5"gauge speedy

i would like to know how to make a steam chest liner to fit into cast iron cylinder block , for a speedy, any advice? Westy.

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Yes br, it is the liner for the piston valve. I have looked on line but only found a car cylinder etc.

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Hi Chris

There are Speedy build logs over on the Model Engineering  Clearing house / Proboards forum, and plenty of other good build logs dealing with piston valve cylinders, and almost everything else. The forum is largely locomotive based and a great resource.

Dave

Edited By Dave Wootton on 17/01/2022 16:30:34

The plans for the 5" SPEEDY show the liners, LBSC's book has the explanation of how to machine them. My SPEEDY was purchased as an "abandoned project" with cylinders machined from bronze castings. Feel free to message me for more info and also during your SPEEDY build.

Bob

Thanks to all with info. About cylinders. Westy

I started on a Speedy back in the autumn, well actually ordered a boiler. I do not intend to start cutting metal for at least another two months.. The trouble with the Speedy is that there is just too much information on modifications published and on the internet. From what I have seen the useful information in most blogs is submerged by congratualatory junk. One useful guide stops half way, last updated ten years ago (from memory). I have yet to have a good look at the MECH forum because of the time required.

In order to understand the locomotive I am buiding a solid model which has proved very useful. My understanding that moving the front of the frame forward by about 1/4" would be benifial giving more room for the front brake hangers and Don Ashton's valve gear.

I do not intend to post a blog on this forum but I would like to communicate with anyone interested or can give good advice.

JA

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JA Why put the brakes on all 6 wheels when the driving trolley has sufficient brakes ?

I don't look now why brakes on all 6 wheels, but engine brakes are essential if the loco is to be left eg on a steaming bay or in the station when you get off to pick up water or coal.

I have no better reason than LBSC did so. He does discuss this in his book.

JA

That is the real problem with the Speedy. It needs someone to summarise the knowledge.

JA

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My first few runs with my SPEEDY show that the reversing lever is so close to the front of the cab as to make it impossible to get hold of it when in the forward position and you have 'driving' gloves on. It is also sandwiched between the backhead of the boiler and cabin side. The drawings say the centre line of the reversing stand is 5 3/4" from the back end of the frames. 4 3/4" gives room to actuate the reversing lever without scalding yourself BUT, at that dimension, it partially blocks the doorway for those that try to copy the full size Speedy.

Bob

Today I was preparing for the French Pt 2 boiler certificate which includes raising steam and leaving the blower wide open to check that the safety valve is capable of venting sufficient pressure so as not to exceed the max allowable SWP.

After confirming to myself that the safety valve was capable of achieving this requirement, I used up some of the steam by static running of the loco on the test bed. After a few minutes, there was a disturbing clunk clunk .....

On inspection, the piston crosshead was detached from the piston rod having sheared the 5/64" taper pin, I then saw that the pin connecting the reversing rod to the valve crosshead was missing. It shows the force between the rotating motion and what I can only think was wet steam or condensate not being allowed to vent either by the cylinder drain cocks or the piston valve being at the wrong event.

The connecting pin between the rod and crosshead is a press fit into the thin walls of the valve crosshead - obviously not tight enough. A minor re-design is in progress