The next chapter in my steam engine journey after getting a model engine was finding my own large engine. This search would happily be quicker than I would have guessed. My first attempt at getting an engine was an auction of a local collection. I was not able to come away with an engine, but I did learn some more about the prices and community.
Working at the sawmill during the fair as well as at the Steam and Gas Show let me spend a lot of time around the larger steam engines. I was able to learn from the other members of the steam community. This meant I now had resources to reach out to if and when I found an engine to buy.
For Sale
As chance would have it, I would find my engine a lot sooner than I would have guessed. During the 2018 Steam and Gas Show there was a trailer with a small engine and a for sale sign. After the initial shock passed I started taking a closer look.
This engine is unique in more than a few ways. Using chain drive instead of gears, and a squat boiler gives it a unique look. It doesn’t seem to be modeled on any specific full sized engine. It’s a little under half scale, which means easy to haul and store.
After talking with the owner I was excited about the prospect of owning the engine. Before I agreed I wanted some of the more experienced engine owners to take a look. As luck would have it one of the local engine mechanics, Bud, and his grandson A.J. were able to take a look. Not only were they able to take a look, but A.J. was able to take ultrasound reading of the boiler.
Winning Over My Wife
After looking over the engine and having others inspect it I was sold. The price was reasonable, and the owner friendly and helpful answering questions. Now I just needed to discuss it with my wife. Not only was I considering a quite expensive purchase that would need some work, I was doing so while we were expecting our son, Lucas.
Thankfully, my wife is very aware of my steam obsession. She bought me my model steam engine and was supportive of me purchasing this one. That meant a quick trip down to Covington to pick it up.
The trip to go get the engine started with getting a trailer. That was a task all it’s own. I had already rented a trailer so that my dad and I could just pick it in the morning on our way to get the engine. Unfortunately the trailer was stuck in among others when we got there. Once freed it was discovered the trailer lights didn’t work. After working on the lights the rental place resorted to magnetic lights.
With the trailer sorted the rest of the drive was uneventful. When we arrived to pick up the engine the work began of loading it. Thankfully the small size and the drive setup means you can spin the flywheel by hand and walk it up onto the trailer. Once loaded we packed up the smokestack, extra flywheel, extra steering wheel, and other parts and got back on the road.
Off to the Shop
Once we had returned the first stop for my engine was Bud’s shop and not my house. As this engine wasn’t currently certified for use in Georgia it needed some work. Part of that was some re-plumbing. Steam engines need to have two ways to get water into the boiler, mine only had one currently attached. I also needed to have a full ultrasound inspection done. Finally all the piping needed to be brought up to schedule 80 anywhere before the first valve in that line.
The work took a few months to be done. As the work was being done I got the call that the inspector was there to certify the boiler. I was able to get over to the shop and talk with the inspector. He pointed out a spot on the boiler to watch, but otherwise said it was good. And just like that I had an inspected engine with a certification tag.
Prepping for the Fourth
Now that my engine was certified and all the work done I needed to get it ready for the parade. Part of that was building a wood rack for the little water trailer, and taking it out for a spin. The wood rack was needed so that I could make sure to carry enough to make it through the parade without risking running out of steam. Practicing driving was realistically the most important part.
As part of the work done on my engine an injector that came with the engine was installed. This provides my second method of adding water. The problem is that there is no way to know if it will work or not until you test it under steam. For my test drive I set up to make loops around my parents house to equal the distance of the parade.
Once I got the engine out of the basement and setup to run I lit the fire. The first time firing was a mix of anxiety and excitement. Everything I have learned over the past was coming together. I watched the pressure rise and reached the point to test the injector. I’ve never used one before, but it picked up and ran without any real complications.
Now that I had checked everything I could while sitting stationary it was time to move. Off I went and started doing my laps. After a few laps while heading up hill things came to a quick stop. The clutch had slipped and I was rolling backwards. Some quick thinking I was able to set the brake and find the problem. A quick turn of an adjustment screw later and I was back moving.
Cross Country
After making multiple loops around my parents house I decided to make a longer trip. My grand-mom lives a relatively short distance through the woods from my parents. With everything checked and plenty of water I took off. While the engine is meant for relatively even ground it handled the trail through the woods like a champ.
This little trip helped show that while my engine can sip on water, it quite literally burns through wood. The highlight of the trip was being able to show my grand-mom my engine. She was excited to see it since like most of my family she is aware and supports my steam obsession.
Parade Time
Now that everything has been tested it was time for the parade. I went out the day before with the engine to join the rest of the steam engines moving to the start of the parade. I figured this would be the best dry run I could get. I got ready, built steam, and waited to start off.
Driving up the road was fun, until it wasn’t. My engine is a little over seven feet long and moves just above a walking pace. This is fine in a parade or at home, but in afternoon traffic not so much. I was cut off by a few cars, and had to pay a lot of attention to what was happening. I made it to the start without incident, but vowed to never do that again unless I geared my engine to go faster.
And We’re Off
The day of the fourth of July I was excited. The buildup to the start of the parade was the most anxious I had been about my engine up to this point. As everything started to move the anxiety faded, and the real fun began. Rolling down the road I got to see the joy as people saw my little engine and heard the whistle.
That first parade where I got to run my own engine was probably the most fun I’ve had. I have always enjoyed the fourth of July parade, but it’s definitely different on your own engine. The only thing that would have made that day better would have been if Lucas could have joined us. Unfortunately with his skin it wouldn’t have been safe to have him out in the sun that long.
Thankfully, we did do a short photo shoot with him and my engine before so we got some pictures of him on the engine. Those pictures are some of my favorites the we have and one of them is above where I sit on the couch at home.
