rbednarik
1st Class Member
Mt. Holly, NJ
Foreman
Posts:248
Send Message
 | | 09/16/2008 11:04 AM |
| Jeff and Alan,
The GS-4 is far from out of time ( I should know, I spent 2+ hours timing it to get it perfect!), rather as the speed builds, the backpressure in the ported cylinder passages builds due to having kept the oem valve crossover for the exhaust. That is next on the checklist to correct, albeit at a loss of stacktalk.
Think of it as having a muscle car with lots of power mods and rip-snorting ready to go, and ending up running a 1" exhaust instead of a 3 or 5". Essentially it is restricting the engine at higher speeds by not allowing the steam to escape the cylinders, as is evidenced by the engine speeding up a bit when closing the throttle. That reduces the amount of steam being forced in, allowing the cylinders to use the force of the steam already in the cylinders to it's full extent. Of course this is only for a split second, as the velocity of the remaining steam flowing through the throttle. The backpressure makes the exhaust have a peculiar beat and sound like it is out of square, when in reality, once the steam has a chance to escape out, the exhaust quiets down to a steady 4 beats pr revolution.
The stock valves only have a crossover opening that is 1.5mm wide x 2mm long, whereas the new ports are 3/32" oval openings, this is alot like trying t0 fit a square peg in a round hole, sure a bit of it can get through at a time, but not 100% can get in. The goal with then new valves is to get the backpressure down to 5-10% of the total volume left in the cylinders, so that the pistons have some cushion, but the steam is utilized to the best of it's ability.
Regardless, the engine has plenty of torque and can easily start a 180lb (approximate dead weight of Accucraft Daylight coaches= 18lbs: if it is a 10 car train, you can do the math) train on the .8% ruling grade of the IE&W, on nothing more then 25psi with a fill boiler, trying to compress water in the cylinders. Amazing what changing the passage size (leaving the cylinder bore alone) and allowing the engine to use the steam efficiently can do | |
-ryan
SA #1361 | |
|
David Rose
NJ
Foreman
Posts:158
Send Message
| | 09/16/2008 11:42 AM |
| Ryan,
You guys obviously hit on something major (with opening the ports)... I could not believe what I saw this weekend. I’m not one for speed records, but it seems that engine raised the bar. Your talking about opening the exhaust now… if that makes it run even faster, then Jeff better start training for sprint running.
| |
David Rose
http://www.FortWildernessRR.com
SA #62 | |
|
rbednarik
1st Class Member
Mt. Holly, NJ
Foreman
Posts:248
Send Message
| | 09/16/2008 3:30 PM |
| Dave,
Not opening the exhaust. That is already done. The valve has a milled passage in the bottom that is the restriction point right now, so time to make new valves and then all is good, no more Galloping Gertie noise and much less steam needed to accomplish the same amount of work, aka, it can go even faster...maybe not such a good thing for Jeff. | |
-ryan
SA #1361 | |
|
livesteam5629
1st Class Member
Elkton, MD
Foreman
Posts:151
Send Message
| | 09/16/2008 3:46 PM |
| Jeff sprint????
N | |
Noel Crawford | |
|
Charles
1st Class Member
Conductor
Posts:636
Send Message
| | 09/16/2008 7:34 PM |
| A final video review of some action from the various steam engines brought to the meet by gauge one enthusiasts and friends of the IE&W host Jim and Jo Anne.
| |
Happy Trails on the Rails
Offering services to enhance your steam locomotive
Charles
SA #614
http://cebednarik.googlepages.com/home | |
|
JEFF RUNGE
Foreman
Posts:170
Send Message
| | 09/16/2008 7:51 PM |
| Nice job Charles, Thanks for sharing
| | | |
|
NHSTEAMER
1st Class Member
Las Vegas NV
Foreman
Posts:119
Send Message
| | 09/16/2008 11:00 PM |
| | Looks like it was a great weekend, wish I could have made it there. Hope to see all of the east coast steamers again sometime soon. | |
Bill Megill Jr SA# 3028
 | |
|
privero
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:56
Send Message
| | 09/17/2008 9:22 AM |
| Ryan and Jeff:
The engine you use to perform this advance features is an Accucraft? Can you do it in an Aster? How would you call it now, since a have read other GS4 as Gordon Watson. How would you call yours? | | | |
|
weaverc
1st Class Member
Lexington Virginia
Foreman
Posts:326
Send Message
| | 09/17/2008 9:36 AM |
| Privero
It's a RYFF... | |
Carl Weaver
SA#138
Big Bear Steam Railway
 | |
|
rbednarik
1st Class Member
Mt. Holly, NJ
Foreman
Posts:248
Send Message
| | 09/17/2008 11:08 AM |
| Privero,
The engine is still a GW inspired locomotive, just with my (and Jeff's) take on it. This is now becoming the Stage 5 of my GS-4 retrofits and represents the pinnacle of tapping this chassis' potential. Yes, it is an Accucraft loco, which has been through my hands twice before, in stock form and in my shop for the initial stage 3 retrofit (combination levers, waterpump rebuild, suspension, etc)
It is not necessary to do these modifications to an Aster loco, since that is what we are trying to recreate. The Aster already has all of the prodcts in the Stage 5 retrofit. We are giving people the best bang for their buck without having to tap into their pension fund for a GS-4.
If you have some more questions, post them up here (preferably in a new topic, so as to not steal away the spotlight of Dr. Rivet's meet) or contact me through board PM's or email. | |
-ryan
SA #1361 | |
|
xo18thfa
1st Class Member
Las Vegas, Nevada
Foreman
Posts:150
Send Message
| | 09/17/2008 11:29 AM |
| Really enjoyed looking at the pics and vids. Thanks for posting. Looks like all had a great time.
Take care, Bob | |
Bob Sorenson
SA #13
"Goals are dreams with deadlines"
 | |
|
afinegan
1st Class Member
Boca Raton
Foreman
Posts:161
Send Message
| | 09/17/2008 11:44 AM |
| You should put all the threads together(I think you had a few on some of the stages) and add information that is missing, and put together a how to.
This would help out a lot of people wanting to tinker with their engine and make it perform better!
The meet looked like it was outstanding, I sent it to the club president (local 7.5" gauge) for an example on what potential happen if we build a club g-scale track (he enjoyed it!). Hes totally for it (has been for a year now), just lack of people in scale 1 category in South Florida lol
Ill figure it out :-P "If you build it they will come" | |
Andrew Finegan
SA# 777
Current Project: DJB Coal Fired Ruby
Current Engines:
Accucraft Ruby Butane, DJB Coal Fired Ruby(in construction), Accucraft Shay #2, Aster Thunderbolt | |
|
Charles
1st Class Member
Conductor
Posts:636
Send Message
| | 09/17/2008 1:05 PM |
| The past upgrade stages and effort to enhance performance along with history of baseline of the Accucraft GS4 can be found in:
Subject: Informative Threads Index | |
Happy Trails on the Rails
Offering services to enhance your steam locomotive
Charles
SA #614
http://cebednarik.googlepages.com/home | |
|
Britstrains
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:37
Send Message
| | 09/18/2008 11:43 AM |
| We Had A Great Time. | | | |
|
Charles
1st Class Member
Conductor
Posts:636
Send Message
| | 09/18/2008 2:43 PM |
| Brit
Did you work out the situation with the steam leak? | |
Happy Trails on the Rails
Offering services to enhance your steam locomotive
Charles
SA #614
http://cebednarik.googlepages.com/home | |
|
Britstrains
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:37
Send Message
| | 09/22/2008 12:55 PM |
| No Not yet we are currently dismantling it and it would sseem that the part may be falty which then we would have to get a replacement. I am trying to balance trains and school which is very hard right now. But I think that we almost have it solved and should have it running for the September 28th meet at PLS. | | | |
|
Dr Rivet
1st Class Member
Purcellville, VA
Foreman
Posts:118
Send Message
| | 09/22/2008 1:40 PM |
| brit
Please send me your email addr offline to my email addr that you have or in a private msg on this site. Glad you had a good time
Jim | |
Jim Stapleton
SA# 2.71828
IE&W Railway | |
|
jfrank
1st Class Member
Katy, Texas
Foreman
Posts:179
Send Message
| | 09/22/2008 1:52 PM |
| Posted By Charles on 09/16/2008 7:34 PM A final video review of some action from the various steam engines brought to the meet by gauge one enthusiasts and friends of the IE&W host Jim and Jo Anne.
Thanks Charles for posting those pictures. It would be nice if Jim Stapleton had a web site showing his track layout and gave some particulars as to it's construction such as decking material, brand of track and switches, statistics as to length, #of switches, yard tracks, etc. It's a magnificent railroad. I was watching those Accucraft 4-4-0's at the end to see if their stacks would fall off. Just kidding of course. | |
John Frank
Katy, Texas
Home of the Texas Western Narrow Gauge RR | |
|
Charles
1st Class Member
Conductor
Posts:636
Send Message
| | 09/22/2008 3:29 PM |
| John
I could image some of the Lone Star residents need a few visuals to make it through the rough times following the storms. So, it great that you and others have power and time to watch and take one's mind off the stressful things in the real world around those impacted by the storm. | |
Happy Trails on the Rails
Offering services to enhance your steam locomotive
Charles
SA #614
http://cebednarik.googlepages.com/home | |
|
Dr Rivet
1st Class Member
Purcellville, VA
Foreman
Posts:118
Send Message
| | 09/22/2008 9:35 PM |
| John
When I get organized again following our recent meet, I will try to post some photos and details. In a previous thread on one of the meets, Charles posted an overhead shot taken in the Fall of 2005 from a commercial source. It shows the extent of the layout.
CURRENT General specs:
Posts, stringers, and crossmembers supporting the deck are PT 4x4, 2x6, and 2x4
Deck is Trex 5/4 x 6 either 32 or 38 inches wide, curved sections have the Trex "pie wedged"
Height varies from 16 inches to 53 inches.
Main circuit is 560 feet in length
Steaming bay lead is 90 feet, bay is 30 feet
Two yards with 12 storage tracks total, all #10 turnouts; 2 3-way and 8 standard
Storage track length 350 feet
Ga 1 Main is double track with seven single crossovers, two passing tracks on the outside of each main
Minimum radius is 24 feet, maximum grade is 1 in 176, track c2c is 7 inches
All turnouts #10
Steaming bay has eight service tracks and three "through roads" in the center that can connect to a portable turntable
All turnouts in the steaming bay are #8, "track" is 1/2 x 1/2 aluminum angle to reduce "melted tie" syndrome
A circuit of Ga 0 is inside the Ga 1 and is dual gauge through the passing tracks for the inside Ga 1 main, using custom built dual gauge escapes built from SVRR #10 switch kit parts
Total track is about 3000 feet
ALL track is Sunset Valley RR code 250 NS.
Regards
Jim
| |
Jim Stapleton
SA# 2.71828
IE&W Railway | |
|