This is a collection of some ‘side’ projects, not necessarily directly on the locomotive, but that come when dealing with a steam engine.
I’d like to recommend you, to also take a look at the end of the articles – most of them will include a download section where you can find CAD-files and drawings to get inspired or even build the thing your own.
This bracket holds an air tank (modified CFH SF505 or similar), mounted on the right side under the cab, which serves as a reservoir (approximately one litre) for the train brake system. See also section Compressed Air Tank for more information about the tank itself. It is made from 3 mm steel sheet and is mounted with the four screws of the reverser stand (which have to be replaced with slightly longer ones)....
A bracket to take two pressure gauges – indicating main pressure (pressurized air) and brake line pressure. It can be mounted directly in the rear top left corner of the cab, without the need for extra drilling by using the existing frame holes. Only the two screws have to be replaced with slightly longer ones. The two slotted holes allow for some vertical adjustment of the bracket to align the gauges with the cab’s roof....
A metric replica of Station Road Steam’s Blower Pipe Smokebox Fitting (part no. 10234-B). Unfortunately, I was not able to obtain the part from Station Road Steam itself, so I had to make one myself. In contrast, my metric version has the feature to fit a compression ring fitting (DIN EN 1254-2) instead of a union nipple/nut at the inside (where the J-pipe connects to). But you can of course manufacture this according to your own needs or preferences....
Probably the project with the most inaccuracies so far – which themselves fit the Feldbahn look perfectly. So they were made in a workshop, using its available tools, with no great machinist skills involved, just the average craftsman’s capabilities – pretty much the way how a real ‘Feldbahn’ runs and is kept running. Apart from the topic itself, this article took me more than a year to write. The two lamps themselves were finished within two months....
A day in steam doesn’t last forever, and sooner or later the fire gets removed. Besides a good amount of ash in the fire and the smokebox, the fire tubes are also covered with soot. Components Brush The best way to get them clean again is to use a flue brush whose bristles are softer than those of the steel tubes but still hard enough to scrape off the dirt. It also could be a good idea if the material is somewhat heat-resistant....