Gas fired, manual control locomotives.

Colinjamesporter · Post by **Colinjamesporter** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:14 pm

Hi,
I have several steam engines by both roundhouse and Accucraft controlled by r/c. I was recently asked by a friend how controllable the locos were without r/c as he is thinking about getting a steam engine but wants to be able to run it slowly. Is it possible to do this as his track will be raised or would r/c be best?
Thanks in advance.
Best wishes
Colin

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:18 pm

If the track is level and the curves not too tight Manual slow running is very possible and enjoyable most of all! See with manual control the amount of gas (setting) and the amount of regulator setting cross relate. This is where the fun is getting it spot on for a slow run is so satisfying. I was R/c and now am mostly manual..

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:36 pm

Getting a manual loco running really well, WITHOUT THE SAFETY VALVE BLOWING OFF ALL THE TIME is one of the most satisfying things you can do in this hobby.

There's a real art to mastering the gas / regulator equation under all sorts of conditions and when you do it's great.

Busted Bricks · Post by **Busted Bricks** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:00 pm

It also means that you actually pay attention to your train, unlike some of the <insert expletive here> who use R/C and don't pay attention with the result that they rear end your train and wreck your rolling stock.

I had a "Jane" that was a doodle to run manually.

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:15 pm

My roundhouse Charles runs well on the line with bad bends slowing it up..But with care you can get most things to manualy runhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mfg-kaSmc8 and slow its all in the track laying I wish I could redo mine! see what you can pick up in the video.

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:19 pm

I also share your dislike for careless drivers... Having had my Brandbright coaches and Mss loco rear ended by a No.24 Sandy River which was going like a bat out of hell... not even an apology either... One was not Amused!

I'm still learning with my Accucraft Caradoc to get it just right on the gas so that it doesn't sound like a jet engine..

If a Mamod / Mss loco can be tamed to run slowly then any loco can!

INJIN · Post by **INJIN** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:27 pm

Now I do ike a bit of slow running. Here is my manual Russell on a windy day. Steady............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcrt-n3p ... 8X6xxnTtow

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:27 pm

ooohh tag suggests fine stainless gauze over the burner of Acccucraft locos to help with control and lower the sound (it must be stainless mind) I think it glows red hot and aids a lower setting..

steamie1 · Post by **steamie1** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:32 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCnpazV0Uc
I dunnoe you have us all fired up now..A long, light loaded, set of rolling stock, helps dampen the track errors. Hey if silly old me can get an MSS to run slow anything is possible..

Busted Bricks · Post by **Busted Bricks** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:36 pm

laurence703:82520 wrote:I also share your dislike for careless drivers... Having had my Brandbright coaches and Mss loco rear ended by a No.24 Sandy River which was going like a bat out of hell... not even an apology either... One was not Amused!

Accidents happen but bad manners really irk me and since no apologies were offered on several occasions I gave up on running at Brambleton. Shame as it is walking distance from where I live but not worth the grief.

Speaking of taming Mamods - on a reasonable level track mine was very easy to run manually. However I had made better wheels for it and made new cylinders as well as modifying the reverser to make it easier to set for slow running.

Gremlin · Post by **Gremlin** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:27 pm

I've only got one RC loco, though I plan to fit it to another.
I quite like my manual ones and slow running.
My Carodoc runs superbly
I have fitted the stainless mesh to a few Accy burners, does make a difference. Not too fine though as that creates other problems. I frying pan splatter shield from the pound shop did the trick. Just cut out a piece to wrap round and undo a bit of stainless thread to anchor.

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:17 pm

My track has quite a steep gradient and tight curves so I had to have R/C otherwise the locos would either stall on the uphill or run away on the downhill.

Recently however I've become a convert to geared locos which are far less influenced by slopes and tight curves. Regner Easyline locos like the Konrad, Willi and Vincent all have 6:1 reduction gearing and so tackle the challenges of my track without any intervention on my part.

Mike

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:39 am

I have a manual "Billy". I enjoy getting the gas and regulator setting just right for nice slow runs. I think it helps to have a heavy train behind the engine. I fill my wagons with rocks and tins of beer to the point where it slips a little getting going, and plods along with a higher regulator setting than if it was light. This keeps the cylinders hotter and less likely to choke up with condensate when the train does occasionally stop for a breath, and makes for exciting starts while it gets going again. getting it so that it doesn't blow off all the time takes practice, but when it occasionally pauses sometimes it does blow off before getting going again which, when it doesn't happen all the time, is a bit of additional "steam" action.

On my little oval of track, the engine stops for a breath at exactly the same spot about every second or third time around the circuit, at the bottom of a slight dip. I made a little stone structure there, and it looks as if the train is stopping at a halt. It's a lot of fun, really.

I might be an oddball here but I do not want R/C in my engine for a different reason than most. Being a "real" steam engine, I appreciate it for its representation of the technology of the time. They really are elegantly simple machines, and I feel that clogging up the cab with plastic, computer chips and batteries detracts from the spirit in which it was built. I am not really a model train enthusiast as much as I am an admirer of steam engines in general, so I am not really all that interested in shunting, or operations as much as I am in just watching a little steam train puffing around.

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:07 am

Keith S:82548 wrote:I might be an oddball here but I do not want R/C in my engine for a different reason than most. Being a "real" steam engine, I appreciate it for its representation of the technology of the time. They really are elegantly simple machines, and I feel that clogging up the cab with plastic, computer chips and batteries detracts from the spirit in which it was built. I am not really a model train enthusiast as much as I am an admirer of steam engines in general, so I am not really all that interested in shunting, or operations as much as I am in just watching a little steam train puffing around.

Keith, I was a "dyed-in-the-wool" member of the Burned Finger Brigade for many years, and never wanted to even consider R/C.
Then my Pearse Earl and Accucraft Countess arrived on the scene, both secondhand (as usual), and both fitted with radio.
I ran them "as acquired" with the full intention of converting to manual at some point in the future ~ BUT

I was won over by the fact that it does give another highly enjoyable aspect to running our steam engines!
The actual "driving experience" somehow transcends the electrickery involved as you open and close the regulator making adjustments along the track for load / gradient / speed restrictions etc.

I now sit firmly on the fence!

I enjoy BOTH methods of control in equal measure and can only recommend either for whichever style of "driving" you prefer

hussra · Post by **hussra** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:48 am

I'm with Kevin on this - both have their place. I came to the conclusion that, especially when visiting other local lines, I would be as well to consider fitting a loco with RC - but I also really enjoy running manual. (Last week the "Wren" managed nearly two circuits of the CVLR without chaos ensuing - very satisfying!)

benchmark · Post by **benchmark** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:09 pm

Colinjamesporter:82513 wrote:Hi,
I have several steam engines by both roundhouse and Accucraft controlled by r/c. I was recently asked by a friend how controllable the locos were without r/c as he is thinking about getting a steam engine but wants to be able to run it slowly. Is it possible to do this as his track will be raised or would r/c be best?
Thanks in advance.
Best wishes
Colin

If you want slow, then nothing beats Regners geared options. How is this for an example

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mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 6:51 am

If you want slow, then nothing beats Regners geared options

I totally agree, here's some short videos of the first runs outside of my my Regner Konrad and Vincent, after purchasing second hand and undertaking repairs. Also my Mamod Brunel after I re-geared it to about a 4:1 reduction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCbbTUAc0rE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nGKxUwZHyQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahlf23HUDNI

Before I discovered just how slowly a well geared loco could go my only option was radio control, just because of the gradient and curves on my short outside track.

Mike

Pendo Pilot · Post by **Pendo Pilot** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 12:17 pm

I'm firmly RC, I do run manual loco's as well (until I can get them RC'd). But aside from my Regner Chaloner they don't give me as much satisfaction as the RC ones. I just prefer to drive my loco's directly. When running on my own a normal run would consist of shunting, trip working from point to point & more shunting after that. Coasting a loco down hill to get a good head of steam before a good slog up a gradient I find brilliant & feel much more involved with the running. The only time I have had incidents with collision, derailment etc is with manual loco's & most times see's the owner chasing said loco with intent to stop it & sometimes failing. Having said that I mostly only run on my hilly line & the paddock railway at Hampton Loade which also has gradients. Both are places that sending a lot of moneys worth of manual loco on uncontrolled run can lead to a few moments.

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 4:52 pm

As much as I liked running my Caradoc in Manual, I've decided that RC is the way to go on it as it is a fair lump and could quite easily cause some serious damage to others rolling stock or locos which isn't good... it could also mean that derailments in tunnels could be avoided with proper driving instead of Caradoc 125...

The Mamod will stay Manual to provide that extra bit of chaos...

williamfj · Post by **williamfj** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 6:48 pm

While I don't have experience with RC steam on locos I have no intention of fitting RC to Minnie for various reasons. One reason is that I like the feel of opening the regulator, although I haven't steamed Minnie since fitting a new regulator & handle to her. Another is that she's slip eccentric, and I never drive quickly enough to ram anything!

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