I can't get the link here at work, but it was on last night, interesting stuff.
Jay Leno rolled out three of his steam cars and talked about the differences in engineering and why one is better than another. They went off to southern California to see steam sucked off the thermal springs to power three towns, then Jay shows off his 1930 something steam engine. Quite the piece, interesting show (for me anyway).
Try to find it.
Dan
I'm patiently waiting for the smoke-belching iron horses that helped to build this once-great nation to make a comeback!
If you want to build you own, I have ~a page~ with lots of free plans. 
If miniature steam engines and strange mechanical toys and treasures make your heart go pitter-patter, and you're in the York PA area, you might want to check out this show coming up January 14-16.
http://www.cabinfeverexpo.com/
Jay (and others I assume) say that the last of an old technology is better then the first of a new. When you see the most advanced steam car compared to a contemporary gasoline car, you really understand this. They could get underway in under a 1 minute, no hand-cranking, all kinds of power, modern touches throughout. I'm glad Jay is keeping a few alive.
http://www.bangshift.com/blog/Motorized-Freak-of-the-Week-The-Lombard-Steam-Log-Hauler.html
I am intrigued by these steamers.
I've been researching Abner Doble and his cars for a year or so for my next major project. With modern boiler technology and controls, I think 40 mpg will be easily achievable. Throw in some streamlining and who knows?
You're not talking about Valve's digital distribution system, are you.
I found the program interesting. There are a few steam trains running. The most interesting is the cog railway up Mt. Washington.
My family has over 20 steam traction engines, with over a dozen in operating condition. I grew up with these, spending a week each summer at "steam shows.". The earliest engine we have was built in the 1880's, and the latest is the last Baker ever built (and possibly owned by Henry Ford,) buily around 1929.
I'd attach some pics, but I'm on my Blackberry. Maybe later.
I love steam-powered equipment, especially old locomotives.
how do you rate MPG with steam?
GPM of H20 and lbs./hr. of coal?
I like the steamers, but does anyone else think they're running out of topics for "MODERN" Marvels? I mean, steam? I actually saw a "water" episode a while back. I'm pretty sure it about the oldest thing here, if'n you believe Genesis...
Didn't some people just beat the land speed record record for a steam powered car?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKZcR2jLS2A
Steam saw mill cool
http://www.smokstak.com/
Smok Stak..
I'm actually building a steam powered motorcycle, although progress is going very slowly because of grad school. It's currently powered by a diesel burner although I'm just going to switch back to propane... the diesel is too hard to burn reliably. I'm running it through a Gast air motor and building a coupler to connect that to a minibike CVT, and all of this will eventually be mounted on an old Trek mountain bike frame cut up a bit to make room for the boiler and control electronics. It's a fun project but getting expeeennnnsive.
ultraclyde wrote: I like the steamers, but does anyone else think they're running out of topics for "MODERN" Marvels? I mean, steam? I actually saw a "water" episode a while back. I'm pretty sure it about the oldest thing here, if'n you believe Genesis...
I dunno...I'm willing to bet the rent that the electricity being used to view this, was generated using steam, and probably (in the US) using coal. The biggest share of the rest was prolly from a nuke, again boiling water to make steam. Then there's the gas and oil derived, and the straight-from-water to turbine energy conversion known as a dam.
Just sayin'....
Grtechguy wrote: how do you rate MPG with steam?
Easy- how far you go on the fuel used. Steam is just the "force", not the fuel. ..... Doble used kerosene for fuel in a flash boiler of his own design. IIRC, his cars got approx 15-18 miles per gallon of kerosene burned(MPG),weighing in at 5000 pounds. It had a keyed ignition, could start driving in about 30 seconds after firing up-no pun intended-and could go up to 75mph in approximately 12 seconds! A lot of his papers, drawings, and research is stored at the library in U of C@ Berkeley. Pretty interesting stuff.
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