[metroman]

Hi,
I have just joined this forum. I have had a Garden Railway for a couple of years now, running LGB locos. I have just purchased the Accucraft "Edrig" live steam loco. The instruction manual states that when filling the lubricator, always use a high temperature steam oil. Does anyone know what type of oil this is and is there an equivalent oil that may be used for the same purpose? Thanks for any replies.
Regards
Martin

 

[Tenn Steam]

This is steam oil. Try any live steam supplier for oil. The dealer where you bought the Edrig should have some. Do not use 10W30 or any other auto oil. The application is totally different. Steam oil is dispersed in the steam while auto oil will not.
Welcome to live steam
Bob

 

[metroman]

Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply. The dealer where I bought Edrig is not local, and it will be six weeks before I go there again. Can you sugest where I can get any oil. I am in the UK. Thanks
Martin

 

[metroman]

I have some quite thin compressor oil. Would this be okay to use? Thanks
Martin

 

[metroman]

Hi,
Another query. Should I use pure distilled water in the boiler, or would it be okay to use water frozen and then melted down. Thanks
Martin

 

[Semper Vaporo]

First, water... always use water with zero contaminates... i.e.: the best is "distilled water", next would be dehumidifier water or rain water or "pure water" derived by reverse osmosis. Water that has disolved minerals and such will leave those elements in the boiler when the water is boiled off and this will coat the insides of the boiler with scale and that will damage the boiler (it acts as an thermal insulator and that limits heat transfer to the water resulting in over heating of the metal of the boiler). Freezing or pre-boiling the water does not precipitate out the contaminates.

Second, the oil... true "Steam Cylinder Oil" is the best (and some say ONLY) oil to use. The oil used must be capable of dispersing in the steam to get to the cylinder walls to lubricate the piston. Steam Oil is a blend of animal fats/oils, mineral and other petroleum oils. I don't think that compressor oil would be good. The steam may scour it off the walls instead of delivering it to the walls... (remember, steam is often used to clean oily machines!) I have read that plain mineral oil (what people used to drink as a medicine for bowel problems) is okay to use, but I don't know that for sure. Do a web search for steam cylinder oil and see what dealers are near you... you may have to mail-order it if there are no dealers near you. I called the local home heating oil company and asked for it and they have it in stock as it is still in used by many companies... unfortunately the minimum container they sell is a 5 gallon bucket (about $30.U.S.; but that was 8 years ago) and what I bought will long outlast my lifetime even if I ran my train everyday!

 

[Jerry Barnes]

Live steam is VERY popular in the UK. You should be able to find a local club very easily. CHeck the ads in the magazines over there, you should find LOTS of places to buy steam oil near you. G1MRA has a websiteyou could check out www.gaugeone.org Call justtheticket.tv at 01980 65291 Quite a few UK steamers on this web site, or check: http://www.gscalemad.co.uk

 

[metroman]

Hi,
Thanks to everyone for the replies. I will get some distilled water and the correct oil before I run the loco.
Martin

 

[tacfoley]

Posted By metroman on 08/03/2008 12:34 PM
Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply. The dealer where I bought Edrig is not local, and it will be six weeks before I go there again. Can you sugest where I can get any oil. I am in the UK. Thanks
Martin

Dear Mr metroman - Unless you live underwater in the three mile limit, on Orkney or Shetland, you are unlikely to live more than about 30-40 miles from a model store where live-steam locos are sold and hence the must-haves that go with them, like the correct steam oil.

There is NO substitute whatsoever for steam oil - as has been noted, it is especially formulated to become an emulsion in steam and get carried around the working parts in the steam flow.

I live in Cambridgeshire, but like you, I have access to the internet. I just googled 'steam oil' and got over 146,000 hits in less than 3/100th of second.

If you can't be bothered to do it the 'hard way', try contacting -

Milton Locomotive works
Garden Railway Specialists
Garden Railway Centres
Bay Models
Back2Bay6
Accucraft UK
Glendale Junction
PPS Steam ModelsDream steam
Kent garden Railways
Martin's Models
Trackshack
Milton Locomotive Works
Roundhouse Engineering
Brandbright Limited
Kernow Model Railway Centre
Scottish Garden Railways

Use 118-118...

I'm certain any and all of the above will send you a bottle of steam oil.
Joining a national group like the 16mm Association might be a good plan, too - there are sure to be groups in YOUR part of the UK, or if you live on Orkney or the Shetland Isles, advice like mine on the end of a phone line. See your PM to give me a call.

tac

PS - get yourself a copy of 'Garden Rail' magazine as well - and get to a show as soon as you can, depending on where you live, of course.

 

[tacfoley]

Posted By Jerry Barnes on 08/03/2008 1:53 PM
Live steam is VERY popular in the UK. You should be able to find a local club very easily. CHeck the ads in the magazines over there, you should find LOTS of places to buy steam oil near you. G1MRA has a websiteyou could check out www.gaugeone.org Call justtheticket.tv at 01980 65291 Quite a few UK steamers on this web site, or check: http://www.gscalemad.co.uk




Good plan on the gscalemad website - lots of very helpful people there, although I'm not one of them.

I've pm'd Martin to call me, BTW.

Of course, model live steam as we know it was practically invented here in UK, along with the successful steam locomotive /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif

tac

 

[Steve S.]

Of course, model live steam as we know it was practically invented here in UK, along with the successful steam locomotive

Terry................. you old trouble maker

 

[tacfoley]

Posted By Steve S. on 08/04/2008 6:56 AM
Of course, model live steam as we know it was practically invented here in UK, along with the successful steam locomotive

Terry................. you old trouble maker " border=0>" border=0>




Re Comment #1 - Please show me details of a commercially-made mass-produced live-steam narrow-gauge garden railway scale locomotive made in the the USA prior to around 1973, or details of any commercially-produced Gauge 1/2 or 3 live-steam in the garden prior to about 1910 and I'll retract my comment. /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif

Re Comment #2 - please show me evidence of commercial steam-hauled traction the US of A prior to 1814 [Hedley's 'Puffing Billy'], and I'll retract my comment.

IIRC - The first locomotive to operate in the Americas was the 'Stourbridge Lion', one of the four original locomotives built in England at the order of John B. Jervis, chief engineer of D. & H. C.C.

tac /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif

 

[Semper Vaporo]

My Dear Mr. tacfoley:

You have absolutely NO reason to retract your statements. The U.S of A. is indebted to the UK for the invention of the Steam Locomotive... indeed, the entire world is so indebted. No other form of locomotion is better.

It just took the U.S. of A. to perfect it and make it visually pleasing. ;-)

 

[Dwight Ennis]

It just took the U.S. of A. to perfect it and make it visually pleasing.

 

[tacfoley]

Posted By Semper Vaporo on 08/04/2008 10:07 AM
My Dear Mr. tacfoley: You have absolutely NO reason to retract your statements. The U.S of A. is indebted to the UK for the invention of the Steam Locomotive... indeed, the entire world is so indebted. No other form of locomotion is better. It just took the U.S. of A. to perfect it and make it visually pleasing. ;-)




I'm not arguing with a personal opinion.

But I WOULD like to ask you to look at 'Mallard' or a GWR 'King' Class locomotive and tell me they are not beautiful.

As for me, well, I support two US locomotive societies and one British one.

tac

 

[Semper Vaporo]

My dear Mr. tacfoley:

Beauty is truely in the eye of the beholder... and there is no accounting for taste, for sure... Thus I would dare not tell YOU they are not beautiful... but I would like to ask if they knocked the claw feet off that bathtub when the flipped it over?

 

[xo18thfa]

Hi Martin: Welcome to the group. A great bunch of guys here, to be sure. Would like to see some pics of your first run.

Take care and have fun, Bob



PS: Hey Terry, always good to see you.