Accucraft trains FORNEY LIVE STEAM User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
FORNEY LIVE STEAM

Forney Live Steam Instructions
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Thank you for purchasing Accucraft Trains Forney
Live Steam Locomotive
Like other fine models from Accucraft Trains. The Forney has
been designed to provide a lifetime of model railroading plea-
sure. The Forney is handcrafted in brass and is a precision piece
of equipment. Like all fine equipment it must be properly main-
tained and cared for.
Notice
The information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Forney Live Steam Instructions
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The Forney
AC77-050 FORNEY 0-4-4
AC77-051 FORNEY 2-4-4
Features:
Ready to Run
All Brass Construction
Piston-Type Slide Valves
Fixed Eccentric
Piston-Type Reversing Valve
Water Level Gauge
Pressure Gauge

Forney Live Steam Instructions
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General Information
The Forney is a freelance, 1:20.3 scale, live-steam locomotive based on Bald-
win practice. It has been designed to be both simple to operate and sophisti-
cated enough to satisfy more experienced modelers. With proper care, your
Forney should give years of service in the garden.
Operating a live-steam locomotive is much different from running an electrical-
ly powered engine. It is a more hands-on, interactive experience. The locomo-
tive must be periodically fueled, oiled, and watered. As supplied, the Forney 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. The Forney
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
Gauge: 45mm
Wheel Arrangement: 0-4-4 & 2-4-4
Boiler: Single Flue, Gas Fired, Silver-Soldered Copper,
Tested To 150psi (working pressure, 30psi)
Boiler Fittings: Safety Valve, Throttle,
Plug For Add-On Pressure Gauge
Fuel: Butane
Cylinder Lubrication: Displacement Lubricator In The Cab
Cylinder: Fixed Cylinders, Piston-type Side Valves,
Exhaust Through The Stack
Valve Gear: Fixed Eccentric Via RockerArms
Reversing Gear: Piston-Type Reversing Valve Controlled From The
Cab

Forney Live Steam Instructions
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Safety
For your safety, there are certain rules that should be observed, as follows:
1. The safety valve has been set at the factory to release at 30 pounds per
square inch of pressure. Never tamper with the safety valve.
2. The firing system has been designed to use butane gas only. Never use
any other gas (including propane or butane/propane mix), as the storage
pressures can reach unsafe levels.
3. Always refuel the engine away from other working live-steam locomotives.
The fuel filling system allows a small amount of the gas to bleed off as
the fuel tank is being filled. A passing engine can ignite this bleed-off gas,
causing a potentially hazardous situation.
4. When lighting up, light the match first, then turn on the gas.
5. A steam engine gets hot. Be careful. Lift the Forney by holding the end
steps when hot.

Forney Live Steam Instructions
Preparing the engine
A steam-locomotive engineer goes through a lighting-up ritual every time the
engine is to be run. It is good to follow the same routine each time so that
nothing is overlooked.
1. Oil all external moving parts of the engine with a high grade, lightweight
machine oil like 3-in-1.
2. Remove the cab. Drain any water from the displacement lubricator in the
cab and fill the lubricator to the top with proper steam cylinder oil. This lubrica-
tor makes sure the cylinders and valves are lubricated inside. As the steam
passes through it, a small amount will condense into water. This water will
sink to the bottom of the lubricator, forcing a similar quantity of oil into the
steam line and thus to the cylinders.
3. Fill the boiler (make sure the throttle is closed). A properly filled boiler will
have 80ml of water in it. Do not fill the boiler full to the top. There must be
room for the steam above the water level. If there is water in the boiler already
and you don’t know how much, fill the boiler to the top, then remove 30ml.
Use only distilled water in your engine’s boiler. Tap water contains minerals
that will leach out and ultimately affect the performance of the engine.
4. Finally, add fuel. Butane gas can be purchased at the grocery store or at
a tobacconist’s as cigarette-lighter refills. These come with a nipple suitable
for the filler valve on the Forney’s gas tank. Butane can also be purchased
in larger containers at camping-supply stores, but these cans will require a
special adapter for filling. Simply press the nozzle of the butane canister hard
onto the filler valve. You will hear the gas transferring and see a little gas
5

Forney Live Steam Instructions
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Firing up
The Forney’s burner resides at the back of the flue inside the boiler. Open the
hinged smokebox door at the front of the engine and you’ll be able to see the
flue. To light up, strike a match and hold it at the open smokebox door while
simultaneously opening the gas valve in the cab very slowly until the gas
ignites. You should hear the gas coming into the burner. Opening the valve
too wide or too fast may blow out the flame or cause the fire to burn in the
smokebox.
The fire should flash back into the back of the flue with a quiet “pop.” If it
wants to burn in the smokebox or in the forward part of the flue, slowly close
the gas valve until it flashes back to the burner. Don’t let the fire burn in the
smokebox your engine will not run as it should and maybe damaged. The
flame should be bright blue and should burn steadily. The object is to run the
burner at the lowest setting possible to operate the engine, thereby increasing
the efficiency of the engine and the duration of the run. You’ll get the hang of
this with practice
When the safety valve blows, you’ll know that pressure is up to working level.
This should take 5-8 minutes or so. The air temperature will have an effect on
this. It will take longer on cold days and less on hot days. Butane gas turns to
non-pressurized liquid at 32°F, so the engine may have difficulty on very cold
days, unless it is fired up indoors.
bleeding out of the valve. When the tank is full, the gas will begin to splutter
and much more gas will escape the valve. When the gas tank is full and the
cab has been replaced, you are ready to fire up the engine.

Forney Live Steam Instructions
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Running
With the engine on the track, and without a train, open the throttle. Because
the cylinders are cold, the hot steam entering them will condense into water
and be exhausted out the stack. Hot water squirting out the stack at the start
of a run is normal. The Forney will need to be pushed back and forth until the
cylinders heat up. You may need to exert a little downward pressure on the
engine to get the wheels to turn, which will overcome the resistance of the
water in the cylinders. Be sure to put the engine into reverse, using the lever
at the right side of the cab, when pushing it backwards. When the cylinders
have warmed a little, the engine will begin to show signs of life. After a few
moments, it should take off on its own, moving away smoothly.
Once the engine is running smoothly, a
train can be coupled on and the run can
proceed. Since all of the Forney’s functions
are controlled from the cab, it can be driven
like a full-size loco, meaning that you’ll have
to stay with the engine throughout the run if
you want to change its speed or direction.
If you have a suitable track, the engine can
be left to run on its own at a steady speed
until the fuel runs out. As the gas tank in the
cab warms, you may find the engine picking
up speed. Simply turn the gas down a little
and throttle the steam back. This is all part
of learning how to get the best performance
from your engine.
A word on speed: Little engines like the
Forney were rarely run at more than 5 or 10
mph. If you imagine a little person running
alongside, that is about the right prototypical speed. When run at this slower
speed, steam and fuel consumption are lower, which increases the run time.
The Forney was designed to run out of fuel before running out of water, thus
preventing damage to the boiler. Care should be taken never to run the boiler
dry. When the run is over and the locomotive has cooled somewhat, it can be
lubricated, rewatered, and refueled for the next run.

Forney 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 the Forney 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.
The receiver and battery pack can be fitted to the bunker behind the cab to
house them.

Forney Live Steam Instructions
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Limited One-Year Warranty
Accucraft Trains warrants that the mechanical components of its model trains
will be free of any defect or malfunction under normal use for one year of the
original purchaser and will remedy any mechanical components which prove
to be thus malfunction. This warranty does not extend to : (1.) any damage
to the locomotive resulting from any improper or unreasonable use of the lo-
comotive or from any use of the locomotive in any manner other than that for
which it is intended, (2.) any damage to the finish or casting of the locomotive,
or (3.) any other damage (expect for damage resulting from a covered defect
or malfunction) to the locomotive while in the possession of any consumer.
This warranty is given in lieu of all other express warranties. All implied war-
ranties, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchant ability
and fitness for a particular purpose shall expire one year from date of original
purchase. (Note: the foregoing limitation on implied warranties is proper un-
der Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL
ACCUCRAFT TRAINS BE RESPONSIBLE FoR ANY INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING IN REGARD TO ANYACCUCRAFT
PRODUCT.
In order to validate this warranty, the Owner Registration Card enclosed with
your locomotive must be completed and mailed within ten (10) days after
purchase of the model.
If warranty service is required after more than one year from the date of pur-
chase, please request return authorization by phone or letter. Upon receipt of
authorization, please send the locomotive, postage prepaid, with a check or
money order for the amount of $30.00 in U.S. currency, (price applies to U.S.
only) to cover return postage and handling. Also please write a letter explain-
ing the nature of your problem and enclose it with the locomotive.