Welcome

Live steam models on 7¼" gauge of the Württembergische T3 and on 5"gauge Great Eastern Railway Y14 class

Welcome to this blog. It will inform you about the progress of designing and building live steam model locomotives. The blog contains the description of a model Würrtembergische T3 on 7¼" gauge (constructed between 2006 and 2017), the wagons for this loco (built between 2018 and 2022), and the current project a 5" gauge model of a Great Eastern Railway Y14 class loco (started in 2020)

On the left you'll find the index where you can browse the different articles and on the right you'll find all the extras.  You'll find a brief description of my other locos on the top tabs.
 

Click for the direct link to start of construction series below 
T3 7¼" steam locomotive 
 
Enjoy this site. Erik-Jan Stroetinga. The Netherlands. Europe.

Saturday, 24 June 2017

First steam test



In the evening of 24th of June, we've made the first steam test.  After almost eleven years of designing and building the first fire was lit in the firebox and the locomotive came alive on the test stand.


A simple match was all that was needed to bring her to live.



With charcoal and some coal (to temper the fire, because the newly made electric blower is a bit strong) a fire was build.



For the approx 5,5 liter of water, 25 minutes was needed to get the boiler to steam.



The motion oiled and ready for the test.  The engine was jacked up on wooden blocks. 



Moving under its own steam.



A nice glow of burning coal in the firebox. 



Watching the needle of the pressure gauge, the water gauges and the fire closely.  For this test the top of the tanks, top of coal bunker and cab is not yet mounted. This way is was easy to inspect all the boiler fittings and valves.  



The whistle sounded ok. 


After a half hour in steam the fire was dropped and the boiler blown down. 

So far most things (water pump, injector, water gauges, check valves, lubricator, "Everlasting" blowdown valves) seems to work.
The regulator (some leakage) and the dropping of the fire grate (not dropping easy)  need some attention.