Help sought with boiler

Dear all,

I have been looking into building a shay locomotive based on WM 6 from the Cass scenic railroad.

I am having a few difficulties with the design of the boiler on it.

The prototype has an extended wagon top design and the grate area scales down to 5.5 x 10 inches for my 5 inch gauge model.

How would I go about designing a boiler for her or does anyone know of a boiler with a similar grate area that could be used and the wagon top exterior being dummy cladding.

Kind regards,

Tom

Kozo Hiraoka's Shay design for 3 1/2" gauge used a true wagon top boiler which is very successful and is proven safe. In addition, it is straighforward to build and his build instructions and diagrams are second to none.

Before abandoning the true wagon top design you might review his boiler with a view to adopting its' design to your 5" gauge engine.

Just a thought.

There are several sub-sections in his Shay book showing alternate boiler constructions, at least one being a steel boiler which could save considerable money over a copper-built boiler if you can weld or know a welder.

JD

Hello Tom,

I presume you are not in Australia.

The Australian Association of Live Steamers (AALS) publish standards for copper, steel, stainless steel (All up to 50 litres capacity) and also for very small boilers.

Visit the AALS website, and you could purchase a copy for about AUD$20.00.

This will assist greatly with your design.

John A

Tom, If you haven't already, you could consider joining the " Builders of Kozo's Engines" Yahoo group. Dennis (Sorry about message layout - my bleedin return key has apparently given up )

Thanks for the very useful replies.

I have now finished the main GA drawing and for the boiler it would need to be 5.5 inch at the front, then tapering to 8 inch diameter at the back.

For a boiler of this size would I be able to use steel because it seems about the size of some 7 1/4 locomotives.

Kind regards.

You need to speak to your Boiler Inspctor .... Requirements vary by country..... In the Uk you would need to get the design approved if it is not a published design, and be an approved certified welder.

Dave

Stovepipe - Switch Compatability mode on. Then the 'Return' Key works

Dave

My boiler has sprung a leak at the tube plate next to one of the main flues. As it's getting on for 30 years old it is time it was replaced.

WHO is the best supplier of boilers and why?

Please do not respond by telling me to make my own. I simply do not have time and the easiest option is to buy a new one. All my club friends and members are too busy with their own problems for me to be asking for help, so that ones a no no as well. Besides, that they we are all busy trying to build a new track.

Bri

Try Bell Boilers he made a 7.25g steel boiler for me, but not sure that he will take on anything smaller he isin a small industrial unit just outside Cheltenham Worth asking him.
Bob

Thanks for the replies!

At the recent Midland Show I was talking to a gentleman from the Northern Fed whom I have bought a codes booklet from and my club boiler inspector is happy with the design.

Hi Tom

Speaking from experience, you could build it out of steel - just! If you look at my albums I took step by step pictures of building a 5" scale one for £200. Being an ex coded welder my inspector was happy for me to prep and do all the welds so long as I had it all professionally nd tested and had the cert to show. BUT, unless you are an extremely experienced welder, dont even attempt it yourself. The resulting boiler will be quite safe, but I can guarantee will leak like a sieve the first time you put it under pressure - plus you would need a good understanding of weld prep to begin. You will need copper tubes on a boiler this small so you will also need oxy to solder them in. I much prefer to build in steel as it is so cheap and forgiving, but it requires a huge amount of experience if you dont want it to leak!

Fizzy

Bri - dont weigh in your old boiler, I will buy it!!