Not gun related, but hope at least some will find it interesting.
I`m the gun nut of the family, but my father is the steam buff. Below are some July 4th pics of a 5/8th scale model of a 22/70 Wood Brothers steam traction engine that he built a few years back.
He`s 85 now, but still fires up his model now and then. But it`s not easy calling this a model. It`s pretty small compared to an original traction engine, but it`s well over three ton and can pull a three bottom plow.



When I said letting off steam, I ment it literally.













A freind`s slightly intimidated 3 year old on the back of the engine.

That is cool. Talk about an expensive hobby.... What kind of fuel does he use? Wood? Coal?

__________________
Insert short witty words here

I hope he's taught you how to run it.

Most people would have no idea how to even get it going even if a head of steam was already built up.

__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

Only expensive in building it, not in running it. It eats anything that will burn, but wood and coal are best. Wood is fine for just running it around, but if you are making it work hard toss in some coal unless you want to feed it often.

I think the old man has about $10,000 in it for materials (mostly for making the castings) plus about 3 years work. He`s a skilled machinist and mechanic. Plus he had some help from another steam buff who is an outstanding welder. Between them they were able to build the boiler which would have been by far the most expersive thing.
Dad grew up running full size engines like this. And in the past has owned 3 full size ones at different times.

He taught me to run a 45 Case engine when I was about 5 years old. I had to stand on the drive gear shaft housing to reach the levers.

Most people probably could get it going. There are only 3 levers to play with. Only so many combination to try.
What would put them in a pinch would be figuring out how the injectors work and keeping enough water in it. Or for that matter knowing that they needed to keep the water level up before they found out the hard way.
Cracking the crown sheet or melting out a soft plug could be a real nasty experience.

You are correct!

Having a crown sheet tear can launch a steam engine/tractor up to several hundred yards! I remember reading about an accident at some agricultural exposition in the last few years killed a couple of folks and launched the tractor nearly a hundred yards!

Just to ask, does he use Mobil 600W, Green Velvet or make his own concoction of steam oil?

I forgot to say in my first post- that he is truly talented and I stand in terrific awe of his work.

__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

My grandfather used to have quite the collection of antique engines ... I can remember his tradition of firing them all up every July fourth. sadly he sold them all off before I could gain a proper appreciation for it

__________________
it just needs more voltage

I don`t know what he is using for steam cylinder oil these days. About 3 years ago he tried making his own and the results were not pretty to say the least.<large grin> I don`t think he had it hot enough when he tried to mix it. You can imagine the result of that. Such a gob of stinking sludge as you never saw in your life.

You sound like a guy who might like the link below.

Midwest Old Threshers

That is very cool, brings back some great memories.

THat is a fantastic tractor. I remember seeing some of the old timers in a 4th of July parade when was a kid.

Your Dad did a great job.

How many did he have?
I don`t suppose you recall what kind they were?

Thanks for posting.Your Dad is a class act(I say that looking at his home and how well he keeps it)and a very talented man.
Is that your Mom sitting on the porch?

DG

Yes it is. She gets around with a walker these days. So her veiw of the world is mostly from the front porch these days.

There used to be a Threshermen's Reunion in Pinkneyville, Ill. I got to go to it sometime in the early '50's. It was amazing to see so many of these giants. Very impressive to a small kid. I recall some of them had been discovered in Kansas and Iowa that had been buried during the 'dust bowl' days. Apparently they were well preserved as a result of being buried in that dry dust.

Congradulations on some excellent Pictures and a pretty little girl to boot.

Thanks.

Rule 303

Thanks for the kind words about my less than spectacular skill with a camera. I am getting better at it, but I would probably starve as a photographer.
The little girl is very cute, but not mine. She is the daughter of a friend.
She wanted to see the engine, but when she got up close was a little afraid of it.

from the bits and pieces of my youthful memory .. vertical single cylinder large cast pedestals and fly wheels the size of some eastern states.
I estemate at least 10 in his collection at the time ... I was told 32 later in life was the high point in his collection.
at least one I recall may have been a John deer.
I was an airforce brat at the time .. we were home for the fourth that one year and old grad daddy made a great effort of getting every last one to run.
I remember it as being deafening

__________________
it just needs more voltage

Sounds more like antique gas engines, but those can be a lot of fun too.

That's quite an achievement and quite a piece of machinery. Makes me wonder what a full sized one looks like.

Bless them both.My folks are still here as well.Yours kind of reminded me of that.I'm right around the corner though.My Dad is very handy also,He's a old gear head/drag racer.He built his own house and still lives there today with Mom.Dad loves to hang out with my friends and they like to see him too.

DG

Very interesting model. Antique tractors are another interest of mine.
Yes, water is the highest importance with steam power. Run out of fuel, you stop. Run out of water, big problem.
That tragic incident mentioned above was at an antique tractor show. The operator of the steam machine had been distracted by a LEO for a minor road damage infraction and he allowed the boiler to run dry.
oldogy

He must have had it pretty low to start with. It takes a long time to use that much water.
Or more likely the engine was stopped with the nose pointing down hill. Gravity pulls the water to the front of the boiler uncovering the crown. Let it sit that way for 20 or 30 minutes, the crown gets red hot, then you move the engine, water would slosh over the red hot crown, and then "Crack and Ka-Boom".
This kind of thing is really rare, but even freak accidents do sometimes happen. And like any other kind of accident, it`s most likely because someone wasn`t paying attention or was doing something stupid.

If you want to see some big engines, try the links below.

Antique Engines Antique Tractors Steam Engines and Old Iron

Midwest Old Threshers

Ah, I found a couple articles on the accident...took a bit of digging:

CNN.com - At least 4 dead after engine explodes at Ohio fair - July 30, 2001
And:
Tragedy in Medina, Ohio

Looks as though the only other steam tractor crown sheet failure of catastrophic results that has been documented after WWII was in 1973! Pretty good track record if you ask me.

__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

I`d say you were right.

I`ve got a good story for you about a little accident that happened last year at the Mt. Pleasant show.
John Law (yes, his name really was John Law, but not sure about the spelling) of IL bought the pieces of the only 2 known surviving 30/100 Wood Brothers plow engines and used them to make one complete engine. Only one of of its kind left in the world. A real show piece. And a real monster of an engine.
John passed away 2 or 3 years after he was finished with it. But last years his 2 grandson-in-laws brought it over to the Mt. Pleasant show.
And as young guys are prone to do, they wanted to show off. Having the 2nd largest engine at the show they wanted to show everyone how powerful it was.
They hooked it up to the pull sled (and it`s a big one) and proceeded to pull. These engines will not stall out. If they try to pull something too heavy they might just sit there and dig holes with the back wheels, or break a drive gear.
And that`s exactly what they did. As the load got heavier you could see the engine start to buck and shudder. Before any of the old timers could warn them they broke a large chunk out of right hand 4 and 1/2 foot diameter drive gear.
I remember both of them just standing there looking at that gear. One just had a blank look, the other one kept mumbling "Grandma`s going to be p***ed. Grandma`s going to be p***ed."
Then when the shock wore off a little the argument over who was going to have to call grandma started.
I suspect that when they had to face grandma there may have been some serious injuries involved.<grin>
Couldn`t help feeling a little sorry for them, even if they did do it to theirselves. Casting and finishing a gear that size must have cost them several thousand dollars.
But they will be wiser for it. Pain is a good teacher. Regardless if it`s physical pain or bank account pain.

Dad’s toy just maxes the cool factor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________
Always Stay Strong!

You're so right there, Mike. Someone was not paying attention. Just like many firearm accidents, someone not paying attention or doing something dumb. Machines and firearms require undivided attention, period. The accident we are discussing was all over the tractor and steam forums when this happened and it was pretty much documented that the distraction set the event in motion.
oldogy

Being a machinist I deal with this every day. Machinery with moving parts requires your undivided attention. If it catches you or your clothing, it WILL eat you. End of story.
It`s not a dangerous occupation, but you do have to pay attention to what you are doing.

It is beautiful! I wish I could hear it and its whistle.