C. Fill the Lubricator
GardenRailways.com 49(^2) CHECK THE CONTROLS
Familiarize yourself with the controls,
manual or radio controlled, long before you
attempt to fire up the locomotive. At this
stage, a control check is to make sure the
throttle opens and closes correctly and that
the expansion link (reverser) moves correctly
and smoothly. With radio control operation,
this means doing the coarse adjustments so
you are confident that your servo motors
will work correctly, your batteries are
charged, and that you can use the radio
effectively at a distance.
(^3) FUELING UP
Fueling a live-steamer requires that you add three basic elements to the
locomotive: fuel, water, and lubricating oil.
This Lady Anne locomotive by Roundhouse Engineering uses butane
fuel commercially available in the U.S. Certain locomotives use a butane/
propane mix, alcohol, coal, fuel pellets, or perhaps something else. Know
what the locomotive was designed to use and use only that fuel.
Make sure the locomotive’s gas tank is closed. Turn the butane can
upside down and gently push the can’s plastic nipple over top of the
metal gas tank nipple. You’ll hear the butane transferring as a kind of
small, roaring waterfall. You know the tank is full when the gas vents off
and sprays into the air around you. It looks like a white fountain.
Adding water is easy. Unscrew the boiler cap and use a large syringe
or clean jar and funnel to place distilled water in the boiler. Different
locomotives use different sized boilers, so follow the manufacturer’s
instructions on how much water you need. Most Roundhouse loco-
motives are designed to burn up their fuel before they run out of
water to prevent boiler damage. NEVER underfill your boiler. If you
don’t have instructions and can’t find any online, test the boiler with
about a ¾ tank full of water and in a location that you can devote full
attention to its operation.
Add steam oil to the lubricator.
This model uses a displacement
lubricator that must be filled with
steam oil before each run and emptied of water after each
run. Use steam oil only. Steam oil should be available from
your engine’s manufacturer.
Uncap the lubricator and unscrew the bottom drain,
slightly. Fill the lubricator and close the drain screw as soon
as you see oil come out. Roundhouse says to fill the lubri-
cator; I fill it until the oil level is just below the pinhole in the
steam tube. In my opinion, this enables steam to enter
the lubricator and pick up enough oil to do its job well.
A. Fill the Fuel Tank
B. Fill the Boiler
Radio
control unit
Radio
control
Battery receiver
pack
Butane
can
Butane mist
(flammable)
Locomotive
fuel tank
Boiler plug
Plastic
syringe (use
distilled
water, clean
as needed)
Filling oil in an
unmodified
displacement
lubricator
Drain closed,
oil filled to just
below pinhole