Hunter Valley Steamfest!!!

[Ausfree]

For those who may be interested Hunter Valley Steamfest is next weekend!!:D:D

Hunter Valley Steamfest |?9 & 10 April |?30th Anniversary (http://www.steamfest.com.au/)

[drivesafe]

Thanks for the headsup and wish I could be there.

But that is also one very good web site!

[Dinty]

The biggest problem I have found is that there are no timetables/destinations designated for any of the locomotives, or am I just a silly old B and can't find them, I'm particularly interested in 6029, I did want to see a 32 class as well, but it would appear none will be present, cheers Dennis

[Pedro_The_Swift]

For those that want to believe ;)---
steamfest?
https://www.facebook.com/nswgrad60class/

[Dinty]

G'day All,
I left home this morning very early (0630hrs) so I could get a suitable parking spot for my 110, thus enabling me to escape to other locations to photgraph this locomotive 6029 'Beyer Garret'
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%203237%20live%20stear/IMG_3478_zpsloag5aue.jpg
and again
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%203237%20live%20stear/IMG_3483_zpsywnfbg4d.jpg
it was leaving on the it's first run of the day to Branxton, here it is later in the day arriving at Branxton
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%203237%20live%20stear/IMG_3493_zpsvmrbxoif.jpg
it certainly is a machine worthy of all the admiration it gets, but there was a downside to the day, I didn't get any work done on my 5" gauge 32 class loco, cheers Dennis
ps here are some recent images from my shed, I had made the oil clack valve and pipes etc, so it was time to see if it all worked, here is the lubricator filled with the lovely steaming oil
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%20loco/IMG_5233_zpswnveyur7.jpg
the clack valve, made from 5/16" dia brass stock, with 1/4" x 40ME thread, the clack has a 5/32"dia steel ball which sits on a brass carrier held in place by a very finely wound spring, the square on the top was cut by hand using the lathe as a shaper
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%20loco/IMG_5234_zpszu4sudwi.jpg
the first drop of oil past the ball n spring
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%20loco/IMG_5237_zps2f1hhfs5.jpg
all connected now
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%20loco/IMG_5242_zpspnuxvwmk.jpg
the boiler has to be squeezed again so I stripped it of it's stainless steel cladding, LOL I had forgotten what the pickup looked like (this is the inlet for saturated steam to pass through the superheaters, BTW the 3 studs that screwed out were put back in with double nuts and torqued up,
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%20loco/IMG_5298_zpsccicysi5.jpg
some of my efforts @ Silver soldering, very neat even if I have to say so myself LOL, cheers,,.
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu319/DJM110/P%20class%20loco/IMG_5241_zpskxlzmsti.jpg

[Slunnie]

This weekend, these trains are shuttling around here. A question from the hunter steam festival... why are these trains all towing diesel locomotives? Surely they're not that unreliable???

[p38arover]

I suspect it stems from no longer being able to sand the track for traction following the Cowan rail crash.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowan_rail_accident

The diesel can provide the extra drive.

I remember years ago being on a steam train in the Lapstone tunnel where the loco couldn't get traction.

[Slunnie]

Ahhh, interesting stuff! That makes sense. Thanks.

[drivesafe]

Hi Folks, and while I like to give credit to who ever took this photo, unfortunately I do not know who it was.

This is from the same day of rail festivities.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/818.jpg