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I have just returned from a thoroughly enjoyable weekend
at the Guildford MES rally where I was steaming my POP. Thank you
to all those who made this such a successful event.
I have just finished adding drop sides
to my POP and I am very pleased with the result.
I was told that I had a big grin on my face as I steamed my POP about
the field. This was because POP was behaving itself and for the
first time. I had no shortage of steam (provided I did not neglect
the fire!). I found that the reverser worked correctly allowing me
to notch the engine up following my valve
gear rectifications. The crank water pump preformed impeccably
drawing water directly from the cart when required. After all my
woes, no wonder I had a grin.
POP was in steam for over 10 hours and in motion
about the site for much of that. Today (Monday) I have been
carefully cleaning POP and have discovered a few lose or missing
screws. This is a reminder to me to continually watch out for
problems and attend to them before things get any worse.
The steam parade on a very hot afternoon.
Hosted Myke Baigent
I was honored to be given a chance to drive Steve's Hornsby Chain
Engine. It was a bit like riding a camel as there is a lot of
rocking. Maneuvering and unfamiliarly engine in a relatively
confined space I wanted to go slow. As with many engines, the regulator
was a bit fierce and it was hard to get the engine to settle into a nice
slow pace. The engine in steered by differential band
brakes operated by a conventional looking steering wheel. The
consequence of this that since the engine is partially braked when
turning, I found I had to open the regulator when maneuvering meaning I
had to go faster. Not what you want when you are close to things!
I received a strange request from Steve to test a prototype seat on the
Burrell control model for fit. Unfortunately Steve was attending
his Chain engine as was unable to show us how it was fitted. In
the picture above the seat is not fitted correctly but I have included
it as Alan took a nice picture.
In this picture the seat is nearly in the correct position. As can
be seen it is necessary to dispense with the bunker extension.
Apparently the foot rest should be suspended from the lower
bracket. This is only a prototype made to check the general
proportions and the production version may differ. The current
plan is to fit a upholstered seat to the top disk.
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