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The lovely smell of steam loco's


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My wife as just got a new air freshener aerosol, it is scented for Christmas, a strong smell of mulled wine, Christmas pudding and mince pies.

 

It got me thinking......  how great it would be if you could get a aerosol with the fantastic smell of a steam loco.

 

Just imagine it,  in the attic/ shed/ garage, you could not only hear the sound of steam engines you could also breath in the fantastic aroma as well, heaven.

 

All for the price of an aerosol. !!

 

Keith.

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This might be what you need: http://www.modelrailscenes.com/accesories-track-train-242101.htm

 

No idea what the stuff is like.

 

In the 1980s a company called Mikros peddled a similar product line called Olfactory Airs. I don't believe they were too successful, nor do I recall whether they went in for the smell of steam engines. $6 will buy you a little bottle of their stuff at http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Olfactory-Airs-704-Pine-Tree-Odor-Mikros-Walthers-HO-O/40030370 if you happen to have a big pine tree forest on your layout.

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it's something I've thought of, a little boiler (old kettle), some steam oil, a bit of coal, maybe a hint of creosote

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Neat thinking. However, it is perhaps better to trick the brain by using theatrical techniques with your scenery, sound and lighting. The stage 'effects' world can teach us a lot.

Having said that, the Supermarkets use 'pumped' (sorry) smells to make us think 'oh, I must buy some fresh bread ' or 'yes, it is time for a bacon cob'. So I'd say a mix of clever scenics, 'stage lighting' and some actual essences under the layout might create what you want. Have fun with those stick things one can get in a Glastonbury type shop or maybe those electronic fag things. 

Beware though of smoke alarms........

Just thought, apologies...... but making diesel type smells might be easier (remember those shed/works visits at weekends lads?)

P

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I have the 'diesel shed' effect on me & my clothes every time I come home from sea, according to my wife! This despite doing all my laundry one last time before getting off the ship and a final, longer than usual, shower before leaving!!

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I have suggested that as the smell of working steam is so iressistible to most men that it ought to be marketed to women by perfume companies.  When this was usggested at a meal with another couple neither of our wives seemed to be enthusiastic about the idea.  I can't imagine why.

 

Jamie

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I have suggested that as the smell of working steam is so iressistible to most men that it ought to be marketed to women by perfume companies.  When this was usggested at a meal with another couple neither of our wives seemed to be enthusiastic about the idea.  I can't imagine why.

 

Jamie

 

Alpng similar lines, many years ago my brother and I would spend much of our time up to the elbows in the greasy bits of various marginally functional vehicles. Before returning to the civilised (read: less oily) world we'd often do our initial clean up with Gunk or Jizer degreaser (no, neither of us has cancer yet; yes we're probably lucky), either of which is pungent enough to survive the shower. We were both occasionally complimented on our aftershave :D.

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I have suggested that as the smell of working steam is so iressistible to most men that it ought to be marketed to women by perfume companies.  When this was usggested at a meal with another couple neither of our wives seemed to be enthusiastic about the idea.  I can't imagine why.

 

Jamie

 

Thats a bit like the reason that men love a woman who dresses in leather. She smells like a new truck!

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Might that not also be a good way of generating carbon monoxide ?

 

Possibly, but I'd be surprised if it produced enough to be more acutely toxic than being in a roomful of smokers, which never proved immediately fatal in my youth.

 

I'm assuming a fairly titchy oil burner mind; the sort of thing powered by a rather anaemic tea-light.

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Any coal/oil/steam air freshner would have to be available in several flavours to allow for regional variations. Being of a certain age I was but a child in August '68 but I'd seen and smelt enough real working steam through Bolton for it to be ingrained in my memory. Once it had gone only preserved steam seemed to be available, my dad taking me to the SVR and Didcot and Tyseley. Something wasn't quite right and it wasn't until he took me to the Worth Valley that I realised it was the smell of the coal, only the KWVR using the same coal as I smelt being burnt round Bolton "doing" it for me...

Jon F.

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Not a new idea, it has been done before. Around the the time of the end of BR steam, there were ring-pull cans produced with the "odour" of steam. I think you had to heat them first before opening? Something in my mind says I saw them on sale at the last Longmoor open day, and possibly somewhere else (Bressingham?). Anyone on here ever try them I wonder?

 

Stewart

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Not a new idea, it has been done before. Around the the time of the end of BR steam, there were ring-pull cans produced with the "odour" of steam. I think you had to heat them first before opening? Something in my mind says I saw them on sale at the last Longmoor open day, and possibly somewhere else (Bressingham?). Anyone on here ever try them I wonder?

 

Stewart

You beat me to it, Stewart (that's almost poetical) - I was reminded of those things.  Never bought one, of course.  Did anyone?

 

Given the way that air is so thoroughly mixed, the CO2 in the atmosphere around us probably contains millions of molecules from coal combusted in steam locomotives.

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 I have found that leaving an oily tool sharpening stone and a piece of Yorkshire coal where it gets direct sunlight is fairly successful in suggesting 'whiff of steam traction'.

I have suggested that as the smell of working steam is so iresistible to most men that it ought to be marketed to women by perfume companies.  When this was suggested at a meal with another couple neither of our wives seemed to be enthusiastic about the idea...

Tangential, but we should tackle this misconception head on.  Women attract men just by 'being there', no need for anything else. The choices of make up, clothes, hairstyle, shoes, accessories, perfume; are all centred around what she-kind find attractive, it's about feeling good, affirmation from your friends, confidence and fun. That's why it works when a man takes notice of her individual style, appearance, taste and so forth; signals potential interest in her. Wearing 'Whiff of Steam' only tells her that he is interested in any old boiler (powered machine)...

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