Steam Trains Of Australia

**bob10** · 2nd July 2014, 05:29 PM

Thanks Ian, I know, but we have to give mods something to do, now the political threads have shut down.

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

**V8Ian** · 2nd July 2014, 05:33 PM

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

http://www.qpsr.net/

**p38arover** · 2nd July 2014, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by bob10

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

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.

**bob10** · 2nd July 2014, 05:50 PM

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.

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

**bob10** · 2nd July 2014, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by V8Ian

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

QPSR - Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway

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

**p38arover** · 2nd July 2014, 06:04 PM

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

**V8Ian** · 2nd July 2014, 06:27 PM

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

**Rosco8** · 3rd July 2014, 08:37 AM

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

**drivesafe** · 3rd July 2014, 09:20 AM

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

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.

**bob10** · 3rd July 2014, 12:57 PM

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

Thread: Steam Trains Of Australia

Thread Tools

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions