Thanks for your comment and thoughts on the coal, Hayden.

I know it is pretty off topic but does anyone know of a good website to watch newly released series online?

@Aidan Javier lately I have been using flixzone. Just google for it :)

@Aidan Javier I would suggest FlixZone. Just search on google for it :)

It's not easy to getting Yorkshire tea in New Hampshire.

Hi Matt, all the bearing surfaces that move especially the slide bar and the big and little ends. On a slide valve engine the pressure on the valve gear to work the valve is enormous. Use the heavy gear box oil mixed with reap seed oil that I recommend in several videos. Don'r forget cylinder oil in the lubricator.

@@GandyDancerProductions thanks I use the steam loco gear oil for the gearing etc and bearings. Is this best?

Hi Matt, I wouldn't blow down above 20 lb and if you can wait a lower pressure I would.

Thanks will do that . So 10 or 15psi ? Is it safe for the boiler to blow down as some people say it's not good for the boiler

You can, but it's not essential.

@@GandyDancerProductions if don't use a warming fire can I use warm water?

Hi Matt, first hydro test your boiler to twice working pressure. Make sure it's serviceable and not dangerous. Oil round well and redo every mile or so of running. Take your time when starting the fire and changing over to coal. It takes a while for the fire to get hot. Use the best coal you can get, not household coal if you can find some other. Clean your boiler tubes, ash pan and smoke box before starting. Have fun, it take a while to get thing right but that's the challenge of coal and steam. Good luck.

Thanks have tried that and works well. Haven't pressure tested but steam tested and blows off when should and no leaks so all good but don't use it in public and only at home. So is safe enough for me. I use the Welsh steam coal and just anthracite sometimes. Do you like the Welsh coal ?

I don't think you have to do it that often especially if you use filtered rain water. I steamed in London, when I first built the loco, with tap water for a year before de-scaling the boiler. It was quite scaly but it all came out. After you're descaled the boiler it will prime for a while on the first steaming.

Don't sweat it Matt, if you only steam occasionally de-scale once a year. I would use kettle de-scaler in the proportions suggested on the can. Careful not to get it on the paint work. With the safely valve off, so no pressure builds, heat the mixture up in the boiler but don't let it boil. Leave it to cool and work it's magic for an hour then drain. There maybe some loose scale in the boiler after this, depending on the water and the hours it's steamed, poke around with the blow-downs off to get it out. Thoroughly rinse the inside of the boiler afterward to get rid of the chemicals. It will still prime a little on the first steaming. Don't be tempted to add anything to the water on a normal steaming day it will prime like crazy if you do.

@@GandyDancerProductions thanks for the comments will try it. How do you suggest I rinse out the boiler after?

@@mattseymour8637 Hi Matt, long time since I heard from you. I'll answer all your questions at once. Rinse the boiler out several times by filling it up with cold water. Don't add anything to it. I seem to remember you live in the UK like I do now and the best coal to get here, better than the stuff I used in the US, is a hard coal used for gravity feed domestic coal boilers. Its clean makes little smoke and ash but hot enough to steam for hours with any load and without trouble. It comes in small granular sizes to fit into a small steamer without need to break it up.. It has different names depending the the coal supplier. Where abouts do you live?

@@jonathanguilbert8658 thanks for the comment. Sorry for all the questions. Yes live in the UK in Lincolnshire. Is that coal the standard anthracite? I do use the Welsh steam coal in the grain form. Is this good too?

@@mattseymour8637 Welsh Steam coal is very good and should serve you well. The coal I mentioned is a kind of anthracite but not the hard anthracite I used in the states this is much better. I had to experiment with different coals to find what works. Pity you live a long way from me I would have invited you and loco to my clubs' track for a steam up.

Hi Joris, I did a load test here here and you'll be surprised of its' power: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z8hkYKqH1a3DYpc.html

Hi, I don't have lead in it and it weighs emply about 110 lbs. You can see a video of my little engine pulling quite a load up the steep gradients: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z8hkYKqH1a3DYpc.html

@@GandyDancerProductions I understand GE & EMD pour concrete into a steel pan in the frames of the modern locos to gain weight. As I contemplate the dimensions of your -toys- _thermodynamic traction models,_ they don't seem to add up. 110# empty seems appropriate-for a "back of the candy wrapper" estimate of their drawbar load. The loco's just don't look like they'd weigh more than 50#. Thanks & best wishes from the Vicarious Gallery.

Hi Matt, I'm not using smokeless coal. It's quite smokey at times particularly when I'm firing but it clears quickly. Also being warm weather you don't see the steam.

That's good to hear as prefer to see smoke as more realistic. Annoys me that everyone uses anthracite as kills the atmosphere!

What exactly is the coal you use ? Is it housecoal mixed with anthracite?

@@GandyDancerProductions what coal exactly was it you used?

That's part of the fun of running steam engines. Getting dirty.