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 Posted - October 20 2017 : 12:19:58 PM
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While working on my William Crooks locomotive, I discovered that the USMRR had a very old and
unusual loco they were using as a switcher. It was an Morris 1840 4-2-0 loco.
So, I figured that I would give this kit bash a try.
First I found a Bachman Prussia 4-2-0
Then I had to find a bell and an old type of dome. Both were made by Cal Scale.
The dome will require a little modification, but should work ok. The cab I will make out of
sheet styrene and the decals are already on the sheet that I have. This will be the oldest
locomotive in my stable as it was made in 1840, well ahead of any of the others. The steps
on the front of the loco and rear of tender will also be scratch built of thin styrene.
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Posted - October 20 2017 : 3:55:22 PM
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Looks like an awesome project, oldtimer52!! Good luck on it. 
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - October 20 2017 : 8:29:11 PM
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**This Norris 4-2-0 isn't the original version of an American 4-2-0. The original Norris ( not Morris) loco had the driver behind the ash pan. not in front of it. Some one realized that by placing the driver in front of the ash pan that more direct weight would be carried by the single driver, and better traction would be the reward. That is the 4-2-0 that you show. Now, latter Norris again realized that replacing the driver behind the ash pan again, used with the one in front of the ash pan would again increase the traction of the locomotive. This is how the 4-4-0, American Type, came into existence.
frank
toptrain
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Posted - October 20 2017 : 9:18:20 PM
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| Interesting history there Frank. Cool project. I will enjoy watching this.
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Posted - October 24 2017 : 10:30:33 PM
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That is just about the coolest thing I've seen yet. Check out the
wood sheathed boiler, before they figured out how to use
asbestos to advantage. That giant dome/fire box on the
end is a most unusual configuration, I would think that
such a space would lower, not raise, steam pressure.
Any idea what was behind that unusual feature??
Early steam was the I-Phone 8 of its day. Never
ceases to amaze me.
Edited by - Chops124 on October 24 2017 10:32:25 PM
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Posted - October 25 2017 : 12:16:35 AM
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quote:That is just about the coolest thing I've seen yet. Check out the
wood sheathed boiler, before they figured out how to use
asbestos to advantage. That giant dome/fire box on the
end is a most unusual configuration, I would think that
such a space would lower, not raise, steam pressure.
Any idea what was behind that unusual feature??
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â October 24 2017Â :Â 10:30:33 PM
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Steam pressure would be a function of temperature more than space. The boiling point of water varies with pressure, so the water in a boiler will always be the temperature of the boiling point at the pressure of the water. If you draw steam off of a boiler to run the engine or blow the whistle, the pressure drops, lowering the boiling point, so more water boils off to replace the used up steam.
In this sense, a boiler is like a big battery storing energy as superheated water (that is water that would boil at the outside barometric pressure but is liquid in the pressurized boiler). More water is more stored energy. That space above the firebox would hold a fair amount of water before it got up into the dome and the engine started working water.
Meanwhile the barrel of the boiler would be completely full of water, so there'd be no sloshing as the train went uphill and downhill. This design would share that advantage with the more modern tapered boilers.
I don't know the thinking of the time, but I do see some advantages in that design. Since it fell out of favor early in the development of locomotives, I have to believe that it had disadvantages, as well, though I'm not sure what ones killed it. I don't imagine that the joint between that big dome and the barrel of the boiler is inherently strong, and I don't think that the narrow barrel would hold many flues for efficient heat transfer, but those are just guesses on my part.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - October 25 2017 : 10:23:34 AM
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Interesting observation about tapering. I am thinking that
black dome, almost a globe, could not reliably hold steam,
given the nature of hand fitted rivets of the day,
and thus perhaps it was like a "super" fire box designed
to create more heat than the smaller fire boxes. If that's
right, it must have been a fuel monster.
As fire box, it makes sense that the steam collection dome
would sit atop it, like it does.
This article reveals nothing as to its design, but it makes clear
that your kit bash is more of an American refitting!
http://www.himedo.net/TheHopkinThomasProject/TimeLine/Philadelphia/LocomotiveWorks/NorrisLocomotiveWorks.htm
Edited by - Chops124 on October 25 2017 10:48:05 AM
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Posted - October 25 2017 : 12:03:23 PM
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| Jeff, is that a drawing or a photograph? Pretty fine. Love to see it enlarged.
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Posted - October 25 2017 : 7:08:06 PM
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quote:
Interesting observation about tapering. I am thinking that
black dome, almost a globe, could not reliably hold steam,
given the nature of hand fitted rivets of the day,
and thus perhaps it was like a "super" fire box designed
to create more heat than the smaller fire boxes. If that's
right, it must have been a fuel monster.
As fire box, it makes sense that the steam collection dome
would sit atop it, like it does.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â October 25 2017Â :Â 10:23:34 AM
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The shape of the dome would easily hold pressure, since it's like an inflated ball, and with the steam dome directly above it, it's definitely part of the boiler.
Fire boxes are always water jacketed, since the fire is hot enough to soften the steel and cause it to collapse. The fire box would be inside that back part. If the firebox reaches above the flues and into that dome, it would not be far or there would not be much room before the water came off of the top of the firebox permitting it to melt.
I'm wondering if the firebox was round and somewhat domed, inside of that vertical part of the boiler. That would be inherently stronger than a square box, so fewer stay bolts would be needed. This is just a guess, since whatever info there is on T-boilers seems to be hard to find.
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 4:43:56 PM
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Well, I got 2 photos of the tear-down and then my camera went on vacation. Just got it back and
this is the tear down and then the finished product. I will be doing another one when I can find another Prussian and will record that one,
Tear down.
She turned out pretty nice.
She runs pretty nice (for a Bachmann) of this size. Here is a vid of her pulling a couple of
cars(her maximum amount). She really doesn't have enough weight to pull more.
https://youtu.be/5t1P3zeJzws
Edited by - oldtimer52 on November 03 2017 4:49:59 PM
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 6:55:29 PM
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very cool
Now you needs to do a twin called Remus 
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 8:28:00 PM
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WOW oh WOW!!
Edited by - Chops124 on November 03 2017 9:00:15 PM
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 9:25:55 PM
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WOAH! Unbelievable work!! AMAZING 0_0
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 9:58:17 PM
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| Pretty slick George. Clean little cab addition. Fun to see the video.
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 10:31:53 PM
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quote:
I don't know the thinking of the time, but I do see some advantages in that design. Since it fell out of favor early in the development of locomotives, I have to believe that it had disadvantages, as well, though I'm not sure what ones killed it.
Originally posted by scsshaggy - October 25 2017 : 12:16:35 AM
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There was a serious disadvantage to this design. The purpose of the dome over the fire box was to provide a location where the dry pipe could transfer steam from the boiler to the cylinders without liquid water contamination. Water does not compress, so it is super important to avoid water getting into the cylinders otherwise you will have a cylinder head "blow out". The problem with this design arises with foaming. When water with impurities is boiled, a by-product is the formation of bubbling foam. If a dry pipe is located directly above the firebox, the foaming action above the firebox will cause foaming water to bubble up and contaminate the dry pipe. Once this water "carry over" phenomena caused by foaming water was discovered, boiler designs were altered to move the steam dome and dry pipe away from the fire box.
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 11:31:14 PM
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| That's an awesome model.
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Posted - November 03 2017 : 11:48:01 PM
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Thanks all. By the way, the next one WILL be the "Remus". After all, he was Romulus's
brother and co-founder of Rome.
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