Simplun

Simplun

A 4-4-0 Story in Pictures

by W. Van Brocklin, Jr.

Pine Street

Dover, Mass.

This 3-1/2 inch gauge engine was built with two objects in mind, one extreme simplicity and the other consistent reliability. After many tests in the last six months, these two objects were proved on the track. It is a free lance job, but in keeping with engines built around 1900-1920. One of the disadvantages of the eight-wheel types in smaller gauges is not enough weight on the drivers. In full size this is approximately 50% weight on drivers and 50% on pilot truck. In the little one this was greatly improved, the total engine weight being 40 pounds, of which 30 pounds are on the drivers. Side bar equalizing on the axle boxes and pilot touch frame side pivots make for good tractive effort, and on steel track tests with ball-bearing trolley she will pull 400 pounds, or 10 times her own weight without much effort. At one test on a 2% grade she hauled two adults up on 40 pound boiler pressure.

The engine is remarkably free from slipping with proper throttle starts and boiler capable of maintain all cylinder needs. Originally the boiler was built with eighteen 3/8 inch diameter and two 3/4 inch diameter tubes, and it was found the two bottom tubes frequently got blocked with cinders, so they were stopped up with brass plugs. This has made no difference to steaming and gave a better depth of fire, about 1-1/2 inch to top of grate.

The Walschaert valve gear gives good steam distribution and the best running position is two notches off center. It is of box link side pivot construction and as yet no signs of wear have been noticed. The reverse lever is unorthodox in that there is no latch. The lever carries a 1/8 inch ball and stiff compression spring behind it, the ball seating in indents in the quadrant. So far it has never loosened up and holds the gear in each position without shake.

A true hydrostatic lubricator was tried with cab feed control as an experiment and has worked very well, although oil feed adjustment is critical, but once correctly set, the engine can be run for hours with an almost dry stack. There is no lack of lubrication as slight weeps of oil can be seen at the steam chest joints. One thing has to be remembered and that is to shut off the steam supply when stopping for any great length of time. The cab sides and roof are connected in one piece with slides on front of each side. This allows it to be pulled up and off, no screws being necessary to hold in place. The cab deck and front remain on the engine. This has been a blessing for easier plumbing makeup and cleaning.

An injector sent by LBSC feeds to a backhead check which gives short steam and delivery pipes. It has performed consistently and after six months service hasn't been cleaned yet. Since most of the pictures were taken a small Westinghouse pump has been fitted. This is used as a water pump and has a single cylinder, 5/8 inch bore by 3/8 inch bore water and 1/2 inch stroke. It handles water feed just ticking over (after much trial and error!) A compressed air connection is in the steam line to run the pump when the engine is cold to fill the boiler. A similar connection is at the smokebox for blower. The blower is a single tube, 1/8 inch OD by 0.070 inch ID and is the best I have ever made, walking the "clock" up in no time at all. All in all, Simplun is one of my favorites, being very handy to carry around, especially when one has a flight of cellar stairs and three doorways to navigate through to get to the car!

Specifications

 * Frames - 1/4 x 1-1/2 inch CRS
 * Drivers - 4-1/4 inch diameter
 * Pilot Wheels - 2-1/8 inch diameter
 * Cylinders - 1-1/8 inch bore 1-1/2 inch stroke
 * Cylinder Ports - 3/32 inch and 1/4 by 15/16 inch
 * Tap - 3/32 inch, lead 1/64 inch
 * Walschaert valve gear with floating hardened pins and eyes, all other motion plain bearing bronze bush.
 * Axle-pump - 3/8 inch bore 1/2 inch stroke
 * Hydrostatic lubricator, cab regulated
 * Boiler - 3-3/4 inch OD at smokebox to 4 inch diameter at firebox, dummy lagged for extended wagon top looks
 * Boiler tubes 2-3/4 inch superheater, 16-3/8 inch fire tubes all 9 inch long
 * All boiler sheets 3/32 inch thick copper, girder stayed firebox
 * Grate 2-1/4 inch by 5-3/4 inch, 1/8 inch square bars, 1/8 inch spaces
 * Rotary throttle in steam dome 1/4 inch port, lever on backhead
 * Engine weight empty - 40 pounds
 * Tender weight empty - 14 pounds, holds 3 quarts water and 3 pounds coal
 * Tender contains hand pump, suction control valve and injector valve
 * Boiler pressure - 90 pounds

Where is it Today?
Joe Tanski wrote on Chaski.org, 14 August 2013:


 * #5 (Simplun) The 3/4 Scale 4-4-0 build by Bill Van Brocklin back in 1956 is still alive and well!! She currently lives in Eden New York, and runs about two to three time a year on my Chipmunk Valley Railroad a 3/4 and 1 inch scale elevated railroad. She still looks like the day she was first build. She will pull two adults up a 1-1/2 % grade with no problem. And her all Copper boiler is in great shape and steams very easy at 100psi.  The secret to #5 is her firebox grates which measure 2-1/4 wide 5-3/4 inch long which is almost twice the size of the LBSC Virginia. She also has sixteen 3/8 inch diameter boiler tubes and two 3/4 inch diameter super heaters in her boiler.

1.5 inch Scale Version
Bill built a 1.5 inch scale version of Simplun. It was VB #28 (he numbered his locos in order that he built them). John Kurdzionak had drawings of No. 28, and stated he will produce drawings and castings for sale if there is enough interest.



External References

 * "Scan of Simplun Article", Chaski.org
 * Robert Morris version of Simplun, Chaski.org
 * "Simplun by William Van Brocklin, Jr.", Waushakum Journal
 * Bill Van Brocklin on No. 28 at Nick Edwards track in Nashua, NH, 1986, Friends Models