The Fire Drake Files No.1 - Lumbering engines

Occasionally, I get enthusiastic about a steam locomotive of some sort. Internal combustion Vintage Things are more my sort of thing as they are easier to take home with you and lightness enhances their performance but there is something fine about a steam engine. Steam engines, though, need weight to supply traction. As they are usually made of iron this not often a problem.

A friend of mine is Professor of Ferro-Equinology at the University of Andover and I accompanied him to the Great Dorset Steam Fair this year. Unfortunately, he is not quite as "locomotive" as he used to be due to a gammy leg so had to install himself in a cider tent for health reasons but he has first hand experience of operating steam engines.

Some steam engines have appeared as Vintage Things before now but that is because they represent 200 years (and counting) of Cornish motoring. I think it's time Engine Punk becomes a little Steam Engine Punk in its outlook occasionally so every once in a while there'll be a Fire Drake File on this blog. Internal combustion Vintage Things will still predominate but occasionally (and already) I'll make a diversion (take an excursion even) into the field of external combustion - that's the steam engine to you lot.

The reason I like steam engines is because you can see their engines. Their cranks and rods are exposed. They have fire in their bellies, too, and while their weight turns them into such lumbering great beasts, it's the weight that gives them their appeal. The great Terence Cuneo said that whenever he painted an engine he wanted to get across the sheer sense of weight and when that weight is moving at express speed it is truly awe inspiring.

To start things off, here is a proper job example of a lumbering engine. I don't know much about it, save that the prof put me onto it and if I've infringed anyone's copyright I'm sorry. I just really like this thing.

It's designed to run on tree trunks and looks like it might actually just carry on if it de-railed, which is usually a show-stopper for a conventional locomotive. Who Dynes were and where the pole road went is a mystery to me but apparently it was the first of its kind.

I have an interest in pole road engines because of the Blackman Brothers geared steam locomotive. This was built in 1881 and also ran on wooden "rails". The Dynes engine allegedly pips my possible brethren to the post when it comes to being first, though.

The whole geared steam loco site is really interesting and full of the geared and the weird. The man behind the geared loco site reckons I'm a relative of the Blackman Brothers and I'm quite happy to go along with this. Apparently, the Blackman Brothers were world famous in Snohomish County in the state of Washington but originally came from Maine.

I've heard of two origins for the surname. One is a derivation of Blacksmith. Considering our associations with metal working, that I can readily believe. The other one is that it's a German joke name and derives from "bleich mann" or bleached man. I read this in a library book once but can't remember the source of this nugget - I really like the idea of having a joke for a surname. I am quite pale myself but also have a tendency to become a bit grubby. Apparently, William Morris the arts and crafts bloke had the same trouble. The theory I've heard is that we naturally carry an electrical charge that is opposite to that associated with dirt. You takes yer money and you takes yer choice.

Of course, I'm now really curious to know more about lumbering engines whether built by Dynes, Blackmans or anyone else. Did they ever catch the track alight?

Back from Le Mans

Hallo - I'm back from Le Mans and will be posting my thoughts about this fantastic event on this blog dreckly (good Cornish word). There were loads of Vintage Things that Ill share with you soon. This was just one. I didn't travel down to the Sarthe circuit in it but a whole bunch of other people did. This Bedford TK was parked in the campsite hard by the Porsche curves and I really its livery. There's an obvious London Transport influence and those who know anything about graphic design will know what a towering contribution Harry Beck and Edward Johnston made to simply catching the eye. Applied to a classic British lorry, the effect is highly pleasing and not only recalls the home city of many endurance spectators at Le mans but also reminds me of the wonderful support vehicles and racing car transporters of yesteryear. There were some models of theses

I haven't just got back, I've been making the most of what has so far been a brilliant summer here in Cornwall. But thanks to one or two of you who appear to have missed my enthusiastic ramblings. I am very well and the lack of activity on this blog is for various reasons but principally because I'm having such a great time away from my computer - probably the best excuse for not blogging anyone can have.

But I've kind of missed sharing my stuff with anyone who's bored enough to read this blog.

I had a great time but it's good to be back.

Vintage Thing No.25 - Norton-JAP V-twin

Just look at this beauty! As a Vintage Thing it's practically over-qualified. This gorgeous 1000cc JAP v-twin powered, wideline Norton Featherbed won best competition bike at this year's Calstock Bike Show and when they fired it up in the tent there were huge grins all round. It sounded like a racing Morgan trike, which isn't surprising since they use the same engine - really crisp and nothing like the "potato, potato, potato" of a Harley V-twin.

These engines also went into Brough Superiors and many Shelsley specials. John Bolster used two of them chained together in Bloody Mary and went on to use no less than four of them in the ultimate Bolster hillclimber. However, the resulting 4-litre eight cylinder monster proved too difficult to start. Without electric starters, bumping it was the only way to do it and if one engine didn't catch it just right, the shocks to the chain transmission system would snap the links easily.

As for the frame, the Norton Featherbed frame is the most famous bracket for engine and two wheels of them all. It was never officially called that. The nickname came about because it was such a revelation to ride after the rigid tail post-war Nortons and it became the frame of choice for anyone who wanted to get the best performance out of their engine. Don't tune your Triumph - put the engine into a Norton frame. Since Manx Norton singles were the engine of choice in Formula 500cc car racing after the war and - for some never explained reason - Norton wouldn't let you have an engine unless you bought a complete bike, Norton rolling chassis were happily not difficult to come by.

The overall look of this bike is just right and I love the twin magnetos on the crankcase. These allow each cylinder to be individually timed. Why would you want to do that? Well, these engines are hand made Vintage Things and by individually timing each cylinder you can allow for any production tolerances. And you can retard or advance the ignition to allow for the front and rear cylinders running at different temperatures. It's not such an issue with more modern machinery. With this sort of engine, you are in much closer touch with the designers and builders.

Look at the way the front exhaust pipe goes through the engine plates. Conventional wisdom has it that the rear cylinder runs hotter than the front one due to its masking effect. But sometimes the front one runs hotter because it, too, can be masked by the front wheel. Funny old things, these Vintage Things.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to speak to the owner/constructor but Pete Low did. He said that the conrods were out of Noel Pope's record breaking machine and the gearbox had to be subtley angled to get the correct chain alignment. It's one of those machines where the more you look, the more you see.

Although I prefer disc brakes that big drum brake is entirely in keeping with the period look of the machine. This bike reminds me of a Triton on steroids. Tritons are among my favourite two wheeled specials. They just look so right to me and this bike also does it for me. It could have been ridden to the show by Ogri.

Starting it proved a little awkward but entirely worthwhile. Even if you have the weight, you need to apply it to the kickstart in exactly the right place. Pete said he'd've volunteered to have a go as the bike wore out various members of the public, "but I don't think my knees would stand it." Mindful of the stories of Bolster's JAP V-twins, we just hoped the ignition was timed correctly since a kick back from a machine this size would have put you through the roof of the tent and possibly on the other side of the River Tamar. Happily, all was well, and the bike eventually burst into joyous, riotous life.

As Pete said, "Wouldn't Hob be tempted off his Egli-Vincent by this machine?"

Of course, he would. In fact, I fear the owner may have already sold his soul to the Horsepower Whisperer to get this bike together.