Shay steams up at CSME (Chelmsford Society of Model Engineers).

[beavercreek]

I finally had my first visit to the new Gauge 1, 32mm and 45mm layout at CSME's club in Chelmsford
Great facilities and a good layout for gauge 1, 32mm and all 45mm scales that is being developed further.
There is already a fine 5" and 7" ground and raised layout that is open to the public on Sundays.
Very good facilities for members with a 'hobbyshop' for building and 'fettling' all scales of locos.
Members' 'playday' is on the first Wednesday of each month and I visited today near the end of play (that is why my loco is the only one running!).

I brought along an old 2 cylinder two truck live steam shay, some logs cars and a couple of scratch built cars bringing up the rear.
The layout circuit is approximately 200 feet.

A couple of photos and a quick vid.
After I shot the video I turned the gas down a touch to stop her 'howling'
I also need to 'tame' the weathering a bit!

 

[Zerogee]

Yes, a good track and a friendly bunch - I went along with Marshman a few months back, gave my live steam Wonky (1K) a good run, and also got the battery RC-DCC Whizzy Cranks BoBo out on the track - since the 45mm circuit is mainly intended for Gauge 1 rather than G, I had wondered how the BoBo's flanges would cope with the relatively fine track profile in use - but in the end there was no problem at all, even over the points.

Jon.

 

[dunnyrail]

Yes, a good track and a friendly bunch - I went along with Marshman a few months back, gave my live steam Wonky (1K) a good run, and also got the battery RC-DCC Whizzy Cranks BoBo out on the track - since the 45mm circuit is mainly intended for Gauge 1 rather than G, I had wondered how the BoBo's flanges would cope with the relatively fine track profile in use - but in the end there was no problem at all, even over the points.

Jon.

Friend of mine uses Gauge 1 Track as it gives him a more Main Line feel to his Swiss style RHB setup. Only issue tends to be very very old LGB which have deeper flanges that can just kiss the Rail Chairs. That Shay runs as sweet as a nut but the Gas is a bit of a Howler!

 

[beavercreek]

Friend of mine uses Gauge 1 Track as it gives him a more Main Line feel to his Swiss style RHB setup. Only issue tends to be very very old LGB which have deeper flanges that can just kiss the Rail Chairs. That Shay runs as sweet as a nut but the Gas is a bit of a Howler!

As I said in the first posting, I turned the gas down after shooting the video to stop the howling.

 

[dunnyrail]

As I said in the first posting, I turned the gas down after shooting the video to stop the howling.

Just commenting on what I heard for what it is worth I think the weathering looks superb.

 

[beavercreek]

Just commenting on what I heard for what it is worth I think the weathering looks superb.

Thank you Jon...
the howling developed as she gradually warmed up during her run and the gas tank began to receive the warmth, so I had to turn the gas down a couple of times to stop the howling. After that she ran like a well oiled (steam) sewing machine.
I have two pretty old 2 truck live steam shays and they nearly always light up first time, and just run without bother.
My 3 truck LS shay can take a time to light and does tend to roar a bit even with careful control of the gas but once warmed up she is also as good as gold.

I need the shays for my tortuous gradients as they take it in their stride whilst hauling a fair train.

Here is a vid of my other 2 cylinder 2 truck LS shay when I first got her about three years ago. She was my first live steam loco.
She was manual control (now RC-ed) and I was finding it difficult to control the regulator (my layout has heavy inclines) and video at the same time so she is running a wee bit too fast in places!

 

[tac foley]

The howling is not caused by too much gas, but too much air. Try adjusting the cut-off collar around the burner.

My live steam 3-cylinder Shay is r/c on the Johnson bar only as a direction changing device and throttle. Once steam is up, and with the loco in mid-gear, I open the throttle all the way, and use the feathering of the JB to control speed and direction. Even with the throttle wide open, it's not as though any Shay is going to go into orbit in the way that a rod-driven loco might, right?

 

[beavercreek]

The howling is not caused by too much gas, but too much air. Try adjusting the cut-off collar around the burner.

Strange that turning the gas down stopped the howling then....

 

[PhilP]

Strange that turning the gas down stopped the howling then....

Won't high gas draw more air through? - So getting to a point where it resonates and howls?

 

[tac foley]

See PhilP's comment. Please feel free to ignore mine, after all, it's only based on the experience of three or four Accucraft maintenance specialists, Accucraft UK themselves, Geoff Calver of Rushford Barn, locomotive-builder par excellence, the late Herr Regner of Regner fame and Tamada-san, formerly Aster Hobbies #1 engineer.

What can THEY possibly know about it?

 

[beavercreek]

Ho hum.... here we go again.

 

[PhilP]

Tac,
Am agreeing with you, it is an air issue..

Was wondering if more gas needs more air? - Sucking more air in getting to a point where it howls..
Hence OP's comment that turning the gas down, stops howling..

 

[tac foley]

Since we are all here being likened to idiots, according to Mr beavercreek's byline, I think that we are wasting precious electrons and time continuing with this discussion. I'm done with this thread, and also with Mr beavercreek.

 

[beavercreek]

I'm sorry...and exactly what have I said?
I have not likened anyone to idiots least of all Phil.
All I have said, is that the howling went away when I turned down the gas, and you, Tac have gone off on one saying that I obviously know more than you and all of the live steam acolites that you mentioned.
All I can say is what happened to the howling when i turned the gas down after I took the video, and that is what happened whether all of the live steam aficionados in the world say it shouldn't happen or not.
Case closed.