48 GARDEN RAILWAYS FALL 2019
Garden railroad steam locomotives
behave much like their full-size
cousins and need the right prep
work before you even think of
striking a match.
To start, gather the correct-sized
wrenches, screwdrivers, and/or hex
wrenches. Carefully examine each
moving part in the valve gear, throt-
tle, and easy-to-access pipe fittings
with these tools to make sure they
are finger tight.
Go back to the joints, rods, and
axles (parts moved by steam power)
and apply the manufacturer’s
recommended oil or lubricant. I’ve
found that the Roundhouse steam
oil (compounded bearing oil 220)
works fine on joints, especially as
the engine heats up.
Once you’ve finished tightening
components, roll the locomotive
back and forth over a short stretch
of track or a hard flat surface. Avoid
abrasive surfaces that scuff and
scratch the wheel flanges, such as
concrete sidewalks. As the engine
rolls, observe the motion of the
rods and valve gear.
Ask yourself a few questions:
- Do the side rods jam?
- Does the engine roll smoothly?
- Can you hear air passing through
valves as the locomotive moves? - If your axles are adjustable for
different track gauges, are they the
correct gauge for the track you’re
running on? - Does your locomotive have a
safety valve to release excess steam
pressure? Is it free of grease, dirt,
paint, and obstructions?
In general, does it look and
sound “right?” If not, now is the time
to slightly loosen something you
over-tightened or tighten it down
more, if it is too loose.
Don’t be afraid to be near perfect
with your preparation. The last thing
you want is a thrown side rod, or to
have to troubleshoot a locomotive
that’s stuck on your main line when
it’s hot, on fire, and venting steam.
(^1) TIGHTEN,
LUBRICATE, TEST
Main piston Use the correct size and system,
British or metric of mini wrench
Servo motor
“Johnson Bar/
Main rod reversing lever”
Flat-head
screwdriver
Hex
wrench
Throttle
needle
valve
Gas
valve/
regulator
Throttle
rod
Gas
jet
Gas
tank
Displacement
lubricator (with
home-made
improvements)
Pressure
gauge
Safety
valve
Boiler
plug
Home-made fiberglass-and-
electrical tape insulation as
lagging surrounding steam tube
Learn more: Find a list of resources for small scale live steamers and read answers to the most
commonly asked questions in the links on our website at GardenRailways.com/Fall2019