Joined
·
397 Posts
I ran my Aster Krauss today and I am reminded what a tiny little Jewel it really is. In this small package you have everything you want in a live steam engine with not only an easy access regulator and Johnson bar but also a full length water glass with a blow down button for accurate reading, a discreet finger operated manual water pump, an axle pump with adjustable by-pass and a water tank. All this in a loco you can easily hold in one hand. Many bigger locomotives don't have axle pumps or proper sight glass with blow down and many tank loco's don't even carry their own water so for Aster to fit all this in such a small locomotive is a masterpiece in functional miniaturisation.
It does require your full attention and skill to run it as with only around 88cc of water in the boiler and small cylinders it can be difficult to get it to run sedately and without running out of water in the boiler as it boils it fast when less than half full. Using the finger pump and adjusting the axle pump by-pass when needed keeps the water up and the magnificent miniature outside Stephenson's valve gear means you can notch back the timing just like the real thing, and it's fascinating to watch. At first I didn't like running this engine as it's not a set-and-forget type of runner but now it tests my skills and I find very rewarding to drive properly.
I have modified this one cosmetically from the original Aster model of the Japanese "Iyo" a 2' 6" gauge Krauss to be the same as a Krauss (builders Number 4087) that ran here in Australia in the Mt Lyell Mines as their number 6 so the buffer beams and funnel are different. I also removed the two gas tanks as one was in the cab ( rather ugly) so I now have just one bigger one under the cab floor.
Although hundreds of similar engines were made by Krauss and shipped around the world I thought they would be more popular as you don't see many of these models outside of Japan.
![Wheel Motor vehicle Camera accessory Cameras & optics Automotive tire]()
Not many live steam Loco's you can hold in one hand.
![Gas Space Machine Auto part Engineering]()
Cab controls with water tank and finger pump on LH side and finger push blow down valve on sight glass on the right.
![Automotive exterior Gas Motor vehicle Machine Magenta]()
Axle pump with by pass control wheel on rear buffer beam (upper RH of screen)
![Train Wheel Vehicle Plant Rolling stock]()
![Train Plant Motor vehicle Vehicle Toy]()
![Train Vehicle Steam engine Rolling stock Rolling]()
![Train Plant Vehicle Motor vehicle Rolling stock]()
On my own steaming today so only still camera shots, one day when I have company I'll video it as it's fascinating to watch the valve gear in operation. Hope you all enjoyed this little review of one of my engines and little Jewel in Aster's crown?
Russell
It does require your full attention and skill to run it as with only around 88cc of water in the boiler and small cylinders it can be difficult to get it to run sedately and without running out of water in the boiler as it boils it fast when less than half full. Using the finger pump and adjusting the axle pump by-pass when needed keeps the water up and the magnificent miniature outside Stephenson's valve gear means you can notch back the timing just like the real thing, and it's fascinating to watch. At first I didn't like running this engine as it's not a set-and-forget type of runner but now it tests my skills and I find very rewarding to drive properly.
I have modified this one cosmetically from the original Aster model of the Japanese "Iyo" a 2' 6" gauge Krauss to be the same as a Krauss (builders Number 4087) that ran here in Australia in the Mt Lyell Mines as their number 6 so the buffer beams and funnel are different. I also removed the two gas tanks as one was in the cab ( rather ugly) so I now have just one bigger one under the cab floor.
Although hundreds of similar engines were made by Krauss and shipped around the world I thought they would be more popular as you don't see many of these models outside of Japan.
Not many live steam Loco's you can hold in one hand.
Cab controls with water tank and finger pump on LH side and finger push blow down valve on sight glass on the right.
Axle pump with by pass control wheel on rear buffer beam (upper RH of screen)
On my own steaming today so only still camera shots, one day when I have company I'll video it as it's fascinating to watch the valve gear in operation. Hope you all enjoyed this little review of one of my engines and little Jewel in Aster's crown?
Russell
