Chops

My presentation went well, and I have been invited again to present on (American) Civil War Railroads. Thank you all for your most illuminating replies. My interest in history is typically upon mankind's interaction with technology. The Common Wisdom as to what defines the activities of us, Sapiens, is the control of fire, ceremonial burial, purpose built tools and art. In turns both fascinating and frustrating, the dial keeps getting pushed back on those indices. Preceding Sapiens by about 2.25 million years, a half chimp, half human collection of skeletons in the Rising Star Cave of South Africa has demonstrated all four. This leads me to the postulation that the activity that defines mankind is the lever and weaving. No other species of ape does those things, or has done those things, Cro Magnon and Neanderthal thought to use animal skins, albeit sewn. But neither weaving or levers, the latter being introduced in the form of the atlatl, or, if you will, a . I define a lever as a force multiplier. In this sense, Stephenson, et al, use of the piston is a new advance in the use of the lever. A giant leap forward for mankind.

More and more is revealed. Thank you!

From what images I deduce perhaps a metal sleeve with some kind of projection out the top, that might appear to be a "float," if indeed I am looking at the correct item. It appears to be in the vicinity of the right piston. What troubles me now is if the mercury gauge is connected directly to the steam boiler, as a manometer in schematic appears to be, how does one calibrate for the expansion of the mercury caused by the heat of steam, which might be greater than 600 degrees Fahrenheit? Is the volume of mercury somehow calibrated to account for the expansion of the heat??? Another question: bearings. In a horse drawn carriage, with a speed range not very fast, friction of wheel upon axle is perhaps considerably less than a railway carriage at 27 MPH. Apparently, bearings microscopically squash from the load, and the race, in which they travel is designed to redistribute some of that pressure to reduce this deformation. The tolerances are incredibly tight, and the effect of this deformation is incredibly real, and the faster an axle turns, the more amplified is the vibration and friction. What manner of bearings did the Rocket and its carriages ride upon??? One of Robert's letters to George, worries about the expansion of the rear boiler plate bulging outward to a depth of 1/8th of an inch! This subsumes that A. this was recognized as a fail point, and B. they had the ability to measure things down to an astonishing degree! (Stephenson, Sr.'s response was to insert a series of stays that connected front and rear boiler faces in a longitudinal manner, the length of the boiler, e.g.). Again, thank you for your thoughtful replies, my understanding of the scintillas of this brilliant prototype is enhanced.

I am deducing, slowly, that formerly this site was under Model Railway Forum UK. I had dropped off for a while, pursuing other things, and couldn't find the old site when I returned. Now I'm seeing some old posts of mine, so I take it this is the new site, revamped. Worked a little on some hedgerows tonight, a quintessentially British memory. Planted a yew tree and a few others. Something I remember gazing upon whilst barreling along from the window of a dining car back in '67.

Thank you most kindly! At least now I have some insight, herein. Wish me luck on my presentation, which will include those two gems. Small details, but details on which the entire Stephensonian project would not be able to go forward without. And yes, the Hay Tor tramway, or something a lot like it. I saw that, or something just about identical, at the age of six or seven. Even then it struck me as something really remarkable. That it precedes railways to come is something well worth noting.

Whilst in Devonshire (memory fogs, maybe Dartmoor) in '67, I vividly recall these granite trackways laid into the earth dating to perhaps the 1700's, upon which carts were hauled by pit ponies, typically coal (?), I recall. Try as I might, I cannot conjure the correct wording to locate an image of this artifact on the internet. I am to give a presentation to the local Rail Historical Society next week, and greatly need this image in the discussion of first generation steam locomotion and its antecedents. Would someone kindly post me an image or URL? Two other questions vex me: I cannot locate any information in either prints of the age nor in writing as to how water from the barrel on the tender was delivered to the Rocket's boiler. Sounds simple, but in 1827 one could not simply buy a hose off the shelf. I am guessing they had to make it from scratch. Leather with rivets was one option in the early 19th century, but no evidence seems to exist as to how this connection was made. Any resources or ideas? Thirdly, somewhere I came across information that the Rocket's operating boiler pressure was 60 PSI. Where did the pressure gauge come from??? Again, not something that could be grabbed off the shelf, and "high pressure" steam was in its infancy. Thank you in advance.

Fonejacker

The new Rocket is a gem among gems. Runs beautifully and exquisitely detailed. I got a three pack of the open coaches, but quickly discovered that the dimunitive Rocket will not pull more than three coaches of anything, even though the metal wheels are quite free rolling. Also, in the photo, it is not showing the plastic chain used to link up the rolling stock. Perhaps it will be in the box.

Gons Gone Wild Most of the gondolas were 2 for a dollar, or free. Just for phun.

14 years ago, my '76 Dodge Mirada, which I purchased from a junk yard, finally choked and died beside the road, etiology unknown to this day. I purchased, brand new, a 2007 Hyundai Accent, a car which I dislike intensely, all the more so that it has never stranded me. It has 252,000 miles (408773 km) and refuses to die. Wonder what it is worth now?

The Stench Will Go Through!

New Passenger Service to Armadilloville!

Relax: Take the Train 1