[;)]
I’d like to start a thread in which both “Steamers” and “Sparkies” can contribute on the merits and or foibles of each world. I’m a steamer but I use the term sparkie in an affectionate tone as do many steamers when referring to electric models.
Steamers have been garden railroading for a relatively long time compared to sparkies. Sparkies have brought their wornderful modeling skill outdoors now and are contributing to the hobby in new and very talented ways.
This is not to say that steamers don’t build gorgeous detailed layouts, many do, but steamers tend to be focused more on running steam locomotives than in building showcase layouts. It’s a focus thing in which both are valid, but originate from different concepts in why one builds a model RR in the first place.
At least that’s how I see it. Therefore, please accept the following in the light hearted spirit in which it is given, and by all means CONTRIBUTE. We all have something to say and to learn. I’m sure each of us can bring to the table SOMETHING that will be of benefit to someone else.
STEAM VS SPARKS
Steam models are real steam locomotives, not representations OF steam locomotives.
Advantage:Steamers
Electric locomotives run as soon as you set them on the track and require less maintenence. (At least on the loco.) Steamers have to develop a head of steam first, and then cool down when it’s all over before you handle them.
Advantage:Sparkies (I think…definitely if your ARE a sparkie.)
Generally, sparkies are safer. Steamers will burn you, get you oily and dirty, and they should never be trusted with unsupervised children.
Advantage: Not sure. Depends on what you’re into.
Steamers are generally more expensive.
Advantage:Sparkies (as to detail for the money that is, for sure.)
Gee, I’m not a Steamer or a Sparkie but am a Steamer wannabe. I expect my first steamer (a Ruby) to arrive in the near future. I’m still hammering the poor hobby shop guy for a deal.
I started with Lionel in the forties, moved on to HO in the 50’s, went back to Lionel in the ‘70’s, back to HO… you get the picture. But, something was always missing. Sure I love trains, any size, from Z to 1’ = 1’ but there was one thing missing: steam! Sure it looks like more work, but I like to think that I come from a generation that still has some patience. I think the new electrically powered “steam” locos with “smoke” and “real locomotive sounds” are swell, but again, are missing an important element… steam!
Steam with all the sounds, smells, and dirt of the real thing. Now remember, I don’t even have my first live steamer yet! I do have some rolling stock and a circle of track and can’t wait for the day (real soon!!!) to fire up that boiler and join the burnt fingers club!
Since some of us do have budgets to work within, I probably will have just one loco for a bit. Of course, if I MUST have another; I can always go the battery route… temporarily!
Well, Vettbass, you got your first response. I hope other’s (with some real experiences) jump on board and enlighten the rest of us with their adventures in Garden Railroading.
I was wondering when someone would respond to this thread which I started in the spirit of idea exchange.
THANK YOU!
In the end, I guess it’s all what you’re into. I, like you, started with Lionel in the 40’s as a child and continued with this until my pubescent years drove me to other urges. (For a while anyway.)
I laid model RRing aside for a significant while and then when I got back into it, now about 4 years ago, but into it with a FERVER.
I decided that, for me, I had to start from scratch again with the real thing. (And being an older middlle class, not poor but not rich type, decided that if I was going to do model RRing again, it had to be better than the Lionel my grandfather gave me when I was 5.
I don’t really know what to tell you here but since your question relates to steam, all I can say is be prepared for a lot of work for the running time you get in return, but also be prepared for the satisfaction you get when that genuine steam powered locomotive runs down the track pulling that consist, and the pride you get when you have learned how to make (and possibly build) that sucker yourself.
Since we moved here to NM and I’m waiting for next spring to start my layout, I’ve been trying to convince my spouse to let me lay down a plywood sheet on the dining room table just to run the Aster over the winter.
She’s moaning and groaning over the smell and the oil mess on the carpet far more than the fire hazard! (“The dinner guests will think they’ve walked into a garage.”)
Yeah right!
Truth is, she’s about to let me do it.
I haven’t even started on the SR & RL she gave me for my birthday. It’s still in the box. Un-assembled!
[:0]Lame excuse!!! , Weell, excuuuse me! (as Steve Martin would say)[}:)]
Did I mention that almost the entire layout is constructed under a 7’ high storage loft and that half of the rear loop is going to be under a sculpta-mold (basicly paper mache) mountain.
So I dont know about you, but the tunnel and low overhead would not allow exhaust smoke to disperse and the steam exhaust inside the tunnel would eventually destroy the sculpta-mold hills and the dripping water and oil would damage the ballasted track. [xx(]
As you can see I have thought about this.[;)]
This layout is essentialy a traditional HO layout blown up to G proportions. with traditionally ballasted track over a traditional cork roadbed and traditional cheesy paper mache mountains. So I do not want to even think of running a live steamer in there. I CHOOSE not to run steam in there.
I want to build a small oval somewhere outside specifically for a live steamer but I havent been able to find a spot that isnt already claimed by a future or current project. Eventually I’ll find a spot. So the closest I can get to steamer for the moment is pressing the steam bu
You’re right of course and I definitely bow to your superior wisdom.
I’m NOT however going to let my spouse even SEE this last post of yours tho. My Dinner Table project could die because of it.
I was looking forward to seeing you bash a Cheddar into one of those lovely SugarCane Hawaiian locos, but you do need to survive the experience by not croaking from the exhaust fumes in that garage. …
I’ve tried to email you a couple of times back at the address we have been communicating over but it keeps coming back as unddeliverable. Is there a problem with the one you have been using?
(Mine is still good, send me a note again over the one you have.)
I’ve been trying to send you an article I did for the web about 3 years ago regarding the Walchaerts Valve Gear Assembly and how Aster applies it. With illustrations.
I guess I’ll throw my hat in the ring on this one…
I like running my live steamer for the challenge of ‘making it go’. There are those times, however, when I love to let my sparkies run too. I’m fortunate that I have some folks nearby that operate steam regularly, and I can pick their brains for advice.
You might be a Sparkie if you ask a Steamer where they put the smoke fluid…
Thanks, I recieved the valve gear article, its real interesting, so it might just be my junkie America OFFline Server. I sent a reply when I downloaded it so I hope yoe recieved it. Also I havent been checking my messages at that e-mail address as often as i should, just too busy.
[:D] I FINALLY GOT IT!!! The Ruby #7 is now officially the prime mover on the “Buttonwood Valley RR”. Temporary track is down (a 16’ by 5’ oval) and operations should begin tomorrow (Saturday). Too bad my calendar isn’t G scale!
Helpful tip: I’ll be pulling Bachmann cars with their proprietary knuckle couplers. To adapt the Ruby, I removed the unnecessary Bachmann coupler components and discarded them. Then dropped a 1" screw through the link & pin hole with lots of flat washers (even between the two tabs on the L&P gizmo) inserting the coupler and finishing up with a flat washer, lock washer and nut. Job took about 10 minutes and cost 5 bucks (including the 2 knuckle couplers).
I better go back to work now… IT BETTER NOT RAIN TOMORROW!!
Aw go ahead. Run that Ruby out in the rain. Especially if it’s cold outside. The steam plume from the boiler will be quite a bit more impressive. Try it.
[:)][:)][:)] Well, now I’m officially a member of the burnt finger club. Took about 30 seconds before that happened! That little Ruby builds steam fast on a downgrade (only about 1/2 percent) but fast enough that she’d jump the track if I didn’t WHOAA! it with my finger! Became easier to manage once I hooked up her tender and a combine. First job after the first run was to level the track.
Got about 10 laps (500’) on her first run. Maybe a little more, was too excited to keep accurate count. [:D] And you were right about the steam plume… really cool! It didn’t rain, but sure got cold as heck.
Well, time to get back out there and fire her up again. This time on more level track. Ought to allow me to watch from one location… enough exercise for a day!
My last post begs me to ask a question of those who model with electric locos on powered rails. Please go easy on me because I am naive in this area of model RR’ing.
Let’s say you are just starting out. Let’s also say you have a truly obsessive desire for quality, and assume that the first thing you want to see is a beautiful model train running around a 200’ foot circuit in your garden.
You buy a GOOD quality Loco, some GOOD quality consist (say 5 cars), and you want all the “bells & whistles” for sound, control, and appearances for starters.
When you are finally ready to hook it up and run it for the FIRST time, HOW MANY bucks have you laid out?
Forget accessory layout modeling at THIS time. As I see it, we are on EQUAL turf when it gets to that.
I’m just interested in INITIAL outlay to get a nice high quality train running on 200’ of properly laid powered rail.
I checked out the Hudson. Definitely a beautiful work of art. I’d love to own one, but in a way I’m grateful that I couldn’t really afford to. You know it never ends! I’m happy with my “Ruby” (a #7 with tender) and although I thought one would be enough, the idea of the “kit” is tempting. Less than $300 bucks is a mighty big temptation. Kudos to Accucraft for making the live steam aspect of the hobby even more affordable. Now I’m spread thinly from HO to O Tinplate to Live Steam “F”. It pains me think that I might have to give something up! (It won’t be live steam!)
Back to the Hudson: When I was a very little kid (eons ago) I remember standing on the platform in Pleasantville, NY watching these behemoths blast by at full stroke. Everything shook! Yeah, It’s criminal that they didn’t save even one. Pennsy is guilty also, not having saved a single T1. What were they thinking???
MK
P.S. I know it’s hard not to love live steam locos, but we also have to be practical. The sparkies have some really fine equipment in #1 gauge and the hobby has improved dramatically in a very short time. I think that there is something for almost everyone, after all, the “World’s Greatest Hobby” is about having FUN!
We have “steamers” who apparently enjoy burnt fingers…we also have “sparkers” who enjoy tracing down shorts and bonding rail joints…what about the third group, the ones who enjoy recharging dead batteries, how should we refer to them? “chargers”?
