Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 8 (February 1, 1933)

Construction of the Boiler

Construction of the Boiler.

Now, for the boiler. First, a piece of brass tube was cut to the required length, then a piece of brass tube was turned (with a slight taper) and fitted on to the end of the boiler, where the steam turbine was placed. Next came the firebox. This was made from a piece of brass, cut to size, a throat plate being then made and soldered to the boiler. The cab was then marked out on brass, cut, filed, and soldered to shape, and the eighteen handrail knobs turned and fitted into position. The handrails were all made with a 1-16in. metal thread and screwed into the boiler, with a hole to take the handrail. The funnel was turned from a piece of brass rod, also the two domes, the front, or sand dome, having square sides with a flat top, and the steam dome which is behind this has the whistle fitted on the off side. The other fittings, the steam turbine, three safety valves and steam fountain were turned and filed to shape. The fittings in the cab consist of a reverse lever, throttle, water gauge, pressure gauge, steam taps, two clack valves, firebox and door. The tender is fitted with two hand brakes, a coal door and a tool cabinet at the top, also two ladders and a coal box. The front and back draw bars were turned and filed to shape. The cowcatcher was cut to shape, large pins being used for the bars, which are all soldered to the brass.

The two air pumps are situated between the smoke box door and the running board ladder. They are turned up in brass, with air inlets in front and page 44 steam and air inlets situated at the back of the pump. The steam pipes from the boiler to the cylinders were made from a piece of copper tube buffed and lacquered. The boiler bands were cut into strips from a piece of German silver, polished and lacquered. The lamp was made from a piece of tube fitted with a reflector, miniature globe, and a magnifying lens in the front. (This model is not quite completed, as I have to place the guide rods in position and the connecting rods have to be fluted and the handrail knobs placed in the cab.)

The “Maori Chief” Model.

Illustration No. 4, the “Maori Chief,” is of the 4-6-2 free lance design, with a gauge of 5 ½ inches. I am afraid it would take up too much valuable space at this juncture to give a full description of the making of the “Maori Chief,” but if readers are interested I should be only too pleased to supply details at a later date.

The building of the models described above has given the writer endless pleasure—for a minimum expenditure of money. The models, for the most part, were fabricated from odds and ends of material found in my workshop, an expenditure of less than £3 sufficing to cover the parts purchased for any one model.

A Service that is Appreciated. (Rly. Publicity, photo.) Through train passengers receiving and depositing luggage at the free storage depot recently established by the Department at Christchurch station, South Island.

A Service that is Appreciated.
(Rly. Publicity, photo.)
Through train passengers receiving and depositing luggage at the free storage depot recently established by the Department at Christchurch station, South Island.