scared of an engine!

[pauly]

I'm not sure why but I seem to have developed this irrational fear of steaming my Caradoc  (which has yet to be steamed by me)
I keep meaning to but when I get to the engine I just cant do it!
 :?   its as if I'm scared its not gonna work or something  :?  :|

[SillyBilly]

Perhaps its because of what happend when your first steamed the Regner. Just go for it.

[Rob]

go for it pauly. i had never used a gas loco or anything similar when i first steamed my edrig, the only one i had was a mamod, and got on great on my first steaming.

GO FOR IT MATE!!!

[laalratty]

Yep, just steam it, or the you will find it gets harder and harder to overcome the feelings not to steam it. I had this once back when my millie was my only loco, and i'd run it out of water on its first steaming and rolled it on its second! But I overcame it and more importantly got used to driving it.
Go on, you will enjoy steaming it

[pauly]

another thing is the unfamiliar controls and valves like the 1 at the back of the boiler that looks like a water level plug

and before anyone mentions instructions I make a habit of not reading them because they are very boring and usually just confuse me more

will probably destroy it oh I mean steam it tomorrow now

[SillyBilly]

another thing is the unfamiliar controls and valves like the 1 at the back of the boiler that looks like a water level plug

Don't take it out, it's a Banjo bolt, this takes the overflow of water from the boiler out to below the footplate on the gas tank side of the loco. There is a little valve thing there under the footplate, you twist it about three times and its open, then raise steam, then when this valve is ejecting almost pure steam, close it, if you don't have asbestos fingers then use the little 'T' tool supplied or gloves.

[Endless, Nameless]

Errr... not reading instructions is probably a really bad idea. You don't have to learn them word for word, but at least familiarise yourself with the controls and whatnot.

I'd be scared to operate an engine if I hadn't read the instructions and got a good idea of what's supposed to be going on!

[Endless, Nameless]

And wot Billy said... it's reet handy that valve, saves getting covered in oily water when you try and start the thing running after you've overfilled it!