RUBY Live Steam Instructions
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General Information
RUBY is a freelance, 1:20.3 scale, live-steam locomotive based on Baldwin
practice. It has been designed to be both simple to operate and sophisticated
enough to satisfy more experienced modelers. With proper care, RUBY
should give years of service in the garden.
Operating a live-steam locomotive is much different from running an electri-
cally powered engine. It is a more hands-on, interactive experience. The loco-
motive must be periodically fueled, oiled, and watered. As supplied, RUBY is
manually controlled, which means that you must actually drive the locomotive
using the controls in the cab, just as you would a full-size engine.
The performance of the engine is also unlike electric locomotives. RUBY
should pull two to four standard-size freight cars on good, level track, which is
about the same capacity as a full-size locomotive of this configuration. Grades
and sharp curves will diminish its capability. A good engineer will learn the
engine’s characteristics and idiosyncrasies over time to get the best perfor-
mance and longest duration from it.
Technical Specifications
Scale: 1:20.3 (15mm=1’0”)
Gauge: 45mm
Wheel Arrangement: 0-4-0T
Boiler: Single Flue, Gas Fired, Silver-Soldered Copper,
Tested To 150psi (working pressure, 30psi)
Boiler Fittings: Safety Valve, Throttle, Pressure Gauge
Fuel: Butane gas
Cylinder Lubrication: Displacement Lubricator In The Cab
Cylinder: Fixed Cylinders, Piston-type Valves,
Exhaust Through The Stack
Valve Gear: Fixed Eccentric Via RockerArms
Reversing Gear: Piston-Type Reversing Valve Controlled From The
Cab
RUBY Live Steam Instructions
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Shutting down:
At the end of the day’s run, close the throttle snugly. When cool, the safety
valve should be loosened to relieve the vacuum that will be created in the
boiler. This vacuum could pull oil from the lubricator into the boiler if the
throttle is not closed.
After a day’s operation in the garden you’ll probably find that your engine has
a coating of oil. This is steam-cylinder oil that has been exhausted from the
stack. A simple wipe down with a dry cloth is all that’s necessary to restore
the engine to pristine condition. This is best done while the engine is still hot.
Wipe any grit and excess oil from the wheels and running gear.
The boiler can be drained of water, or not, as you will. Leaving water in the
boiler will not harm it. The lubricator can also be drained and refilled with
steam oil in preparation for the next run.
Notes on radio control:
Although RUBY was designed as a manually controlled locomotive, there
is no reason why radio control (R/C) cannot be fitted with some ingenuity. A
two channel radio is all that’s necessary, one for the throttle and one for the
reversing lever. The gas valve should always be controlled manually. Servos
can be mounted to the floor of the loco and linked to the control arms. The
reversing lever will have to be modified so that it does not lock in position, but
it must still have stops at either end of its throw for proper positioning of the
reversing valve. You might be able to get away with one servo controlling only
the reversing valve, but better control of the locomotive will be accomplished if
the throttle is controlled, too.
