The Guys at Castle steam have been badly affected by the lockdowns and they always reply to emails fairly quickly. They are very busy trying to catch up but it will be a long wait, even after restriction are lifted. Well worth the wait though, what a work of art!

Reminds me of years ago firing a Marshall boiler at Kew Bridge with scrap wood ... you had to keep an eye on the water level and adjust the pressure to the feed pump ... and try and build up a goodly amount of pressure before they started up the 90'' beam engine. All surprisingly good fun !

Hi, I recommend what I found teaming my custom 5 inch gauge steam engine is to start by lighting a old thin rag soaked in white spirits in the firebox and then put a whole lot of soft wood soaked in white spirit on top.

Lovely. So satisfying watching this run.

Thank you, Mr. Appleton. That was a delight.

It is brilliant just watching boiler build up steam

Thanks again kieth greetings from Ireland

Such a glorious cacophony!

First time watching and you sound like someone who narrated Thomas and friends. Loved the vid

Merry Christmas to you. Stay Healthy.

Thank you

Ah! Now I know. Thanks for the information

Exellent video and work thank you sir.

Good Stuff!!!!

Nice

I fitted a fusible plug to my model traction and one occasion it was needed due a false water gauge reading. I was surprised how effective it was in putting out the fire. Best wishes

Keith u have invented a time machine steam powered i assume

Fantastic video Keith. It was very interesting. Also could you make a video on how to steam up a mamod TE1A on coal please?

I was at Loughborough station last year and was watching an engine fire up down by the sheds. Before it started moving the drain cocks were opened for quite some time. eventually it steamed past with it's drain cocks still open (about half a mile of travel) and left the station to the south with the drain cocks still open. I'm guessing that it takes quite some time to heat full size cylinders, that or the engineer forgot they were open.

What a luverly pair of 5As, I have longed for a pair of them for years. I meet a fellow at a steam show back in the 70s that was working on a pair that he was building a launch for, unfortunately I have lost contact with him. Do you have any idea what size boiler would suit a pair installed in a 25' launch?

Hi Kieth, great video. What size is the small welsh steam coal that you used at first to light the fire and where did you get it from as it is the size of coal I need for a engine.

Try what is referred to as a white mans match, a propane plumbing torch.

I do not know anything about these lovely engines so I asked what is steam oil.

Keith does anyone make a condenser for the small steam engines? I know running in a total loss mode is normal but was just thinking it would make for an interesting steam plant if they did!

How big of a boiler do you think you would need to power this engine? I think it may be my favorite of yours! Absolutely wonderful mechanical device. Thanks for all your hard work!

Keith do you no much about SEL - signalling Equipment Ltd Steam Engines and if you do can you make a vidoo on them please

🤩😻💙💛

What are the advantages of using coal over oil or gas fired boilers? I've noticed that all your boilers are of the fire tube type. Does anyone make a water tube style boiler for use in model steam service? Thank you and a merry Christmas to you and a healthy new year

How many horsepower does that twin 5A engine produce Keith?

Have figured out way of construct a simple electronic sight glass.. Bit of aluminium rod running through an insulating bush, through a pipe T and then down through a pipe.... Annodize the aluminium, electrically ground the copper.. And the connection to the alu becomes a capacitor with a value that varies according to how far rod pokes into water. 555 timer or similar to produce variable frequency pulses. Frequency relates to water level. High or low pass filter if want a trip point for sounding a buzzer, opening a solenoid valve to activate water feed pump or such like. Arduino or similar if more complex stuff wanted. Per boilers for larger engines. Now if only I could figure how to get an aluminium wire down the inside of coilled copper without it touching the copper until after it was anodised... I'd have a simple way of controlling water lever within a a monotube aka flash steam boiler. Far lower risk of dangerous failure, Far easier to match water feed to steam consumption etc.

what whistle is that ??

wonder how big of a boiler for a twin 5a to run proper?

Steam oil?

The Pozidrive on the door looks out of place.

All very interesting, but unless your using the steam engine to do some kind of actual work, like running a mini mill or something, even just turning a fan...what's the point?

Speed limit on the canal is 4mph, and don’t pass other boats while making a bow wave or you’ll get shouted at.

The future is now