The PLS GAZETTE the P.O

Home , Cutoff (steam engine), Johnson Bar (locomotive)

March–April 2011 The PLS GAZETTE The P.O. Box 26202 Collegeville, PA 19426-0202 PLS GAZETTE FIRST CLASS A newsletter of the Pennsylvania Live Steamers, Inc. MARCH–APRIL TOPICS: Annual Election Results 1 Donations 2 2011 Spring Meet 2 Associate Renewals Past Due 2 Op-Ed 3 For Sale 3 Membership News 3 Steam Cutoff–2 4 Snowbirds 6

I want to personally thank Lee Non- One — Spring is here and so is the Along the Main Line nemacher for his performance as PLS need to clean up the property in Secretary for the previous three years. preparation for the running season. s you receive this issue of your Lee chose not to run this year and Th ere are also quite a few projects that Gazette, you should be eagerly has been replaced by Bob Blackson. I will be getting underway: gutters for awaiting our fi rst run day on am grateful for the assistance Lee has the steaming bay need to be installed; A provided to me during our working May 1st, followed by the Spring Meet relationship. Lee has agreed to con- posts for the new front gate need to (May 27-29) and then the rest of this tinue in the appointed capacity of cor- be installed set in concrete; a whistle summer’s scheduled events. Annual responding secretary — a position that post needs to be “planted” near the elections were held at the membership should provide a continuity funnel for 7¼ ” crossing; maintenance to the 4¾ ” meeting on March 19, with yours truly e-mail and other written club inquiries and 7¼ ” track is an ongoing project; settling into another year as President. and matters. removal of a fallen tree stump will See the election report elsewhere in Th ere are three points I wish to require many hands to accomplish. this Gazette for all of those details. make again in this issue: (Continued on page 2)

Annual Election Results

lections were held at the regu- Don’t Miss the lar membership meeting on EMarch 19, 2011. Pat Murphy, Bob Blackson and Walt Mensch, running unopposed, were confi rmed as SPRING president, secretary, and treasurer, respectively. Th e election of three board members, for which there were POT LUCK nine names on the ballot, became a little more interesting. Paul Rice and Sharon Connelly were elected on the fi rst ballot. Ron Shupard was the last DINNER man standing aft er multiple ballots. So, we congratulate Sharon Connelly, May 28th, 5:30 pm Paul Rice and Ron Shupard on their election to the board. Rounding out We supply the the board are John Bortz, Jr., Bob Freer Hotdogs & Burgers ... and John Geib, all of whom have a year remaining on their two-year terms. Familiar faces, new roles. Bob Blackson (top, left) is the new club secretary while You bring a Favorite Dish Sharon Connelly (top, right) is new to the board of directors. Paul Rice (above, left) was & Beverages. — Lee Nonnemacher reelected and Ron Shupard (above, right) won election on the third ballot. Donations Accepted. March–April 2011 • Th e PLS GAZETTE 1 Along the Main Line Th ree — We are once again in need Lastly — Our fi rst run day with invited at these tracks. Pasco County of articles for the Gazette. Under Al- boiler inspection will be on Sunday and Ridge haul the public once a (Continued from page 1) len Underkofl er’s wonderful artistic May 1st. While April 24th would have month. All visitors sign waivers. Two — Please attend membership hand, our newsletter does us proud, been our normal fi rst run day, Easter Getting away during winter for a meetings that are held on the third Sat- but — we are short on articles. If this Sunday falling on that date compelled couple weeks really breaks up the dull- urday of each month, March through continues, we will need to reduce the us to move the date to May 1. For ness of cold temperatures and shovel- November, at 12:30. New projects frequency of this publication to refl ect those needing to test their boilers, ing snow. that center on the fi ve-year plan are material that has been provided. Th is please be sure to use the sign up sheet being actively considered, discussed, may inhibit our ability to broadcast to avoid a boiler inspection “log jam” Clockwise from upper right: Dave and presented. If you are looking to regular updates and reminders of club on that day. Johnson with his 10-wheeler, Joe Scales Mikado with friend running it. become involved in a club project, let events. Tell us about your train travels, Wishing you warmest regards!! someone on the BOD know your abil- your ongoing projects in the basement Bruce Saylor on his Mikado, and John Pat Murphy, President, PLS on his electric on the Manatee RR.; ity, as the scope of projects can only (I know of 3 or 4 members that fall Steaming bay at Buckingham Valley move forward with the help of knowl- under this category.) Perhaps someone RR; Main yard and storage yard at edgeable and interested members. might produce an active loco roster. Ridge Track; Junction on the Pasco Co RR while Chuck Hackett (signal designer) and Jerry Smithson help get the system working during their meet. parts, and rolling stock, all given for please use your own cooler if at all Donation the use and benefi t of our club. Some possible. Th ank you. —All photos by Bruce Saylor items will be off ered at the PLS sales Acknowledgements table during the Spring Meet.

PLS wishes to thank the following 2011 Associate members for donations received during February and March: Mary Spear, 2011 Spring Meet Membership Michael J. McDevitt, Alan Redeker, Kathleen F. Parris, Harry E. Quirk, F. Information Renewals Th omas McInerney, Stephen Roadcap, Eugene P. Heiler, Buddy Borders, Su- Th e Spring Meet will be held on Associate membership renewals for san Borders, John H. Bortz Jr, David E. May 28th and 29th this year. As 2011 are now past due. If you have Laird, James Stapleton, Robert Small, usual, running may start on Friday not renewed, please take the time to Ernest Wortmann, Virginia A. Kulak, aft ernoon, May 27th. Volunteers are do so now. Cost is $30.00 per year. David Yingling, C. Robert Morris, Wil- needed for gate duty, station duty, and Renewals must be accompanied by liam L. Mentzer, Rich Falzone, Mark kitchen duty. Please sign up for a time the renewal form sent in early Janu- Collins, James T. Doherty, Rowland slot when you arrive at the meet. Your ary. If you have misplaced the form Dudley, Antonio Kulak, Albert J. donation of baked goods is always ap- and would like to renew, please e-mail Rieger Jr, and Ed Wagner. Th anks also preciated. [email protected] to to the William Penn Foundation. Please note: during the meet, the request the form. Associate members We thank Martha Cushwa for her clubhouse refrigerators are used for who have not renewed will have their donation of part of the collection of food and drinks sold by PLS through- names dropped from our active roster. her late husband, and PLS club mem- out the weekend. Should you need Remember, only members and their ber, Dave Cushwa. Th is includes refrigeration for either personal use or guests will be able to attend events at books, train parts, O gauge trolley items brought for the pot luck dinner, PLS this season.

Pennsylvania Live Steamers, Inc.

President Patrick J. Murphy 2439 Overlook Drive, Gilbertsville, PA 19525 [email protected] Secretary Robert Blackson 303 North Tulpehocken Road, Reading, PA 19601 [email protected] Treasurer Walter Mensch 1348 Sheep Hill Rd., Pottstown, PA 19465 Gazette Editor Allen Underkoﬂ er Box 609, Kimberton, PA 19442-0609 pls@apunderkoﬂ er.com

Board of Directors: John Bortz Jr., [email protected]; Sharon Connelly, [email protected]; Bob Freer, [email protected]; John Geib, [email protected]; Paul Rice, [email protected]; Ron Shupard, [email protected].

Safety Committee Members: John Geib, chairman; Buddy Borders; Pete Brown; Pat Murphy; Bruce Saylor.

Pennsylvania Live Steamers, Inc. • P.O. Box 26202, Collegeville, PA. 19426-0202 • 610-454-0477 • www.palivesteamers.org

2 Th e PLS GAZETTE • March–April 2011 March–April 2011 • Th e PLS GAZETTE 7 OP-ED Snowbirds in Florida By Bruce Saylor Look Before You Leap It was announced at the March 19th ning in 1870. Since it was — and so-called railroad enthusiasts but, as The PLS Gang Visit the Florida Tracks Membership Meeting that the PLS should continue to be — a means generally rationalized, it is said by Board of Directors proposed changing (oft en the only means) for conveying local experts in social aff airs to be a the Gazette publication schedule from ever-unfolding club news, a quarterly “sign of the times.” If it continues to bimonthly to quarterly, and, “there was publication schedule is a non-starter. be the case, and there is no sign it will broad agreement” with that philoso- Considering a three month length of improve, better to simply bury the phy. As founder of the Gazette and its time from the previous issue, a quar- Gazette with an honorable funeral than Editor, typist, printer, folder, stapler, terly cycle will result in a Gazette that downgrade it to a feel-good live steam and stamp-licker for most of its fi rst “reports” what happened in the distant or diesel version of People Magazine. four years with a circulation of about past — big whoop for that! In short, As with politicians, we get the newslet- 100, I think I have a say in the matter. the Gazette will be subverted to an ir- ter we deserve. We need enlightened First and foremost, the Gazette was relevant entertainment magazine. leadership from the Directors to main- conceived, and originally functioned Th ere has been a worsening prob- tain a vital means of communication, as, a newsletter! In fact, it was named lem in this club obtaining substantive not a cop-out. aft er the historic Railroad Gazette, material in support of a bimonthly the weekly newsletter of the railroad publication. Th at is a sad commen- — Bob Th omas industry in its formative years begin- tary on an organization of over 100 Wanted Club Membership

Oliver #2 >1” scale Narrow Gauge News British style 4¾ ” gauge live steam coal fi red engine with builder instructions PLS welcomes new Associate mem- sold at the 2011 Cabin Fever Expo auc- bers Dolores Branson, Angela Learn, tion in York, PA. William Harris, and William A. Cor- rado. Bryan Del Monte has upgraded Bryan Del Monte to probationary Regular member. Bidirectional running on the Ridge Live Steam Railroad. Note new railroad construction on the left top. [email protected] (610) 247-2088

ave Johnson and I went on Th e second track was the private lunch and dinner was supplied by the our annual FLS meet that Manatee Railroad on two proper- crew for visiting railroaders, about 30 Dtook place the last two weeks ties owned by Larry Smith and Pete of us. Steam Loco of February. I believe it was year 13. It Newcomb with fi ve acres each. Most Th e last track, Ridge Live Steamers, was a great trip with 14 days of sun, no of the track is on Larry’s property. Th is is a club track in Dundee. Th ey have for Sale rain and temps from 69 on the fi rst day track has been in operation for 20 plus 20 acres and are building a lot of track. and 72 to 84 degrees for the balance years and is located near Bradenton, Th e new addition is about ¾ mile with Mogul steam loco, 1½” scale, 7¼” of the time there. It was shorts and T- below Tampa. Th ere is about 1½ miles a large bridge and a long trestle. Th is gauge. Newly painted. Stainless steel shirt weather. Th ere were at least eight of 7½ gauge track. Th ere is also 1,200 track has a lot of passing tracks and grates. Axle pump, hand pump and railroads open for live steamers during feet of 4¾ inch gauge plus two circles many sidings with industries on these injector. Tender has water gauge. February and early March. We only of Gauge 1 for the guys that like the sidings. Th ey have a signal system that Comes with stand to hold loco and did four. small stuff . can allow for bidirectional running. tender, transfer bridge and wooden Th e fi rst track is a fairly new track, Th e third track is a private track, Th ey operate it at times as a real rail- rack to hold engine in van or wagon. Pasco County live steamers, with about Buckingham Valley Railroad owned road. Sure is nice to have a lot of land Asking $14,500. Located at Township 1.5 miles of 7½ inch gauge in the fi rst by Pete Bielecki outside Fort Myers. to work with. Th is track is surrounded of Washington, NJ, exit 168 on Garden three years of operation. Th is track Th is track has a very interesting track by orange groves. Our John Bortz Jr. is State Parkway. is in a county park about two hours layout on fi ve acres of land. Th ey have staying at this track this winter and is Reason for selling, had a stroke so north of Tampa. Th e mainline is single a monster trestle about 800-1,000 feet helping them build the extension. no longer able to participate in live track that runs to three reverse loops long over the mainline and a stream. At the two club tracks we had steaming. Contact: and is signaled for bidirectional run- Main line is about 1.5 miles long. He to sign waivers and received name Al Frielink, 960 Bridge Street, ning. Th ey have plans for 5,000 more has a handful of dedicated helpers that badges. At the two private tracks it was Township of Washington, NJ 07676. feet around a dry lake and back. build and run the railroad. Food for for live steamers only and no public is [email protected]. 201-664-4579.

6 Th e PLS GAZETTE • March–April 2011 March–April 2011 • Th e PLS GAZETTE 3 can be calculated from this simple tant when running with short cutoff .. formula: How do we know what the cutoff Cutoff is adjusted by is for a particular engine? Cutoff at Steam Cutoff By Bob Th omas moving the reverse lever Horse Power = (P L A N)/33,000 full gear and various intermediate positions of the reverse lever can be back (linking up) from Power developed by a piston in a determined very easily. Charge the Part 2 – More Fun with Efficiency full-forward toward cylinder can be found by multiplying boiler with low pressure air, say 10 psi, steam Pressure, times Length of stroke, so the locomotive can’t run away but neutral. times Area of piston, times Number still can be moved slowly forward in of strokes per minute, all divided by full gear with the throttle cracked and he fi rst part of this article Boiler Pressure Immediately aft er clearing the grade 33,000. An engine with two double- cylinder drain cocks open. Air should explained cutoff as the percent- crossing the blower valve is opened acting cylinders will develop four begin to escape from the front cylinder Tage of piston stroke that steam slightly in anticipation of drift ing on times that power. Everything needed to cock as the piston approaches front is admitted to the cylinders. Th at is, the long downgrade ahead, where soft calculate power can be found by physi- dead center. Continue slow forward steam is admitted only at the begin- exhaust might be insuffi cient to keep cal measurements in inches except the motion until the crosshead guide ning the stroke while the piston moves the fi re up. Th is is a great opportunity pressure, which we know varies during stops moving, indicating exact front away from the cylinder head, Steam re- MEP at 85% Cutoff to get the most from shortest possible the stroke, especially at short cutoff . dead center. Mark that position of the maining in the cylinder then expands cutoff , since the engine will have to So what do we do? To get around crosshead on the crosshead guide with during the rest of the stroke to produce supply little or no power down the the variability of pressure, a fi ctitious a light scratch or marker pen and call it work that would otherwise be wasted if MEP at 25% Cutoff grade behind the clubhouse and across constant pressure is used, called Mean Point A. Continue moving the loco- a steady fl ow had continued for the en- the trestle. So pull back on the reverse Eff ective Pressure (MEP). Th e MEP is a motive forward. Air will issue from tire stroke. Cutoff is adjusted by mov- lever for 20% cutoff , open throttle if constant pressure that acts over the en- the drain cock as the crosshead moves ing the reverse lever back (linking up) Steam Pressure in Cylinder required, and relax in the breeze. At tire stroke to produce the same power backward until it is cut off by the valve. from full-forward toward neutral. For PSIG Cylinder Pressure, the trestle exit the blower should be as the actual variable pressure does. Make another mark on the crosshead lowest water and coal consumption, killed once again as reverser is moved Figure 3 is a composite graph of two corresponding to the new position of the engine should be operated with the forward for longer cutoff along the diff erent cylinder conditions: 1) Full the crosshead at cutoff (Point B). Put a 0 20 40 60 80 100 tangent, around the curve beyond the gear 85% cutoff (Red). 2) Linked up third mark where the crosshead stops shortest cutoff possible consistent with Stroke, Percent train resistance, speed requirements, signal bridge, and onto the westbound for 25% cutoff (Green). In full gear the moving at the rear of the stroke (Point Figure 3. Linking up without opening throttle lowers MEP at 25% cutoff, reducing power tangent. One more sprint with short constant MEP (dashed Red) is almost C). Full gear cutoff of the locomotive and road conditions. To illustrate that, developed and causing locomotive to slow down. let’s take a coal-fi red locomotive on a cutoff and opened throttle to the road the same as maximum cylinder pres- can then be calculated as follows: underpass, where cutoff might as well sure because there is no pressure drop trip around the PLS track. Boiler Pressure be restored to full gear as your train is until the very end of stroke. However, Cutoff (percent) = (AB /AC) x100 Aft er standing in the station while slowed for the yard where there will be at 25% cutoff the steep decline in passengers were loaded, your loco- plenty to watch out for as the station cylinder pressure aft er cutoff results Some reverse lever quadrants have motive should have a uniform bed of siding is entered. in a much lower MEP (dashed Green) one or more notches between full for- new coal ready to start burning, and Th at’s what you might do to opti- so, with less developed power, the ward and neutral where a dog on the boiler full of water. Start out in full MEP at 85% & 25% Cutoff mize your locomotive’s performance. locomotive slows down. In order to Johnson bar can be latched in place for gear, reduce blower, but keep it on Or not. If you don’t want to bother maintain constant speed when cutoff is linking up. Th e cutoff at each notch slightly for draft while descending the with cutoff adjustment or your engine reduced, the throttle has to be opened can be determined as described above. grade toward the tunnel. Aft er rolling doesn’t benefi t from it, then don’t do it! (Figure 4) to increase the initial pres- If your quadrant has a series of ratchet fi ft een feet or so, pull the reverse lever Th ere is no right or wrong way to run sure during admission in order to raise teeth instead of notches, fi nd out what pretty far back toward neutral for a your own engine. But if you already the constant MEP (dashed Green), and the cutoff is at a few intermediate very short cutoff and set throttle and are acquainted with riding the Johnson restore power output. Even though positions, e.g., 20%, 40% and 60%, and brakes for appropriate speed down the Steam Pressure in Cylinder bar and throttle together, or are new to that initial pressure is higher, much mark the quadrant or adjacent cab side grade and through the tunnel. When PSIG Cylinder Pressure, the game and intrigued by the possi- less steam is supplied for the same for reference when you are running. exiting at the east portal, the blower bilities of this invigorating dimension power output, so there is a consider- It doesn’t really matter exactly what comes off . and cutoff increased to 0 20 40 60 80 100 in running a live steamer, give it a try, able increase in effi ciency. the cutoff is at each point, but it is nice around fi ft y percent (reverse lever half Stroke, Percent modifying the above scenario to suite In the interest of full disclosure to know, and having a few reference way between neutral and full-forward) Figure 4. Opening the throttle while linking-up increases the MEP at 25% cutoff to in- the needs of your locomotive and busy it has to be pointed out that when points will assist setting the reverse while the throttle is opened to make crease developed power and keep speed constant. track conditions. running with short cutoff , the higher lever to suit various track conditions. it up the grade, across Mercer Bridge Let’s take time out to look at a initial pressure required to maintain Experimenting with cutoff might be and around the rising curve toward and fl ange friction drops, reducing the to the hilt, this might be a good time simple explanation that explains why speed puts additional stress on the too demanding for some enginemen the northbound tangent. If the engine load on the locomotive, so cutoff can to continue with shortened cutoff and the throttle usually has to be opened crosshead, crosshead guide, connect- who will be kept occupied just main- shows signs of bucking, it means cutoff again be shortened and throttle opened opening the throttle all the way. Th e somewhat to maintain constant speed ing and coupling rods, and wheel bear- taining water level, tending the fi re and is too short, so move reverser farther until the curve into westbound grade result will be less spectacular sound aft er linking up, and closed somewhat ings. On engines with slide valves the keeping an eye out for signals. When forward for smooth running, possibly is approached. Th ere is an urge to eff ects but an engine that is putting when the reverse lever is returned higher pressure also places additional circumstances permit, however, adding backing off the throttle at the same blast up the outside loop grade in full out maximum power with minimum toward full gear. Power developed by a loading on valves and valve gear, so ad- cutoff adjustment to the mix will be time. Th e grade eases on the tangent gear, but unless your engine is loaded steam. It doesn’t get any better! steam engine – even our miniatures – equate lubrication is especially impor- icing on the cake. Have fun!

4 Th e PLS GAZETTE • March–April 2011 March–April 2011 • Th e PLS GAZETTE 5