Steam Trains Of Australia

Thanks Ian, I know, but we have to give mods something to do, now the political threads have shut down. :angel:
My interest in steam engines comes from my Navy time on steam ships, I have a boiler ticket, having steamed Foster Wheeler twin furnace controlled superheat boilers , 640 PSI at 850'C generating 225,000 lb/hr over 21,850 sq. ft. heating surface. My fantasy has been to approach the railway museum, and see if I can shovel coal into one of the running steam trains. When I presented my tickets to Qld . after leaving the service, I was given a certificate of competency , First class engine driver, in lieu of a NSW Ist class steam engine drivers certificate. [ Qld has to be different. ] Just haven't got off my bum to try. Bob

Start here Bob, there's a pub at one end. ;)

http://www.qpsr.net/

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Originally Posted by bob10

Thanks Ian, I know, but we have to give mods something to do,

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The trouble is, Bob, that you only ever post in General Chat and we have move so many of your posts. There are a lot of other sections to the forum. But you are not alone, many on the D3/D4/RRS section post all their stuff in that area instead of the correct area.

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Originally Posted by p38arover

The trouble is, Bob, that you only ever post in General Chat and we have move so many of your posts. There are a lot of other sections to the forum. But you are not alone, many on the D3/D4/RRS section post all their stuff in that area instead of the correct area.

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Sorry mate, but it seems that so many sections are hidden away, and it's like a rabbit warren. A great thing for sure, and I know I must make an effort . Bob

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

Start here Bob, there's a pub at one end. ;)

QPSR - Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway

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You know Ian I spent the better part of 21 years working with steam. Down marine boiler rooms, & engine rooms. It gets in your blood. You can smell steam, that may sound like a funny thing to say, but ask any steamie, they will tell you. Everything else seems so sterile. Bob

You're right, Bob, there's something about steam that is just magic. I can look at working steam engines all day long.

And the sound too Ron. A labouring steam engine sounds better than a Rover V8 even.

For me a steam engine lit up is alive .. breathing, pumps wheezing, steam and smoke everywhere. Such a basic concept but so powerful .. luv' them :):)

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Originally Posted by bob10

You know Ian I spent the better part of 21 years working with steam. Down marine boiler rooms, & engine rooms. It gets in your blood. You can smell steam, that may sound like a funny thing to say, but ask any steamie, they will tell you. Everything else seems so sterile. Bob

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Not mine.

I work the last 3 years of steam on NSWGR as a fireman and fired my last steam run in 1979 ( historical from Werris Ck to Port Waratah ) and while I am happy to watch one steam by with someone else doing all the hard yakka, there is no way I would work on them again.

We didn't have to shovel coal, black Furnace Fuel Oil. Stokers deodorant. Slightly off topic, but still on steam, a very good book is The Sand Pebbles. Holman , on joining the ship, goes to the engine room, and ;


Jake Holman: [Holman enters the engine room after boarding the San Pablo. He looks around the room, smiles and places his hand on the machinery] Hello, Engine; I'm Jake Holman.


Whilst on watch on various steam ships, it was not unusual to do a set of rounds, ring spanner in hand, and spanner to ear, other end on a piece of machinery, listen to it " talk" to you. Taught to me by an old Chief Tiffy. You can actually pick up the sound of a dodgy bearing, or even a worn wear ring, after a while. I know where Holman was coming from, a well run boiler room or engine room was like an old friend. Another from Sand Pebbles;


Jake Holman (Machinist Mate 1st Class ) teaching Po-han (Engine Room coolie) the engine room]
Jake Holman: Valve.
Po-han: Wow.
Jake Holman: Valve.
Po-han: Wow.
[points to valve, more emphatically]
Po-han: Wow.
Jake Holman: Yeah, okay... wow.
[pointing to another valve]
Jake Holman: Main steam stop valve.
Po-han: Main steam stop wow.


Some steam trains soon, promise, Bob