It’s Alive!! Air-Powered Locomotive Moves On Its Own!

Рет қаралды 165,475

2 жыл бұрын

Some experiments on the compressed air engine lead to an exciting test on the barn railway.
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@vinny142 2 жыл бұрын

I love the "let's see what happens" approach. I would analyse and research and basically have the whole thing worked out before I started building, but you have so much fun just building things and learning as you go and you simply don't mind if things fail or don't work out the way you hoped. To quote the famous guy who said it: "I have not failed 1000 times, I have discovered 1000 ways that don't work"

@tastindaganja 2 жыл бұрын

understanding why thing do not work helps you understand why they might work in other applications and also helps you fine tune things you cant predict, i love tinkering its the best way to understand,. there isnt just one way do any task and only so much you can apply from something that you've been told or read. being able to adapt a recipe like a skilled chef comes from experience and you can only get that through time and making and understanding the mistakes you've made in the past

@dirttdude 2 жыл бұрын

Edison

@johndenison5245 2 жыл бұрын

This is also the Elon Musk (SpaceX) approach.

@vinny142 2 жыл бұрын

@@johndenison5245 Not exactly. SpaceX is doing "rapid iteration" only because it means they have lots and lots of tests and every test is covered by the news and the fans and that brings in money. Their actual progress is at best equal to the other companies that don't waste billions on pointless iterations. I don't want to start a Musk flamewar here, it's not the right place. All I will say is that Musk is not a rocket engineer, or a tunneler or a car designer, he's not even a programmer. The man has just bought twitter because he did not agree with their rules about what _he_ could and could not tweet. Go do a little more research into his background and skip his cult of personality. And that is all I will say about it. Back to the backyard tinkering!

@theothertonydutch 2 жыл бұрын

@@vinny142 One of my friends was in hydrogen research at a pretty high academic level (basically figuring out safer and more efficient hydrogen storage for use in cars). She told me that a lot of times she was doing field presentations, she'd get a lot of flak from people who invested time and research into electric vehicles. She figured out through some let's say creative facebook-detective work those people generally were musk-fans, or even employed by Tesla.

@JeffGeerling 2 жыл бұрын

07:02 - "Will it blow up in my face" haha the same words are spoken by every tinkerer's significant other upon trying some new contraption.

@Hidegety1 2 жыл бұрын

And ofc you will be hauling children on their way from the gate to the new shiny Hairy Henry Hall. This is so cool. I tip my hat to your courage to even dare to try something like this.

@brandocommando36 2 жыл бұрын

Your wife has such a great attitude for your manic mechanical endeavours 😅and she's brave for test riding 😆😆

@jerrystott7780 2 жыл бұрын

Instead of high pressure air you can use a larger tank at your compressor psi to gain distance. We used a system like that on a ore cart for a underground mine. Have a great day.

@Porty1119 2 жыл бұрын

The EIMCO air trammers used an air receiver tank on the locomotive itself for non-tethered operation and were refilled every few hundred feet. We had one in service at an underground mine in New Mexico a couple years ago.

@SteveeCee 2 жыл бұрын

You sir, are a superstar. I'm so into your practical engineering projects.

@davidquirk8097 2 жыл бұрын

Here's an idea! Could you set the gas engine up as a stationary 'winding engine' and use a long loop of rope to a remote pulley? You could then clamp onto whichever side of the rope was going the direction you wanted, like the San Francisco cable cars. The loop of rope moves continuously but doesn't take much power when not loaded.

@RBMawby 2 жыл бұрын

Let Tim know and watch his railroad series.bet you'll like it

@Nevir202 2 жыл бұрын

A cool idea, though a rotating loop of rope, strung out over such a long distance as that, would be stupendously dangerous. Just for one example, what if one of the dogs got excited, grabbed the rope and were dragged into the mechanism? Not to mention if he fell into it.

@yt650 2 жыл бұрын

@@Nevir202 And I suppose you don’t see anything at all dangerous about the current mechanism, the fly wheel for example. Parts thrashing back and forth, in my opinion everything about it is dangerous. Once shielded from danger it could be under some conditions and vastly improved something good to use. A very small gas engine would do the job. The electricity to run the current compressor or any compressor would come from probably burning coal. Think about it.

@Nevir202 2 жыл бұрын

@@yt650 LMAO!!! You can observe the area around a running engine, you can't observe 300m of rope all at once. You can contain an engine, a 300m long rope loop can't be contained. Or rather it could, but only with an engineering project which would invalidate the entire point of the device.

@vintagestuffguy1998 2 жыл бұрын

@@yt650 I think you're missing the point of this project. Of course they could just get a second hand quad bike with a trailer or something and drive the stuff around, but that would not be an interesting project to work on and be proud of. Also of course it could be seen as dangerous, but I don't think tim is applying for it to be road legal any time soon so I wouldn't worry too much

@everestyeti 2 жыл бұрын

Love it, no expensive test bed, just get the wife to sit there try it out and let's see if it's safe. 👍

@jerrydempsey3490 2 жыл бұрын

The two of you make such a lovely couple. Your lives seem so perfect together. Very best wishes from America.

@samvalentine3206 2 жыл бұрын

Sandra is such a good sport! Thanks Sandra and Tim! Marvelous!

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Yes she is. Usually. : - )

@thedeloachsdoyoutube8377 2 жыл бұрын

Seeing you and Sandra smile like that makes us all so happy. Make on my friends.

@magicalucem3034 2 жыл бұрын

A wonderful piece of wifely support in that modest phrase, "And see what happens?". Methinks the famed "Light Brigade" might have been thinking just the same.

@rubenskiii 2 жыл бұрын

This man is having his own Industrial Revolution... And it's glorious!

@Chlorate299 2 жыл бұрын

I'm sure you don't need telling, but it's usually a good idea to store diving cylinders on their side when not in use. At full pressure they become rather effective torpedoes if they fall over and smack the pillar valve on something. Plenty of videos on youtube of diving cylinders punching their way through brick walls :D

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like something I should try : - )

@astranger448 2 жыл бұрын

So tie the bottle on top of the cart and do away with the whole mechanical contraption. When you are ready to go knock of the valve and voila, you are moving. (no idea how you will stop it now, maybe get a 2nd bottle that you hold very firmly so you can catch up ;-)

@michaeleitel7186 2 жыл бұрын

For savety you store them standing. In case of inside corrosion this will then concentrate on the thicker bottom walls. Especially when not using modern/high quality air delivering standard compressors. And pressured bottles have to be fixed anyhow.

@banderas2701 2 жыл бұрын

Your wife is mad, you sir are bonkers! I love the pair of you and your antics, don't ever stop.

@DemingChiropractor 2 жыл бұрын

Did I miss an episode? One day he has a flywheel the next day an engine? I don't think my notifications are working! So cool, like watching 100 years of history of engineering happening before my eyes.

@angelsy1975 2 жыл бұрын

This reminds me of an old Mickey Mouse comic I read many years ago, where Goofy designs and builds an automobile that is powered by compressed air - the thing is, the wheels also drive a pair of air pumps which in turn keep up the pressure, so it is effectively perpetual motion. Of course, he forgets to put brakes on the contraption so it leads to humorously disastrous results, but still, it was always a feat of engineering that inspired me as a child. Alas, I never got the chance to test it out. ;)

@natefessler3961 2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps the final loco could have the cylinders positioned vertically. That way, in the event of unscheduled piston ejection, debris would either shoot straight up or straight into the ground, as opposed to being propelled horizontally at face-level. What a unique and magnificent machine!

@ooff6351 2 жыл бұрын

i dont think there would be enough pressure for that to happen but im not sure

@pvtimberfaller 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, it would happen. The first time most people try to repack a cylinder it tends to get stuck so they hit it with air, I will let you work out the details for yourself.

@dave4882 2 жыл бұрын

just put a large bale of cotton on the first car(trolly) that's how we did it in the states. only the crew dies that way.

@brentonross9031 2 жыл бұрын

Essentially a shay style locomotive?

@joshuadelisle 2 жыл бұрын

Yep this is my new favourite channel. Thank you so much. Great job and like your thinking. Cheers J

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Aw! Thanks : - )

@McRocket 2 жыл бұрын

Congratulations!!! The new 'See What Happens' Railroad. ☮

@GarrettTaylorLeedy 2 жыл бұрын

There were some locomotives in the United States of used compressed air. There is one locomotive I know in particular lives in a roundhouse in Ohio called the age of steam Roundhouse. The locomotive has 3 big air tanks to power it

@themadrobot 2 жыл бұрын

says they were used for mines, they had huge quantities of compressed air maybe for air Trompe fed mines kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q9yWY891mt7eeGQ.html

@epiculo2 2 жыл бұрын

Compressed air locomotives were common in mines, where sparks and fumes were absolutely to be avoided.

@aprikosenboy1995 2 жыл бұрын

Ah yes the all known United States of used compressed air. 😝

@Lotek117 2 жыл бұрын

@@aprikosenboy1995 The greatest damn country of compressed air in the world!....

@rolliebca 2 жыл бұрын

The Tim & Sandra Express - buy your tickets now! Congratulations on your new service. Best wishes! Cheers!

@SMGJohn 2 жыл бұрын

Steam and air engines have a nice sound, not overly obnoxious and loud like a petrol or diesel, but a nice chug and a commanding presence when they grow in size and each piston stroke on a locomotive is powerful enough to be felt from a distance.

@honza-0178 2 жыл бұрын

You are literally recreating the Industrial Revolution, and I love it.

@trainenthusiast9730 2 жыл бұрын

This man Clearly knows how to make a Air Powered Engine now he made a locomotive, Good on you Tim!

@69dblcab 2 жыл бұрын

"Will it blow up in my face?" "we'll see what happens." LOL Great Job. Keep having fun and entertaining us.

@brandocommando36 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful done !!! Love watching that thing moving on compressed air . Awesome thx for sharing

@johndenison5245 2 жыл бұрын

Gosh Tim, that made my morning! Your ingenuity knows no bounds - thanks for a great video

@sholtquist5625 2 жыл бұрын

So cool to finally see the engine used to move a load - it's already doing quite useful work at low power and before refinement, can't wait to see what the final design is capable of :)

@alanm3438 2 жыл бұрын

It is alive. I seen videos where they used air bottles to run a car. You are on the right track!

@yaboilemonboi5223 2 жыл бұрын

IT LOOKS FRICKIN NICE. Seriously tho, good work! I would suggest to get a big BIG air tank and make another cart to put it on. That way, you don’t have to refusal as often if you were to use a smaller one. Also, if you were to use steam again, I would suggest using like a 7 gallon air tank as the boiler. It wouldn’t be a flash boiler, but it would be another idea to try, just make sure to get one with a safety valve!

@danishtttestudios9365 2 жыл бұрын

I'm amazed by how smooth it rolls along. Great job!

@almostkentish3042 2 жыл бұрын

The pioneers of locomotion would be proud of that giant flywheel!

@H4rleyBoy 2 жыл бұрын

The world needs more inventive nutters like you.

@crestfallensunbro6001 2 жыл бұрын

I must say congrats on getting a moving loco! it really looks like it has the potential to be quite the work horse. i cant wait to see how it progresses, to see it puff along the track will truly be a wonderful sight to see!

@sirnikkel6746 2 жыл бұрын

S bäcker commented that conpressing air with windmill power is easier that generating electricity, and, from experience and theory with electronics and electric engineering, can confirm that it is true. Another commenter said that propane bottles can hold much more pressure and are cheaper, so you could get those too. Unless you like to generate work with your charcoal, that is, to generate steam power.

@wideyxyz2271 2 жыл бұрын

Gears or belt final drive or even chain? Looks like it will work just needs some refinement! Brilliant Tim. A rich benefactor with a spare compressor and cylinders is required or a scrap man with them lying around....Fingers crossed. Trevithick is applauding you!

@jonjessen 2 жыл бұрын

You are singel handed reinventing the industrial Revolution.

@calvingreene90 2 жыл бұрын

The safety valve on propane tanks opens at 250psi. And they come in larger sizes and might be cheaper to acquire.

@timseguine2 2 жыл бұрын

He still has the compressor problem then though.

@calvingreene90 2 жыл бұрын

@@timseguine2 How does stating that propane tanks that are bigger and thus hold more air are safe at higher pressure than he operates at indicate a problem?

@timseguine2 2 жыл бұрын

@@calvingreene90 I didn't quite get that you were recommending them primarily for their volume. He said in the video that he couldn't afford a compressor that outputs a higher pressure, so I found recommending tanks that operate at a higher pressure seemed a little pointless. Fair enough though, he doesn't have to use them to their full rating of course.

@calvingreene90 2 жыл бұрын

@@timseguine2 If the price is lower for the volume of tank additional capability is just added safety factor. This is not to say that if you have the additional capability you shouldn't keep your eye out for a deal on a compressor like an AC compressor off a car or while a bit Heath Robinson use a power stearing pump to pump hydraulic fluid between two tanks using the liquid to compress the air. My uncle used an old hand deep-well pump like that to fill his tires with air. All it cost him was an afternoon in the family -scrap- spare parts pile.

@gigaxacku 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant! So glad you guys have made the first big step in powering your railway

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Us too!

@polarbub 2 жыл бұрын

Using screwdrivers as connecting pins is very smart!

@dirttdude 2 жыл бұрын

those hydraulic cylinders will easily handle wet steam if you keep them oiled. Perhaps a simple open loop boiler, easy, cheap, low pressure, safe and fun

@dennisford2000 2 жыл бұрын

Vegetable oil in the boiler.

@michaelandrews934 Жыл бұрын

This is a channel I can support! Creative and adorable!

@JeffSearust 2 жыл бұрын

Now I need to see Sandra across Ireland on that wagon!!!

@paulveenings6861 2 жыл бұрын

Everything held together with two vice grips , genius .

@murfreeA 2 жыл бұрын

In the 1920 Homestake Mining Company in South Dakota U.S.A. used compressed air locomotives in the their underground mines. Think about it, energy source and fresh air for the mine. Also, compressed air was piped down into the mine to operate air powered drilling equipment.

@CPWorld68 2 жыл бұрын

Very good indeed . Especially with our Sandra on board. Cant wait , looks and sounds the business . Well done old boy. Well done.

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly.

@UppsalaSal 2 жыл бұрын

I admire your ingenuity. Cleverness is a quality with high value. Nice use of the vice grip pliers holding things together on the engine.

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@oncimio7085 2 жыл бұрын

Oh my gosh wow! Good job on not giving up Tim!

@PatGilliland 2 жыл бұрын

You've invented the self mobile cable railway. Though I have never seen a string drive, there are some model railway engines that use rubber bands as crude belts to transfer power to the driving wheel axle - same as your log chomper.

@jdgindustries2734 2 жыл бұрын

A buddy of mine is working on 9ne of these right now. Athearn used this drive for it's model RDC's

@kizz.Commented 2 жыл бұрын

Nice work young Tim :)

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly : - )

@jamesgibb9737 2 жыл бұрын

I love it! Completely bonkers but brilliant and so much fun to watch.

@markgoddard2560 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant. You restore faith in humanity!

@mdouglaswray 2 жыл бұрын

This pneumo-engine is lovely! LOVELY

@Mrsstick07 2 жыл бұрын

You both make me smile so much. Thank you. ❤ x

@johnsmart964 2 жыл бұрын

That's great, the first passenger train on your railroad!

@greekchad Жыл бұрын

Damn that’s a pretty cool engine. It would be a good alternative to steam engines, especially for backyard and miniature railways

@lauraandedwardcannon8861 2 жыл бұрын

That is amazing. Wonderful. All you need is two sprockets and a chain and you will have a proper locomotive. Put an air tank on the tender and away you go.

@kantarva 2 жыл бұрын

You did it, madlad, you absolutely did it!

@peterstecks7660 2 жыл бұрын

Sandra looked rather bemused as she was trundled into the workshop - she also looked as though she was rapidly formulating a plan to ride round the coast of Ireland with Flora and Trudy again... just to get away from the 'lets see what happens school of mechanical engineering. Superb folks. Really good. Thanks.

@rossbrumby1957 2 жыл бұрын

And now to make a flash boiler from the stainless pipe coil out of an old beer "temp rite" cooler from a pub. I have a couple of double acting 4"× 10" pnuematic rams I scrounged from the scrapyard- much lighter weight than your hydraulic ones- and you've given me ideas!

@mischef18 2 жыл бұрын

This contraption just keeps getting better bro. Safe travels.

@RaymondOreFineArt 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic, I gave a great cheer when it started moving with ease.

@johncourtneidge 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! This is the genius of steel wheel on steel rail!

@jpsimon206 2 жыл бұрын

What is it about that sound that is so magical? Steam engines, some hit and miss engines, even a lathe with a leather flat belt that the Staples click rhythmically, it is so gentle and pleasant. Modern machines might be more impressive in some regards, but I don't think I would mind hearing a steam engine all day even though my neighbor drives me crazy mowing his lawn everyday.

@thegiq 2 жыл бұрын

This is the video I've been keeping my fingers crossed for since I saw first tracks being laid. Love it :)

@BennettTheSmith 2 жыл бұрын

Very satisfying seeing it move along the rails the first time! :D

@glumpy10 2 жыл бұрын

Love your vids. You have an amazing voice and inflection when you speak. You would be great narrating Children's education cartoons or doing voice overs for characters. Very keen to see how your projects come along. I can see you ending up with a small steam locomotive time you are finished or a steam car.

@lordmuntague 2 жыл бұрын

Sheer class. This just gets better and better, well done Tim! 👍

@pvtimberfaller 2 жыл бұрын

Compressed air engines came in two styles, a smaller single tank with a chain drive multi cylinder engine ( look up whistling pig?) & one built like a locomotive. The locomotive type ran around 800 psi. The smaller ones were simple, the large ones were compound with a “radiator “ of sorts that used the exhaust to draw air through to warm the air between the cylinders (like an exhaust reheater on a steam engine). I know of two that were converted to steam locomotives. To be effective & self starting you really need two double acting cylinders set @ 90 degrees. Cheers.

@jenhofmann 2 жыл бұрын

Wiow!! You did i!! Congratulations on this hard-won milestone!

@saveitforparts 2 жыл бұрын

That's such a cool locomotive! I love the homemade nature of all the engine parts.

@thetallboyriley 2 жыл бұрын

You’re a magical old man now.

@elijahwerner6130 2 жыл бұрын

This is about the neatest thing I've seen in quite a while!

@Living_Life_RN 2 жыл бұрын

Gotta love those screwdriver coupling pins!

@ronanwoods2405 2 жыл бұрын

It's all getting very exciting now!

@user-cn3zq2zu2o 2 жыл бұрын

It even sounds like Ivor the Engine. It's fantastic.

@bjornjohansson4911 2 жыл бұрын

I love this, and I love your happiness!! It sound like a loco too 😄😄. Warm hugs from Sweden.

@AlbertFilice 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant Tim! So much fun to watch! I was wondering how you were going to refill the scuba tanks, but it's fun to see it moving on the tracks, and pulling cargo! Can't wait to see the trip across the fields!

@mattsmocs3281 2 жыл бұрын

Actually a air powered loco is not a super new concept. There were plenty in the United states. Usually they are 3 tank design which allows for about 2-3 hours of running but a good engineer who masters there loco can get a whole day’s worth of movement on a single charge

@mfbfreak 2 жыл бұрын

They were used in great numbers in mines where explosive dust or gas is an issue. They were highly popular until battery electric locomotives became realistic.

@mattsmocs3281 2 жыл бұрын

@@mfbfreak trolley wire run motors were also very popular in mines. Although some of the last steam was fireless locos

@robertunderdunkterwilliger2290 2 жыл бұрын

They have been used all over the world, often for railway yard work.

@TheHylianBatman 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant!!! You're living the dream!!!

@AndersonPrototypes 2 жыл бұрын

You have inspired me to build an air powered tram now. I am moving to the country in a few weeks so its time to plan it out. Being a Journeyman Machinist I think I can make something very cool and functional too. Thanks.

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Best of luck!

@tamarmolerick3814 2 жыл бұрын

This may just be the best thing I have ever seen.

@Beni_777 2 жыл бұрын

Looks great and it's fascinating that it works without much effort, but I think in the long run, it's much easier to get a battery and a simple DC motor.

@julianbailey2749 2 жыл бұрын

Home engineering at its finest. I love the simple logic and solutions that you try and how successful they are.

@scotsleader8304 2 жыл бұрын

Marvelous simply marvelous it’s like something that came out of the 1900s

@jpsimon206 2 жыл бұрын

I must have missed an episode, those lovely linkages are new to me. I'm sure you're already aware, but if you're using the valve to meter out pressurized air, using two in a line will be much more cooperative. You can use the first one to choke it down to say one of three positions, this makes it a lot easier to dial in the second valve as it's not fighting as much pressure. Just a quick and dirty trick when you don't have a decent regulator handy

@dennisford2000 2 жыл бұрын

Large diameter pipe between the two valves give a chamber of higher pressure air and less pressure drop

@workslippers770 Ай бұрын

This was lovely, nice one.

@StubProductions 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! You are on your way!

@LoneWolf0648 2 жыл бұрын

having the air engine with a small battery and motor as a backup would give you a good little locomotive. if you gear it for torque then im sure that thing would haul those bigger basket carts you have (or at least make them easier to move)

@Nelo390 2 жыл бұрын

Put on some bike pedals!!

@miankhalid7060 Жыл бұрын

Excellent idea ❤God bless you and your hands

@leroyjones6958 2 жыл бұрын

That is a very simple and very clever locomotive!

@lowenjennings 2 жыл бұрын

this is what freedom looks like

@MisterTalkingMachine 2 жыл бұрын

Very reminiscent of the earliest locos like the Coalbrookdale locomotive with the giant flywheel :)

@meirionevans5137 2 жыл бұрын

True Heath Robinson spirit. Brilliant.

@robbo4393 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video really pleased its coming together great to see it move under its own power

@voidgeometry794 2 жыл бұрын

I like what you do. Thank you for this video. Grandpa would have liked it too.

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

You are very welcome

@BustingSomeBuffers 2 жыл бұрын

I think your videos are my favorite. I love waiting for them. Edit: I also love how this looks like one of the first locomotives built, it's just a fun thing to think about.

@wayoutwest-workshopstuff6299 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@sandbergius 2 жыл бұрын

How about a small tank for compressed air, that runs the locomotive. The stationary fire stove drives a compressor (steam engine or stirling engine). And alongside the rails runs a supply pipe/hose/line that provides compressed air for refilling the tank at access points at start/middle/end of the railway?