Steaming in cold weather

C

Cyclone

Registered
Just a quick question.

Are there any issues about steaming in very cold weather?
Or any tips to avoid problems?

The only thing I can think of is dont let the loco freeze with water in it and perhaps an issue with butane in very cold weather.
 
Being very gentle with the controls if running on icey rails,watchout for frozen points, Keeping warm & concentrating on the railway yourself. I am planning a steam up on Christmas Eve & will be running my Regners as I can just let them go, knowing they will run quite sensibley no matter how distracted I get.
 
Butane doesn't like cold weather , so I keep it warm by wearing a large coat and putting the can next to me. It keeps the fuel can warm and makes the gas flow better when you are filling up. Had a run yesterday with the weather at 38 F degrees to start , finally warmed up to about 50 degrees F at the end of the day. Had the can against me the whole time to keep it warm. Cold water also takes more fuel and time to get to the boiling point !
Charles M
 
For the duration of very cold weather, keep your water, oil and gas indoors. Fill up the loco indoors (when she who must be obeyed is not looking if you have one) then take the loco outside to light up. This speeds up the complete process of steaming up in cold weather I tend to use the Kitchen and an old Tin Tray for these duties in cold weather. You could always blow away the overflow gas with a towel after you have done the gas just to be sure. Oh be sure that the Gas Ring is not boiling a kettle or the gas oven cooking. Better still do it well away from these if you can.

Incidentally always fill up in the order of Water/Oil/Gas surprising how many so called 'Experts' do not do it this way.

JonD
 
Warm water to start with, either distilled, from a dehumidifier, from the ice from the freezer, take the peas out, or the water butt, using an old coffee percolator, the one with the paper filters, speeds up the process on an icy cold day. no metal involved only glass. havn't had any problem with this, unless someone knows different.
 
Butane Propane mix. Hat and coat. Run train. Simples!!!
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Had my C-16 running at the week end at John Steers garden Railway in the cold the gas tank on this loco is in the tender so the gas in the tank needs to be kepted warm so warm water is poured in the tender round the tank makes all the differance .
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so, NHN, and others with first hand experience only- no issues with using the 70/30 propane butane mixture eh-???
is this the very same stuff from teh camping stores-with the threaded collars??


i had heard that propane has a higher pressure
but -i think this could make a huge difference--i am sure it would with my SRRL , and
very likey the frank s -even the tender water bath for the tank is a royal PITA when it gets really cold

and -i use a thermos and microwave my distilled water in a large pyrex measuring cup for refills-makes a huge difference-and -a good thermos will keep the water very hot a very long time
 
stevedenver said:
so, NHN, and others with first hand experience only- no issues with using the 70/30 propane butane mixture eh-???
is this the very same stuff from teh camping stores-with the threaded collars??


i had heard that propane has a higher pressure
but -i think this could make a huge difference--i am sure it would with my SRRL , and
very likey the frank s -even the tender water bath for the tank is a royal PITA when it gets really cold

and -i use a thermos and microwave my distilled water in a large pyrex measuring cup for refills-makes a huge difference-and -a good thermos will keep the water very hot a very long time
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I use 30/70 propane / butane mix and have never had any problems. It makes a big difference when its cold. Just make sure you don't buy pure propane by mistake as the bottles look similar. The lowest percentage should always be the propane.

Dave
 
There's lots of threads about this, but at the end of the day it's fine provided the temperature isn't high - so don't use it in summer in Denver! We can use it all year around in our climate!
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MRail said:
stevedenver said:
no issues with using the 70/30 propane butane mixture eh-???
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None whatever, in the UK, any season, any make of loco:- Maxwell Hemmens - Accucraft - Roundhouse.
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Agree with Rob's post here but with a proviso. I would NOT use mixed gas in Merlin locomotives, Archangel locos or indeed early Roundhouse in summer weather. I have seen a Merlin tank 'bulging' because the owner used mixed gas. Modern locos are fine.
 
stevedenver said:
tag
would the first generation SRRL from roundhouse-tank in the cab roof-be ok?
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This should be. I would use butane in the summer however.
 
New Haven Neil 2 said:
Cyclone said:
Cheers all and seasons greetings. Looking forward to a Santa special.
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Someone say Santa? Donk likes playing Santa Specials with his favourite loco.....
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Donks Cool, though doesnt he worry about getting a bit dirty.

(Complete side track but one of my daughters sylvanian families bears took a ride on the foot plate, not quite sure what happened possibly bumpy track...anyway he fell sidewise and his head got dragged along a brickwall, giving him a very nice tonsure..oops)
 
He always stays that colour for some reason, however cold or hot he is.

I'll post a shot when I get on the desktop later of how he keeps himself clean after playing trains. It's not for the faint hearted.
 
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