Achilles Report No75: Steaming In The Snow...

Hi all. I trust everyone had a quiet but safe Christmas during this continued period of restrictions. It was an unusual one this year to say the least, but all we can do is hope for better things in 2021. With a definite absence of steam in my December calendar, I decided to fire up "Achilles" again to cure my Cold Firebox Syndrome. After all, "if you can't find any steam, make your own!". I last steamed the engine at Easter (in much sunnier conditions) and during that running session the axle pumps refused to operate. Since then I've stripped them down and freed off the ball bearings which were no doubt stuck to their seats after a few years without water. Having checked the engine over yesterday, I couldn't see any signs that the pumps were not going to work and so, spanners in hand, I put the lower halves of the pumps back in...

The operation to steam an engine at home is hardly stress free. There is a substantial amount of kit to be moved around in the workshop and then a steaming area has to be set up outside. Not only that, but todays weather forecast was a mixture of snow and light rain, accompanied by a biting cold wind. However, having made the decision to steam, I wasn't going to let any of that stop me! A little before 10:00 the engine was outside on my main workshop table. A gift for my recent birthday was a set of 5" gauge rollers which make steaming the tank engine so much easier. The old finger trapping method of attempting to chock the loco up on blocks isn't fondly remembered and the rollers also give better visibility on the inside workings...

The next job was to get water into the boiler. Having started with the handpump, it was obvious that the snow and rain was getting more fierce so I didn't want the engine sitting cold too long in these damp conditions. Although the cladding is fairly protective on "Achilles", I didn't want to risk any chance of wet lagging. I decided to remove a safety valve and fill the boiler more promptly, allowing me to speed up the steaming up process. I'd replaced the fire grate yesterday and so the firebox was duly filled with some paraffin-soaked wood. The lighter was then employed to start the fire, followed by throwing in a burning piece of wood and allowing the flames to catch...

The smoke effects from well soaked wood are quite dramatic, particularly with the little power socket battery I use for my electric blower when steaming at home. The blower runs slightly slower on this small battery so the smoke isn't ejected away as well as usual. I don't know what the neighbours must have thought...

With the wood burning away nicely on the grate, I opened the firehole doors and added a liberal application of Welsh steam coal grains. With the deep firebox on "Achilles", I tend to fill it right up and let the engine get on with it: it's a technique which has yet to fail me! With the doors now closed and the heat being gradually pulled through the tubes, I nipped inside to make a coffee. Upon returning to the engine the needle was just off the stop, with the fire burning nicely. I switched over to the engines own blower at this point; it being more effective than the battery blower at anything above 20psi. With the needle nearing the red line I decided to try to start the engine moving. After a little protesting whilst the auto drain cocks sorted their lives out, she burst into life and gradually settled down to a comfortable running speed...

Whilst the engine steamed away merrily outside, I kept myself in the dry of the workshop doorway, clutching my coffee like my life depended on it. The persistent snow showers were getting heavier as the morning wore on and if you stood out in it for too long you were soaked. The engine didn't seem at all bothered by the cold weather and if anything seemed quite content with the safety valves blowing...

Here is a short, low quality video I took rather quickly on my phone whilst "Achilles" turns over on the new rolling road...

The engine was steaming very well and so I was pleased with the coal. This is a new bag of Signal Fuels stuff in grain size. I was initially disappointed that I didn't order the larger beans, although the grains will be perfect for when I next steam the Atlantic. Usually I mix house coal in with my steam coal but today we went on purely the steam stuff. With a bright fire the engine steamed without issue, merrily pumping water until the boiler was full and then remaking steam when the bypass was opened. You could knock her back to about 50psi and then wait for the valves to lift again a short while later. It would be fair to say that I was impressed...

I surprised myself really. Usually when I steam the engines at home I get them going and then once you've proven the previous issue out you blow down. Today, "Achilles" was going so well that I just kept running her...and drinking coffee in the background of course. It turned out to be a pleasant way to pass a morning...

Here, the safety valves lift again as the snow continues to fall...

Eventually, after a few hours running, I decided to blow the engine down. This is the worst part of steaming at home: it's awkward and very messy. I managed to drop the grate and then spin the engine on the rollers to get it away from the dropped fire (at the track the grate falls into an ash bin below) before blowing her down...

As with larger engines, the blowing down process attempts to eject any deposits which have left the water during evaporation. The blow down tap is situated at the lowest part of the firebox: the foundation ring. The final task is to drain the tanks before getting the engine back into the workshop out of the weather to cool. Soon enough, filthy but basking in the triumph of a successful run, the tank engine was back inside...

It was then time to do all of the other lovely jobs such as washing the table down, sweeping away the ash, tidying the tools away etc: all the things you don't think about when you have the fabulous idea to steam the engine at home! I won't get too negative about it all though as it was a pleasant morning and it was nice to see "Achilles" in fine form. Apart from a slight weep on the gauge glass bottom nut (needs a new seal) she ran pretty much faultlessly, which is always pleasing. I must thank her for allowing me some steam in December 2020...she was my only chance! With that, I'll sign off. I wish you all a very Happy New Year. We can but hope...