Accucraft D&RGW C-16 User manual

C-16 Live Steam
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ACCUCRAFT TRAINS
33268 Central Avenue
Union City, CA 94587, USA
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Fax: [phone]
email: [email protected]

General Information - C-16 Live Steam
Introduction
One of the most popular series of locomotives that once worked on the Denver & Rio
Grande Western Railroad was the small, C-16 Consolidations, which served for decades.
Built in 1881-82 by both Grant and Baldwin, more than 80 units were delivered and were
the largest narrow-gauge locomotives available at the time. Because they had a weight
on the drivers of some 60,000 pounds, the D&RG designated them as Class 60 engines.
These were later labeled "C-16" ("C" for "Consolidation" and "16" as an index of their
tractive effort, about 16,000 pounds) and some lasted for as long as 70 years in both freight
and passenger service. It is available from Accucraft in three different versions. The models
of these three locomotives are identical in their function and operation.
Operating a live-steam locomotive is much different from running an electrically
powered engine. It is a more hands-on, interactive experience. The locomotive must be
periodically fueled, oiled, and watered. As supplied, the C-16 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 C-16 should
pull up to a dozen standard-size freight cars on good, level track. 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 performance and longest duration from it.
Technical Specification
Scale/Gauge: 1/20.3, 45 mm Gauge
Wheel arrangement: 2-8-0 Consolidation
Total Weight: 7.2 Kg, 15.9 lbs.
Length: 746 mm, 30 ins.
Width: 118 mm, 4.9 ins.
Height: 182 mm, 7.5 ins.
Driver Wheels: Dia. 45 mm, 1.8 ins.
Minimum Radius: 0.76 M, 30 ins.
Boiler: Center flue type
Working Pressure: 40 psi
Fuel: Butane
Lubricator: Roscoe displacement
Valve gear: Simple Stephenson
Page 1

Safety
For your safety, there are certain rules that should be observed, as follows:
1. The safety valve is under the steam dome (the dome nearest the cab). It has
been set at the factory to release at 55 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 your match first, then turn on the gas.
5. A steam engine gets hot. Be careful.
The following parts are packaged separately
- M3 hex head screws
- 3mm hex head screw driver
- 5 ml syring - steam oil
- 50 ml syring - water
Caution!
This model is an accurate replica of the original locomotive. It has sharp and moving
parts. The locomotive drive rods are stainless steel with sharp edges. AT ANY
TIME, OPERATORS MUST NOT BECAME IN CONTACT WITH THE MODEL WHILE
IT IS POWERED. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL ACCUCRAFT TRAINS BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING IN
REGARD TO ANY ACCUCRAFT PRODUCT.
Safety - C-16 Live Steam
Page 2

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, including wheel
bearings, of the engine and tender with a high
grade, lightweight machine oil like 3-in-1.
2. Place the engine and tender on the track and
couple them together. The drawbar between the
units has two holes. For tighter curves, use the
outer hole. For wide-radius curves, the engine and
tender can be coupled more closely together, using
the inner hole. Insert the gas jet (at the end of the
hose coming from the tender) into the back of the
burner. Make sure it seats snugly.
3. The displacement lubricator is
disguised as an air tank under
the right-hand running board. This
lubricator ensures the cylinders
and valves are properly 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 cylin-
ders. Remove the lubricator's cap
and draw out any water from the
previous run with a syringe. Fill the
lubricator to the top with proper
steam cylinder oil.
Operation - C-16 Live Steam
Page 3
Lubricator
The gas jet is inserted
into the back of burner.

4. Unscrew the sand dome (the
first dome behind the smoke-
stack). Under it is the boiler's filler
plug. Unscrew the filler plug and
fill the boiler to the top with water.
Use only distilled water in your
engine's boiler. Tap water con-
tains minerals that will leach out
and ultimately affect the perfor-
mance of the engine.
5. Finally, add fuel. Your C-16
burns butane gas. The gas tank is
located in the tender beneath the
dummy coal load. Remove the
coal load with the ring provided.
Butane gas can be purchased at
the grocery store or at a tobacco-
nist's as cigarette-lighter refills.
These come with a nipple suitable
for the filler valve on the C-16'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 the engine's
tank.) Simply press the noz-
zle of the butane canister
hard onto the filler valve
atop the tank, making sure
that the control valve is
closed. You will hear the
gas transferring and will
see a little gas 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
you are ready to fire up the
engine.
Operation - C-16 Live Steam
Page 4
Gas tank
Gas filler
valve
Gas control
valve
Fuel line to
locomotive
(with gas
jet)
Filler plug

Firing up
Before igniting the fire, open the blowdown valve.
You'll find this below the cab on the left side. It isn't necessary
to open the valve all the way-a turn or two is all that's
required. Make sure the throttle is closed.
The engine'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 tender
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 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 may be damaged. The fire
should burn under the burner in a cres-
cent-shaped flame, which should be clearly
visible through the smokebox door. The
flame should be bright blue and should burn
steadily. If it sputters or looks yellow or
green, adjust the gas valve accordingly. The
object is to run the burner at the lowest set-
ting 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.
As the engine heats up, water will begin to
come out of the blowdown valve. Keep an
eye on this. After four or five minutes, the escaping water will turn to steam. At this time,
close the valve. The water in the water glass should be just below the top nut.
After another four or five minutes, pressure on the pressure gauge should read
about 20psi (pounds per square inch) or so. The safety valve is set at 55 psi. When the
pressure on the gauge reaches 40psi, the engine can be run.
Operation - C-16 Live Steam
Page 5
Blowdown

Running
Slide the cab roof off
(toward the rear) for acces to
the controls. Move the revers-
ing lever at the right side of
the cab to the forward position.
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 through the
stack. The engine may need to
be pushed a little to overcome
the steam condensing into water
in the cold cylinders. After a few
moments, it should take off on
its own, moving away smoothly.
Once the engine is run-
ning smoothly, a train can be
coupled on and the run can
proceed. Since all of the locomotive's functions are controlled from the cab, it can be
driven like a full-size engine, meaning that you'll have to stay with the engine through
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. Keep your eye on the water
glass. When the water level approaches the bottom of the glass, shut the engine down
and repeat the firing up process.
Shutting down
To shut the engine down, simply close the gas valve and allow the engine to run
off any residual steam. At the end of the run, open the blowdown valve and leave it
open. This will relieve the boiler of what little pressure remains and prevent a vacuum
from forming inside the boiler that could draw lubricating oil into the boiler if the throttle
valve is not fully closed.
After a day's operation in the garden you'll probably find that your engine has a
coating of oil all over it. 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.
Operation - C-16 Live Steam
Page 6
Reversing
lever
Pressure
gauge
Throttle
Water glass
Burner
Drawbar

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.
Cold-weather running
The weather can dramatically affect the performance of your locomotive. Cold and
wind can decrease efficiency to a disappointing level. Butane gas becomes liquid at 32°F
and will not work. As it approaches 32°, its pressure becomes less and less.
The tender tank is divided into two compartments. The rear compartment is to be
left empty. The forward compartment contains the fuel tank, and this can be filled with
warm water in cooler weather. This will warm the gas in the tank and keep its pressure
up, which will cause the engine to operate in a much more lively manner, much as it does
in warm weather. If the water in the tank cools, just replace it with warmer water. Empty
the tender at the end of the day's run. Note: the temperature of the fuel-supply can must
always be higher than that of the engine's gas tank. If you have warmed the engine's tank
and the supply tank is cooler, gas will not transfer. (If you have installed the optional hand
pump, the forward tank is also to be used to carry boiler feedwater.)
Notes on radio control
Although the C-16 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. 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.
Operation - C-16 Live Steam
Page 7

- AP21151
- Boiler pressure gauge
w/ fitting
- 1/pkg
Parts & Accessories - C16 Live Steam
Page 8
- AP21351
- Jet Nozzle 0.15mm
- AP21352
- Jet Nozzle 0.20mm
- AP21301
- Burner
- 1/pkg
- AP25002 M2x2 8/pkg
- AP25003 M2x3 8/pkg
- AP25004 M2x4 8/pkg
- AP25005 M2x6 8/pkg
- AP25006 M2x8 8/pkg
Hex head screws:
- AP25101 M3x3 8/pkg
- AP25102 M3x6 8/pkg
Set screws:
- AP25802 Oil Lub. 4/pkg
- AP25804 Butane valve 4/pkg
- AP25805 Steam valve 4/pkg
“O" Rings:
- AP28201
- Steam oil, 6 oz
- 1bottle/pkg
- AP29101
- Screw driver, hex M2
- AP29102
- Screw driver, hex M1.6
- AP29201
- Steam oil pump
- 1/pkg
- AP19001
- Treadmill roller
- 1/pkg
- AP11730
- Knockle couplers
- 1pair/pkg