenfelder Tamhulle.
Run Time 11.30
Climbing the loop those savings of Gas and Water will be rewarded by a satisfactory blast up the hill.
Run Time 13.45 to 15.30
The water crane on the return run is located some way out of the Station so the Loco must uncouple from the Train to take Water. All very time consuming and Jack will soon be blowing off furiously.
Run Time 18.00 to 18.30
Almost home now, Jack stops at Sternhaous Herefield and it is a good time to view the insides of a Roundhouse Locomotive. The RC Regulater is the Silver Arm. Top right the Gas Regulator and below the Blow Down Valve, an addition made by myself. The Steam released comes out just in front of the cylinders and can make for quite atmospheric pics in the winter. At the bottom can be seen the Gas Poker. The LGB Type Coupling is a former Tom Cooper one, I made the Harz type Coupling/Buffer above which can be used by Link and Pin or Chain Couplings using Pop Rivets. Finally a new better shaped Buffer Beam has been made out of Chunky Steel both Front and Rear.
Run Time 19.15
Arrival at Gernrode, all that is required now is to shunt the stock away before putting the Engine to bed. A chore that has to be done by all Locomotive Crew, whilst the tourists run off to their Hotels and a well enjoyed Beer with Dinner.
Run Time 26.00
Finally all the stock has been put back in order and the Shed is ready to be closed up. Jack will run down the line a little to the back door and be allowed to cool off a little before being taken indoors.
What have I learnt from this.
1 Battery Power to shunt stock if Railcars running would be of use as no doubt during the runs there would be waits to pass said Railcars.
2 it is fully possible on my line to do the runs mentioned, the time for the run being some 26 minutes is certainly within the cababilities of Jack in the Summer. Perhaps in Winter Shunting at the end would need to be with a Battery Locomotive.
3 Initial thoughts are that I will be able to pretty well replicate the TT used on the Sekektalbahn with my 12 times faster clock pretty well.
4 The runs were great fun, next to try it with some Freight.
JonD
But first some admin, the spreadsheet that you see is the result of those runs. The numbers represent the time taken for the runs and you will see that for the first run I did not take account of the Start up time taken to get up Steam. But it would have been similar and Jack was used to shunt stock out of the Shed, make up the Train prior to the first run. At the end of the session after run 2 had been competed the Stock was all put back into the Shed with Jack.
All of the following pictures were taken on the second run. The first one shows the varying clutter required to prepare a Live Steam Locomotive. Gas, Steam Oil, Water and Syringe to put the Water in the Boiler finally the Peter Spoerer TX-23 Radio Controller. Loco was converted to th TX-23 some time back and I am very happy with it. Loco also has a SloMo fitted which makes the driving with TX-23 a superb experience.
The Driver is unceromously dumped on the track, he sits on the Oil Reserviour and can be seen better in the following pictures.
Run Time 03.00 to 03.30
Having perpared the Locomotive got it into Steam and shunted onto the Train she is seen here at Magdesprung.
Run Time 04.40 to 05.30
At Alexisbad she is stopped for around 40 seconds to take water. In my imagination my clock runs 12 times faster so this stop would equate to roughly 30 Minutes. The phot below shows the prototype image of a similar train to that I am creating taken in 2011.
Run Time 06.30 to 07.00
Running theough the industrial wasteland the train arrives at Silberhutte.
Run Time approx 07.30
Running over the viaduct with Steam to spare at this point. On runs like this it is vitally important with Live Steam to not be wasting Steam so regular adjustments to the Gas Regulator are a prudent requirement.
Run time 09.00 to 10.00
Having arrived in Lindenburge (Strassburg on the prototype) the Train is run round and waiting for the retuen deoarture at 10.00 Minutes into the run. In real life this train would have run through to Hasselfelde or Eisenfelder Tamhulle.
Run Time 11.30
Climbing the loop those savings of Gas and Water will be rewarded by a satisfactory blast up the hill.
Run Time 13.45 to 15.30
The water crane on the return run is located some way out of the Station so the Loco must uncouple from the Train to take Water. All very time consuming and Jack will soon be blowing off furiously.
Run Time 18.00 to 18.30
Almost home now, Jack stops at Sternhaous Herefield and it is a good time to view the insides of a Roundhouse Locomotive. The RC Regulater is the Silver Arm. Top right the Gas Regulator and below the Blow Down Valve, an addition made by myself. The Steam released comes out just in front of the cylinders and can make for quite atmospheric pics in the winter. At the bottom can be seen the Gas Poker. The LGB Type Coupling is a former Tom Cooper one, I made the Harz type Coupling/Buffer above which can be used by Link and Pin or Chain Couplings using Pop Rivets. Finally a new better shaped Buffer Beam has been made out of Chunky Steel both Front and Rear.
Run Time 19.15
Arrival at Gernrode, all that is required now is to shunt the stock away before putting the Engine to bed. A chore that has to be done by all Locomotive Crew, whilst the tourists run off to their Hotels and a well enjoyed Beer with Dinner.
Run Time 26.00
Finally all the stock has been put back in order and the Shed is ready to be closed up. Jack will run down the line a little to the back door and be allowed to cool off a little before being taken indoors.
What have I learnt from this.
1 Battery Power to shunt stock if Railcars running would be of use as no doubt during the runs there would be waits to pass said Railcars.
2 it is fully possible on my line to do the runs mentioned, the time for the run being some 26 minutes is certainly within the cababilities of Jack in the Summer. Perhaps in Winter Shunting at the end would need to be with a Battery Locomotive.
3 Initial thoughts are that I will be able to pretty well replicate the TT used on the Sekektalbahn with my 12 times faster clock pretty well.
4 The runs were great fun, next to try it with some Freight.
JonD
