WHAT I LEARNT FROM BUILDING A MODEL LOCOMOTIVE

Water, coal and steam drove the Industrial Revolution. Whilst we are all living with the consequences of the widespread use of fossil fuels, many of the engineering skills that were learnt 200 years ago remain valid and useful to this day. Sustainable forms of energy production use high-speed turbines connected to alternators to generate electricity. These turbines are based upon earlier steam turbines which developed towards the end of the 19^th century. The manufacture of these turbines required precision engineering techniques in order to produce power at maximum efficiencies. These techniques were first developed during the construction of early steam locomotives.

Model locomotives are no different in this respect. In some cases machining tolerances can be as close as 100^th of a millimeter. Water when converted to steam increases by a volume of 20 times, in the process creating huge pressures for the boilers, piping, pistons, cylinders and valves in the locomotive. The challenge therefore facing the builder of a model steam locomotive is to reproduce these components accurately on a small scale.

I found the learning process challenging, and at times intimidating. It was only through “sitting at the feet of the masters” that I was able to receive the tuition and skills required to complete the task of building a working model steam locomotive. As the years go by, the master craftsman who taught me are falling by the wayside. In my small way, I would like to pass some of these skills on to the next generation.