Superior & Seattle Railroad Build

[bparrish]

OK Dave.............

Here is a climate based response for returning to steamers.

There is no debate that an external combustion engine is fundamentally cleaner as there is a greater amount of time for a more complete combustion.  Arguably in a Diesel cycle the combustion is more complete than a gasoline fired engine but if you ever see black there is incomplete combustion.

In later oil fired steamers there were times when the fire was being over fueled, usually when getting a train rolling but it would be interesting to know how modern technologies could be applied to increase economies of external combustion.

The real argument against steamers has to do with the incredibly high maintenance schedules that are required.  I recall reading some years ago that the major railroads had as much as a quarter to a third of all motive power down for maintenance at any given time.  The turn around times for steamers was much longer than the turnaround time for diesels.

see ya
Bob

[S&S RR]

John...........

As in Diesel  ! ! ! !

You're not going to pack that great round house full of those fuel smelling scrap yard candidates   ? ? ? ?  Are you ? ? ?

see ya
Bob

Bob

The Superior & Seattle is in the process of acquiring a full complement of steam locomotives.  I believe it will be very rare for a diesel to find it's way into the roundhouse.

That's a most enlightened attitude on the part of the S&S railroad management!


(Now if only we could produce some sort of "climate change" argument in support of steamers...)



dave

David

The decisions on the Superior Seattle are based on 1940's data - before political science invented global warming or climate change - now that we can't find the warming.  In the region we operate the climate is always changing and we predict the the winter of 2014 will see the coldest temperatures and highest snow falls ever recorded in our area of operation.  This extremely cold will be followed by warmer and cooler years in the future. These trends will get more and more sever if you don't start believing in my politics. Sure wish we could predict the stock market as well as we predict the weather.

It sure would be an interesting Engineering project to design and build a steam engine using today's technology and materials.

[S&S RR]

OK Dave.............

Here is a climate based response for returning to steamers.

There is no debate that an external combustion engine is fundamentally cleaner as there is a greater amount of time for a more complete combustion.  Arguably in a Diesel cycle the combustion is more complete than a gasoline fired engine but if you ever see black there is incomplete combustion.

In later oil fired steamers there were times when the fire was being over fueled, usually when getting a train rolling but it would be interesting to know how modern technologies could be applied to increase economies of external combustion.

The real argument against steamers has to do with the incredibly high maintenance schedules that are required.  I recall reading some years ago that the major railroads had as much as a quarter to a third of all motive power down for maintenance at any given time.  The turn around times for steamers was much longer than the turnaround time for diesels.

see ya
Bob

I believe we could solve most of the maintenance issues using today's technology and materials. Look what is being done with Automobiles today.  They are heavier due to the Government crash regulations but we have seen a 100% improvement in fuel efficiency with the use of new technology and materials in just the past 10 years.  Okay you guys started it - back to my trains.

[BandOGuy]

PRIOR TO HAPPY HOUR
Diesels? We don't need no stinking diesels.
Well, maybe a few. Just for trial. The tribulations will come later. Much later.
The nice part of modeling or recreating the "Transition Era" is you don't have to worry about the Environmental Problems Agency or PC (political crapiness) when making motive power decisions. You buy what you enjoy. and site the service facilities where YOU want (no environmental impact studies, no NIMBY's).
And that era was also prior to the real curse of our society, the MBA. Actually, that degree should be MBAE, Much Blather About Everything. When did the railroads thrive? Pre diesels and MBA's. Cost? It's here and done this way because I want it that way.
I won't bore you any more with how we've ignored OSHA, (the radius on the top of those roundhouse doors doesn't meet Federal standards) or DoL, (your erectors aren't being paid minimum wage).
But I digress ('call it 'Gnatitis)!
The whole build thread is an inspiration to all of us and also serves as a very useful venue to the procrastinators and excuse makers (ME) in the crowd.
Please keep up the great "work".
[/size]Thanks!!

[S&S RR]

PRIOR TO HAPPY HOUR
Diesels? We don't need no stinking diesels.
Well, maybe a few. Just for trial. The tribulations will come later. Much later.
The nice part of modeling or recreating the "Transition Era" is you don't have to worry about the Environmental Problems Agency or PC (political crapiness) when making motive power decisions. You buy what you enjoy. and site the service facilities where YOU want (no environmental impact studies, no NIMBY's).
And that era was also prior to the real curse of our society, the MBA. Actually, that degree should be MBAE, Much Blather About Everything. When did the railroads thrive? Pre diesels and MBA's. Cost? It's here and done this way because I want it that way.
I won't bore you any more with how we've ignored OSHA, (the radius on the top of those roundhouse doors doesn't meet Federal standards) or DoL, (your erectors aren't being paid minimum wage).
But I digress ('call it 'Gnatitis)!
The whole build thread is an inspiration to all of us and also serves as a very useful venue to the procrastinators and excuse makers (ME) in the crowd.
Please keep up the great "work".
Thanks!!

Thanks for the kind words and for following the thread. I spent my entire career dealing with stupid government regulations and bean counter logic getting in the way of real progress, so it's kind of a sore spot.  Now that I'm retired I'm thankful for the time to play with my trains (can I say that?) , but I'm very concerned for our children and grandchildren.

[S&S RR]

Now for some progress pictures on the Stone Roundhouse build. Today, I test painted one of the doors, roughed in one of the wall sections between the upper and lower roof sections, finished painting the stone work, and decided on a final trim design.  Here are a few progress pictures.





A little to new looking needs some A&I wash.

[bparrish]

John..........

The color scheme is great but it will be criminal to grunge it up with coal soot.......

see ya
Bob

[S&S RR]

John..........

The color scheme is great but it will be criminal to grunge it up with coal soot.......

see ya
Bob

It is either coal soot or diesels I choose coal soot.

[EricQuebec]

John,
I like your stone work and color. You have one of the most beautiful roundhouse that I see.
Eric Québec.

[S&S RR]

John,
I like your stone work and color. You have one of the most beautiful roundhouse that I see.
Eric Québec.

Eric

Thanks for your kind words and for watching the thread.

[gnatshop]

John, even though the roundhouse looks great, I saw one thing missing so I found
a sign for it!

[S&S RR]

John, even though the roundhouse looks great, I saw one thing missing so I found
a sign for it!

David

That's perfect it's going on the roundhouse or the machine shop which will be in front of it on the layout.  Do you have a higher resolution picture of it?

[gnatshop]

John, the original picture was a PNG image that was 80.3 KB.


E- mail me at gnatshop@gmail.com with your e-mail address and
I'll send it to you!

[S&S RR]

David

I sent you an email.  Thanks,

[ACL1504]

John..........

The color scheme is great but it will be criminal to grunge it up with coal soot.......

see ya
Bob

John,

It may be criminal to soot it up but also very necessary! BTW, looks great!

Tom