The Home Machinist!

Big Boy is still oil fired. The removable coal load can be installed for pictures.
Tom

Hi Everyone, Very timely photo of me and Big Boy. I sold Big Boy to a gentleman in New Zealand 6 years ago. My wife and I are on a 1 month cruise to New Zealand and stopped by to see my old friend a few days ago. It has been regauged to 7 1/4 and still looks great. I also sold the K-36 I built to an...

It should be mounted perpendicular to the rail.

I have a Precision Mathews 11" lathe and 728VT mill and love both of them.
Tom

Hello, I am considering purchasing a 3595 lathe and 5550 mill from Little Machine Shop in Pasadena Ca. I visited them recently and had a chance to see and touch both machines in person. I am an experienced machinist and just sold my Hardinge HLVH and Lagun with a Prototrak CNC add on. I realize neit...

I ran char in the locomotive and never had it shower sparks like that. I did however use a spark arrestor that I don't think is installed for this video. The engineer is also giving the throttle a pretty good pull. The loco always drafted very well and never had a problem making steam. I will be in ...

I bought brake lining material from McMaster Carr. It comes in several thicknesses and widths. You can glue the material to the brake head with black locktite or 330 two part locktite.
Tom

087.JPG 067.JPG Mr. Fahey's explanation is correct. Here are two pictures of the lubricator I built for my K-36. The nice thing about this type of lubricator is the tank can be placed anywhere on the locomotive and you can add a sight glass as I did in the cab. In the cab picture the sight glass is...

Put a few pounds of air pressure in the boiler while tapping.
Tom

I could not agree more with Jim. Barry was a wonderful person and good friend of mine for over 40 years. I will miss him a lot as will the entire live steam community. Here is a picture of Barry with some of his oldest and dearest friends. From left to right are Lou Soibelman with his back to the ca...

I will take it.
Tom

Used is OK. Let me know if you find it.
Tom