I'm new to the site and the hobby. 😄

GreenTwin said:

Welcome, glad to have you.

I started studying steam engines seriously in about 2009, and while I have learned a lot, it never fails to amaze me how complex the late era steam engines became.

I use to think I could understand pretty much everything there is to understand about a steam engine, but that was a very naive notion.

Now I feel lucky to understand a small fraction of the steam engine design knowledge that has been published in the past.

I often have conversations with modern folks, and I mention about the time "before electricity", (BE).
They don't have a clue about motive power before electricity, and they think that a "steam engine" is a steam locomotive.

I found an interesting book a few years ago that details the transition from water (hydro) power to steam engine power.
The steam engine allowed factories to be located near sources of materials, and removed the requirement that factories must be located near fast moving waters.

Jump in here and make yourself at home.

I had 65, 66 and 67 VW Beetles.
The 67 was by far the best VW Beetle ever built.
I regret having to get rid of those cars.
Best car for driving at high speed in snow and ice conditions that has ever been made.
When everyone else was spinning in random circles on ice in their autos, I was driving with very little trouble to work in my VW.

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Son of a Seabee said:

The only engines I have built are full size VW bug and American Motors engines, back in the 70's. I went to Gunsmithing school to learn how to run lathes and mills. My fascination with steam engines began with Mother Earth News second issue article on steam engines. In the 70's I met Bert Johnson a steam engine engineer. He had worked with Thomas Edison on the fo steam powered electric plant.

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