Stephenson's Rocket

**Keith_1** · 6th January 2018, 02:49 PM

Hi All,

It's been hot down here.

I have been working on my drive cylinders and the support bracket for the slide plate. This slide plate has another connecting rod attached that links to the wheels. The plate is guided by square guide shafts.
To make the sliding bracket square hollow section - I made up pieces of angle - cut out of Tasmanian oak and the glued the two angles together to make the square section.
51.jpg I then routed pine with a 90 degree angle bit that allowed me to glue the top sections and middle to the guide tubes. Then I filled up any joints with body filler.

I was a bit unsure on how to make up the support bracket for the slide plate. I have used aluminium angle and flat bar to overcome this problem. I have also drilled and doweled with 2mm wire so the joints won't move.

52.jpg Still need to make up gland lubricators for the bottom section of the cylinder - but happy with progress so far.

I now need to make up the other side bracket. Time consuming but should be a bit easier now that I have something as a guideline.

Below is a photo of the approximate location of the cylinder to the boiler and wheels. The angle is 39 degrees so I have made up a gauge to ensure I get both sides correct.

When I have both sets of brackets made up I will prime them and then work out my connection points and insert timber inside the boiler so I have sturdy connection points.

53.jpg

Regards

Keith

**htl** · 6th January 2018, 04:01 PM

That's one nice looking bracket there Keith!!!

**crowie** · 6th January 2018, 08:04 PM

The angle is 39 degrees so I have made up a gauge to ensure I get both sides correct.

And so was the outside temperature...
Nicely done Keith!

**Handyjack** · 7th January 2018, 08:57 AM

Keith, I guess you and a lot of readers are starting to understand what the Stephensons went through all those years ago. And they would have been working with a dead line.
Today should be a lot nicer temprature wise.

Watching with interest.

**Keith_1** · 7th January 2018, 10:55 AM

Yes Kevin, very impressed with how they developed the locomotive and that a lot of their work still relevant in steam locomotives today.

Regards
Keith

**fletty** · 7th January 2018, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Handyjack

Today should be a lot nicer temprature wise.

Watching with interest.

44 forecast at home today which will be 48 in the shed so heading to cricket with daughters and fencefurniture because it’s ‘only’ forecast to be 42 there

?

**Keith_1** · 7th January 2018, 03:01 PM

Good one Alan. Going ok. Keep hydrated.😎
My computer has died so using emoji off my iPad. Unless someone knows how to access emojis off the forum via iPad ? Doesn't give ability to add likes either????

Regards Keith

**fletty** · 7th January 2018, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by fletty

44 forecast at home today which will be 48 in the shed so heading to cricket with daughters and fencefurniture because it’s ‘only’ forecast to be 42 there

?

Well......

F3573D31-B169-47EB-B2F3-06A5A09F3CC5.jpeg

..... that didn’t work!

**Keith_1** · 9th January 2018, 07:22 AM

But we won and did you enjoy yourself

Regards

Hoges

**fletty** · 9th January 2018, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Keith_1

But we won and did you enjoy yourself

Regards

Hoges

I don’t think I have ever been so hot and, out there on the paddock, some mad b*stards were playing cricket! We had a great day bonding with daughter, daughter in law and Fence furniture. In fact, fence furniture was SO “bonded” that he looked like he had melted!
Have gone bush for a few days to recover, might even have heat stroke, actually got as far as Northern Victoria by tonight. The first beer at each pub has been deeelicious, all good.
fletty

**Dalboy** · 9th January 2018, 11:18 PM

Well back out into the garden coat on as it is 40degs here still working on my wood pile be glad when I have finished. Did I mention that is 40 deg f

**ian** · 10th January 2018, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by Dalboy

Well back out into the garden coat on as it is 40degs

5 degrees C. That's positively balmy -- T-shirt and thongs to visit the garbage tin!

**Keith_1** · 11th January 2018, 04:30 PM

Hi all,

I have been working on the second drive cylinder bracket assembly. Happy how it's come up. You will notice that I have made one cylinder at full stroke whilst the other is at minimum. This is for the 180 degree difference in each wheel position (I am going to have one drive lug on the wheel at the top whilst the other side will be on the bottom).

I have now started making the pressure relief valves on each of the cylinders and next step will be making the cross brackets on the cylinder bracket to allow me to secure the drive cylinders to the boiler assembly.

Regards

Keith

54.jpg

**htl** · 11th January 2018, 04:43 PM

Their so pretty, twins!!!

**Handyjack** · 11th January 2018, 07:29 PM

Keith, while I am not 100% sure it applies to rocket, two cylinder steam engines normally have the cranks at 90degrees so both cylinders can never be at the end of the stroke.
I do know that with Stephensons Rocket, if one cylinder was past the point where steam would automaticaly "cut off", the valve could be manually opened to get the engine moving. That is what the hand levers by the left cylinder are for. You would hate to be in a situation where you can not get the engine to move backwards or forwards without having to bar the engine a little bit.
With your Peny-Darren locomotive, if you were unfortunate enough to stop on "Dead Centre" (end of stroke) all you would need to do is move the flywheel (by hand) 5 or 10 degrees to get it in a position to start.

Keep up the good work.

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