| Archive for Freesteam For collectors and enthusiasts of all steam engines |
| Spokesmann |
A visit to Redruth to see the "Murdoch Flyer"Well I was going to go out for a trip this Saturday, so I managed to persuade SWMBO that a nice trip into Cornwall would be nice... It was Murdoch Day in Redruth in deepest Cornwall and the Murdoch Flyer was in steam and giving demonstrations in the British Legion Car Park...
I was good to meet Mr Chapman again and see this machine in the flesh for myself and a very interesting beast it is too. To see a beam engine mobile actually moving has to be one of the oddest steam engines I have ever seen in steam . . . Great fun to watch and even more fun to ride on. John gave me a good talk about the machine and its technical details... the rest ill leave to my images, there are a couple of vids uploading too. On has the engine turning over and the other with the machine in motion - with John and driver in the hot seat! enjoy The engine with man for comparison in size... 
A high standard of workmanship has gone into the engines building... 
The engine is 1 wheel drive ala Mamod! It has 2 gears plus stop!
Cylinder and valve assembly... 
Underway... 
John hangs on for dear life! 
Today it was only using '1st' gear, the car park is a bit tight for the steering! 
All in all a great day out, Im sure John can go through the technical and historical aspects! |
||||
| Spokesmann |
Turning over....
|
||||
| Spokesmann |
Underway...
|
||||
| newts |
Great to see it running 
|
||||
| Spokesmann |
You should see the gear change Mike, you use a spanner to 'move' it into gear! Great fun! | ||||
| silverfoxsteam |
THAT is truly extraordinary!
Loved it.
|
||||
| avenger |
Greats pics and vid thanks | ||||
| Mamod Collector |
Unusual looking contraption (In a good way)
It must be great to see it in person, the build quality looks fantastic
|
||||
| John Chapman |
Glad you made it down Mike, great to meet up again. Excellent photos and videos. The Flyer, I'm happy to say, performed excellently today. It's now tucked away ready for its next outing in July.
Today was the first time I have actually ridden on it! we have only recently fitted it with a dual seat. Perhaps the second video ought to be titled "Waldorf and Statler go for a Saturday drive" 
Here's a couple more photos and a video I took this morning - 
|
||||
| silverfoxsteam |
Like it! |
||||
| Franco |
What a fantastic engine..wonderful!, and the build quality!!
Franco. |
||||
| steamyjim |
I love it! It comes from a brilliant period in industry where the engineers were still finding their feet, one thing thats not realistic though-to clean!
I still have pictures of me at the age of about 6-7 with my then 3-4 year old brother on the non working replica of it at GDSF
|
||||
| John Chapman |
I think we should be treated to a look at them
Not so sure about that Jim, most records I have seen tend to imply that the beam engine drivers of the period generaly took a huge pride in their engines and kept them and the engine houses spotlessly clean. |
||||
| MFSteam |
Quite right John. it was the same with railway locomotives. Drivers had a a white rag to check the engines state of "clean" before it left the shed. Just a shame modern railways aren't like it. Its great to see these replicas being made and used, it gives a real insight into the thoughts of the early steam pioneers. Is there a list of these replicas anywhere? |
||||
| John Chapman |
Here's some I know about - Murdoch's Flyer http://www.murdochflyer.org/ Trevithick Society's replica of the 1801 road locomotive http://www.trevithick-society.org.uk/loco.htm Blists Hill Museum replica of Trevithicks 1802 Coalbrookdale loco http://www.flickr.com/photos/robroy/162577268/ Trevithick's 1803 London steam carriage http://www.brooklands.org.uk/Goodwood/g9828.htm National Museum of Wales replica of Trevithick's 1804 Penydarren loco http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/cy/2068/ Replica of Trevithick's 1808 "Catch Me Who Can" loco http://www.trevithick200.co.uk/shop/page/3?shop_param= Tom Brogden's replica of the 1832 Hancock steam carriage http://www.steamcar.net/brogden-3.html[/url] |
||||
| Franco |
That Steam car site is a real treasure house John, I've just spent an hour there...very informative and educational, I especially liked the steam bike item. 
Franco. |
||||
| steamyjim |
Alright, your right John Keep it clean! I always get the impression that these early engines should have black cast iron and wood much like the Newcomen engine and other early steam engines but I see what you mean about these vehicles
A few more replicas are... Beamish's replica of George Stephensons 1825 Locomotion No.1 Beamish's replica of John Buddle and William Chapman's 1815 Steam Elephant Beamish's replica of William Hedley's 1813 Puffing Billy |