Thinking about future exhibitions….
by John
Still recovering from The Royal Geelong Show, where my beam engine and the Trevithick dredger engine ran for ~8 hours per day for 4 days, and required almost constant supervision. I was very pleased that they did so without a problem.
For future exhibitions I would like to also run the triple expansion steam engine using the vertical boiler, for which I recently made the Southworth boiler feed pump. And there are occasions where I might run the triple and the beam engine together from the vertical boiler. That arrangement will occupy a fair bit of bench space, and in this post I am considering options for the arrangement.
But first, I needed a steam outlet manifold to handle multiple engines, simultaneously, and hopefully to avoid a big tangle of pipes. Here is the manifold.
The manifold has 6 x ¼” outlets and one 3/8″ outlet.
Option one lines up the boiler and engine like this….
Option two is more compact, but ?less appealing. Pics following..
The lump of wood under the engine is temporary, just to give an idea of the heights.
OK, this post is just an excuse to show some pics. I have decided to go with option one. It is closer to the appearance if the boiler and engine were actually in a boat, and also will make it easier to add the beam engine to the right of the boiler if/when I run the two engines simultaneously.
And I doubt that I will be able to avoid a jumble of pipework. The triple has 6 pipes attached, the boiler has more, then there is the beam engine. And, I will need a water container from which to feed the boiler. That will be located behind the boiler. Still considering whether it should be a squarish box on a stand like the railway water towers, or a cylinder on a low stand. Any thoughts?
johnsmachines 
Hello John, My name is Robert, retired and currently exploring steam models; a remnant from childhood experience with a Mamod, combined with a strong interest in the industrial revolution. My hobby is making and restoring things, preferably using machines, preferably metal since my woodworking skills are undeveloped. I work from photographs because I like the freedom, though I occasionally beg, borrow and even buy drawings. I like the cast look, so buy some castings but most of my models are made from stock or other folks scrap bins. Having made or restored eight steam engines in the last two years experience is growing, prior to that my model building projects were artillery, naval guns (simple cannon for grandsons) complex ones for myself or others.
I have recently assembled a steam plant from bought components, smaller than yours with a 4 inch boiler, though haven’t fired it up yet. My current projects are an ME beam engine; cylinder, flywheel, con-rod, beam and entablature castings, the rest from scratch and a 3 inch copper boiler.
Lurking in a box is a part machined Triple Expansion Engine bought a year ago. It has problems and having miked a few bits, will take some fixing, at least it came with tattered drawings.
Our interests are somewhat aligned, your experience in steam is ahead of mine and not belonging to clubs I need occasional advice, my email is irving.1@bigpond.com if you are interested in assisting a steam tyro, I would be happy to send photographs of my models and projects.
Robert
LikeLike
Hi Robert, sounds like our interests are very similar! I would be very interested to see photos. And to communicate about projects. Steam plant, triple, beam engine, cannons, the parallels are incredible. I am no expert, but have resources at our model engineering society, so if I can’t help I will be able to find someone who can. Are the triple plans labelled? Bolton or Stuart Turner? other. Where are you located? My email is jviggers@iinet.net.au (best way to send photos) John
LikeLike