Preparing and lighting up a one foot gauge steam engine

Preparing and lighting up "Merlin' an 0-4-2 tank engine that runs on the one foot gauge privately owned Lynton Railway in Victoria , Australia.

[@jonathandowney7000]

I have loved trains and steam locomotives my entire life close friend of my grandfather built one used to take it festivals locally and take me for rides. Watching this made me so happy I had tears running down my face would love to see this in person dream come true awesome video

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks Jonathan , glad it brought back some great memories for you .

[@user-sp7ud2ky8g]

SHACMAN 797

[@user-sp7ud2ky8g]

Audrey Renee 118 Isuzu ZRS

[@user-vw5gv2ho5j]

()() (°•°)

[@user-vw5gv2ho5j]

@@johnphillips592 ggyfgcffxgcgfgf

[@neiltate6309]

Hi all, it has been a real pleasure to be involved in this video. John Phillips suggested a video could be done and thanks to his expert handling of the camera, the video is a real success. Merlin is the brain child of my brother, who designed and built this magnificent locomotive. In time it will be fitted with a single stage scale Westinghouse air compressor when due for a minor overhaul. Thank you from me and the master video maker John Phillips. Who knows, another video may be in the future. Cheers.

[@kobushauman3310]

Very nice. Like a fairytale. The young children must have heartwarming stories of spending time on and around the tracks! May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, in every moment of your lives. Kind regards, Kobus

[@malvaradovera]

Muchas felicidades por este tremendo trabajo,,es un placer saber que aun se mantiene este amor por las maquinas a vapor ...es una maravilla. saludos desde Chile. Consulta: Donde puedo obtener informacion sobre la construccion de una loco a vapor de jardin ,,me interesa mucho el tema. desde ya muchas gracias.-

[@andrewholm3775]

It's good to see you still driving trains Neil been a few years since the last time I saw you At Ringwood signal box have a great Christmas and new year mate

[@kaminipatil6190]

😊

[@joegoodman4312]

A very clear and concise tutor there. I learnt a lot. And I’m pleased he has priorities straight. Perfect pie cooking is essential

[@markvolker1145]

Most people make little toy train tracks in their basement.. this guy turned his entire property into a toy train track! That is a lot of work! Just the upkeep alone is a full time job!

[@johnphillips592]

There is a group of us that meet every Friday and work on the railway , we're called the Friday boys .

[@167curly]

What a little beauty "Merlin" is. I really enjoyed your explanation and seeing her working hard up those steep inclines thanks to her diminutive driving wheels.

[@johnphillips592]

Yes , it's a lovely engine to drive and very powerful for its size

[@shruthisrikumar5907]

@@johnphillips592 because of steam I did not realise that steam can MOVE somthing

[@jimstrainsandstuff9539]

Definitely not a retired Train Driver. Just a self reassigned train driver. Beautiful little loco mate. What a perfect way to "retire" I think we'd all like one of these magic units in our back yards.

[@bennyhill3642]

I know I would!! Lol

[@allisonreisma2210]

I would love to have one of these

[@bennyhill3642]

@@allisonreisma2210 I know RIGHT!!!! 😇

[@upendirans2638]

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🤮

[@thepigeon704]

@@allisonreisma2210 my friend has a miniature loco not as big but a sit on one.

[@Ruggedrails]

So great to see something that is really a tribute to someone who is passionate about there interests not just the loco the whole railway

[@grooviestglobe4907]

Their*

[@Nicmadis]

That is the most awesome toy for grown up little boys ever.

[@johnphillips592]

Yes it keeps us busy every Friday

[@carterplaysgamestv577]

Actually it’s a puffing billy train

[@codyjones3641]

john phillips that is right i use to watch thomas when i was younger

[@Fireheart1945]

Proof that boys don't grow up; they just get older :)

[@bennyhill3642]

Yes number #1 8n my book!!!!!

[@garygerard4290]

Watching this I can totally grasp how the early RR's got going. A bunch of guys got together and rigged up a locomotive and laid some tracks running between a few farms and towns and got paid to move building supplies & animals/food to 'points between' Hills needs to be knocked down and Gullies filled, 'a bridge built and a tree removed. The customers could not be counted on to unload their product in 10 minutes while the train just sat there so a spur was built. Lots of planning and hard work and all benefited. About this time the Gov. stepped in wanting a piece of the action from all those willing to hustle - work - save - produce. And the rest is history. I'm going to watch more of your videos

[@lesparks126]

This is a good primer on Starting Steam, and the difficulty of operations. And this is a small one. Excellent production!

[@twistedyogert]

I'm actually really surprised that steam held on as long as it did. Even after internal combustion powered vehicles were commonplace locomotives still ran on steam. I remember reading that steam was phased out in the United States in the 1960s and in some countries even later into the 20th century.

[@timr1815]

POV: you're still up at two am

[@MaxxFujikawa]

This fits me i was watching this at 2 am lmaoo

[@ToastySTG_On_Youtube]

I’m watching this at 4 am but I woke up at 2 am

[@bocilkematianz_2727]

The hell , How did u know ?

[@loopsang2308]

shit dude 2:11 nailed it

[@lyingeyes5579]

Try 4:40AM

[@karamjitubhi8574]

This is so amazing !!!! I really enjoyed this unique kind of pretty engine really running on the track. May you live long all who manufactured,assisted and helped in this project and posted as well.

[@josemarino4270]

Very enjoyable to watch! The operation was very professional, the real thing but in miniature!

[@gandalf87264]

Awwww, I think that little locomotive is absolutely priceless. Thank you so much for making my day.

[@bennyhill3642]

Great comment!!!!!

[@rebeccavear3358]

Great to watch and know what you get up to each week 🙂 love the little station!

[@Bw.honeyberry]

his wife: honey can you get the groceries this dude:

[@malletstormchaserh3412]

Skill:100

[@oracle11iappsdba]

The town authority does not permit me laying tracks to the grocery.

[@divyakashiyani2251]

@@malletstormchaserh3412 po

[@mfbfreak]

If this ain't the cutest little locomotive ever! Lovely!

[@ECMLTrains]

Literally the cutest little engine ever 🥰

[@johnphillips592]

Yes and quite powerful for her size

[@ZstackZip]

Smol bean

[@ramonsilvapino9609]

@@ZstackZip no. .

[@llean6258]

@@ramonsilvapino9609 oh u said smol bean ok

[@jaydencrimsoneverett6731]

Should be called lil steamer

[@RAVISHARMA-qo5om]

Oh my God, what a stunning and advance piece of starting engineering . I have crazy about this.👌👌👌👍👍👍

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks Ravi , Ken did a great job building Merlin for all of us to enjoy

[@robertsteen8685]

Heating the pie above the firebox is the most important. Beautiful locomotive

[@stuartcambell-frazer8863]

I just so love this, I just wish I could go to Australia to visit. I live in England and will be moving to Scotland hopefully next year. Would love to see something like this up there. All the best.

[@angus80w]

For me it’s the opposite way around, I live in Australia and i want to go to England to visit

[@lechiffre5452]

@@angus80w 😂

[@CommuterRailProductions]

It’s amazing how he can just put his hand in the firebox with full confidence. I couldn’t do that even if somebody bet me money for it

[@BRANDY60rocks]

Thanks for posting .Very interesting description of the process of preparation and lighting up including nice close up the different steps

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , we had fun making it and glad you enjoyed it

[@yabojabo8578]

Wow. Living the dream. I love Merlin's stack note.

[@jakespeed63]

Dear old dad would have loved this. Never had one of his own, but was a charter member of the Lakeshore Live Steamers railroad club. Smaller gauge. Based out of the Lake Metro Parks of Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks for sharing

[@bloodfriachannel9540]

jrthhhhvvv bnmnmnnmmm

[@sandy1653]

A very good friend of mine once said that I hadn't grown up, I'd just got more expensive taste in toys. This being occasioned by my turning up for supper in a mud splattered Landie with twigs and such hanging out of the grill. And to some extent, I think she's entirely right as I don't think I would ever get anything productive done ever again if I had easy access to such a brilliant little machine. Be too busy goofing off and playing at being a train driver all bloody day long.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks Sandy , luckily we only go there once a week , otherwise we wouldn't get anything done either .

[@sandy1653]

@@johnphillips592 Thanks for taking us along for the ride. A quick question, the oil you used in the lubricators, is that just regular oil you could go to Supercheap Auto and get or is it a specialist grade of oil?

[@johnphillips592]

@@sandy1653 Hello Sandy , it is special steam oil in the cylinders

[@timothybarney7257]

"It's not exactly to scale", yes, I agree, that front link and pin coupler looks a lot more substantial than the real ones!

[@RobertKrebill]

These are just like the narrow gauge engines in Thomas

[@zvonibab]

Well done Mister, enthusiasm and love you sharing with us is contagious! Cheers

[@johnphillips592]

Thank you , glad you enjoyed it , we had fun making it , Merlin is a lovely engine to drive .

[@bennyhill3642]

That was Awesome!!! Thank you and all that helped you give us the video!!! God bless!!!

[@fairbourne]

Excellent. I volunteer at a 12.25” gauge railway and wish I was as articulate as this gentleman explaining how things work.

[@Fireheart1945]

What a beautiful steam locomotive!

[@concept5631]

This makes Narrow Gauge engines look big.

[@victorburgeelectronicwizar351]

Definitely train engineers back in the day, not just drivers. Love the pies on the heat box. Lol

[@RajuDas-qu1li]

Once again a great opportunity to get the glimpses of those bygone days! The smoke, the sound and the Merlin passing beneath the knotty trees in lush green landscape arouse the spirit of nostalgia in me. Pretty cool!

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed our little railway

[@eddiestafford3313]

Brilliant.....what a smashing way to spend your day. Thanks for sharing.

[@PeterFalkTV]

Вы счастливые люди! Занимаетесь любимыми делом. Спасибо что показали нам

[@thegeneralissimo470]

This has early 2000s energy in the best way possible. Excellent video.

[@BirchleyJunction]

Immediatly recognised it as based off one of the Kempton locos. I live very close to where the line once ran, and rowed out of a boathouse built on the site of the Wharf on the Thames

[@clivekeevill4215]

Thanks for posting, what a fabulous little loco, Great to see it working hard up those gradients, it's a credit to you. Where I live in the south west of England we have a main line running through our village & occasionally we see heritage excursions of a dozen coaches with a steam loco heading it up. It certainly is a sight to see it thundering through our little village halt. You can't beat a bit of steam nostalgia, both large and small.

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

How can 2.2K dislike this video? My god, it's a miniature steam locomotive!

[@johnphillips592]

No accounting for taste I suppose , thanks for your comment.

[@russellanderson3298]

What a fantastic little loco - well done sir.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks Russell

[@user-cm1xe8vg2r]

Stunning ever video , brilliant steam ltank loco ,well done , many thanks for sharing!

[@After_Tech_Industries]

moving the train to the turn table for maintenance was genius 15:42

[@aussiebloke609]

Hell, just having his own turntable was awesome to see. No real mancave should be considered complete without one just outside. :-)

[@grantonthenet]

Seeing things like this are inspiring for sure

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Thank you sir for the video and all your knowledge you need a shirt that says I still play with Trains LOL ,Wonderful job onthe Locomotive boy that Dog sure looked like he was wanting a ride with you I’m quite fond of the Poodle mixes as we have two of them inmy family

[@shanechambless8]

That is cool my 3 year old loves trains and want to ride this every day it was in his yard

[@andrewfolkman9486]

I wish I had that

[@andrewfolkman9486]

For my kids

[@tophbeifong1999]

I've worked with one of these beauties before. They're quite nice when they get moving.

[@thetransformatorium7980]

Awesome! I was really surprised when I saw the mini turntable. Thanks for sharing your Magnificent baby loco with us. Cheers from the US.

[@trevormoore3437]

Thankyou for sharing this beautiful locomotive

[@PirateAdmiral-bx6sx]

One Foot Gauge Is normaly used for Mineshaft but This is Amazing

[@propeltheprototoaster8151]

I love that his main concern is that his pies are heated correctly. Truely an Australian

[@pat0343]

Wow, Thats taking HO scale to a whole new level.

[@Toby-Trains]

Yep

[@tapanrath9165]

It is a wonderful video worth preserving. Steam engines had their unique beauty and elegance. Their rhythm was music to years. Always loved watching them in the childhood and mesmerized by steam bleeding with whistling noise. Thank you so much for this great video.👍

[@johnphillips592]

Thank you , glad you enjoyed it , there are more videos on the little railway on my channel if you wish to see more of Merlin.

[@bpark10001]

This loco has an awesome sound! I guess it's the long stack that does it. It sounds totally different from my 1.5" scale 10 wheeler. Regarding the injector and the "canary sound": the injector is sucking air when it is "working", and putting that into the boiler along with the water. A check-valve on the injector waste line will prevent this and improve its efficiency. You will hear a CLACK when it picks up. Safety first! it is dangerous to oil around the valve gear when the loco is under steam. Safety glasses should also be worm when operating loco. When I steam up, I start the draft before lighting the fire. This way, there can be no explosions or blowback into the cab.

[@johnphillips592]

Hello Brian , sorry to disagree with you but every steam engine driver since the steam loco was invented has oiled around the loco when under steam .

[@bpark10001]

@@johnphillips592 What bothered me was that he inserted his fingers into pinch-points on the valve gear while oiling, and had his face near plumbing (such as blow-down valve) without eye protection.

[@kentcanieso2407]

@@bpark10001 ?

[@andrewmagosky7181]

I disagree as well, Brian. As long as the engine is in midgear and the brakes are on, the valve gear will not move, simple as that. I have two 1" scale locomotives and have always oiled 'round every time I stop for water. Additionally, if you have an "explosion" or backdrafting event when you start your fire, you're using too much accelerant and fuel. By doing this, you're damaging your boiler by heating it too quickly. Ideally, you want a fire that slowly grows in size and warms the boiler slowly.

[@robertbeermanjr.2158]

Magnificent! Such a wonderful machine you have there sir. I really enjoyed the step by step to the start up. Merlin looks to be so well built. Simple, Functional and Beautiful. Thank you for sharing

[@victorhugooportoquiroz3822]

Wdz

[@buckduane1991]

I love how like all true steam engineers, he uses the locomotive to cook his lunch! I know in Ely, Nevada, they still put bacon on the coal shovel and stick it straight into the firebox for a minute. On the UP Big Boys, you could always find a soup thermos tucked in behind the water gauges. ^^ Nothing else like steam engines has ever been or will again, a truly romantic machine.

[@kumargopal3220]

Im fm india sir.watched your class of operating a steam engine with curiosity and interest. Thanks for loading up such a video in your vlog and is amazing.

[@BigDsRc517]

This is so awsome, excellant build and good video!

[@oncimio7085]

This engine is so cute. He’s so small he’s basically a toy 😂🥰

[@wfermier]

I just stumbled across this wonderful video! Thank you for posting it and explaining all you have to do to get it up and running. I have a few questions I hope you won't mind answering. First, how much weight can it pull? I saw you loading gravel into the gondola, so this is quite powerful. Second, how fast can it go? I saw quite a few curves in the video, so I know that'll slow you down. Finally, do you operate it year round? Thanks again!

[@johnphillips592]

It's a private railway and not open to the public , we can get up to about 15 to 20 kph in short bursts but it's not recommended , Merlin will pull about 6 to 8 tons .

[@dineshkarna3926]

@@johnphillips592 wow it's amazing 👍

[@user-oe6wx1bo9s]

،صر

[@NickDe39]

Wow, a functional railroad with 19 miles of track going from one place to another. Around here with railroads of this type, just go around in a circle.

[@billr8667]

Thanks for posting this. The Little Engine That Could has some great stack "talk".

[@dilshodaalimova1217]

Thanks NJ USA

[@martareginafuentesballoqui188]

@@dilshodaalimova1217 la yyy

[@dantekman]

Bless you sir... .what a wonderful throwback to steam days. Very nice!!

[@myriaddsystems]

Love the way the little loco trundles along- so cute

[@mrkrzt]

Love the channel and your own railroad.

[@bryankincaid1912]

this looks similar to the www1 frontline loco's , this is what mine was supposed to be but ended up as a baldwin 2-8-0 , fantastic over scale 7 1/4 . same sounds too.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

I mean, it doesn't really look like one. It looks more like an industrial really.

[@jimwhite3845]

Sir please make sure to pass this knowledge to the next generation so these machines will live on another century.

[@laaity]

You explain everything so good

[@TheDoodyman1]

Excellent and informative video. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout. The fireman doesn't look too happy though - did you eat his pie as well? Lol.

[@rubybrown3905]

Hi John - My name's Chris and I'm a first time viewer from Wales in the UK and really enjoyed seeing the delights of the Lynton Railway in Australia. I too have a passion for steam (or anything 'railway' come to that!). I have worked the footplate on full gauge heritage lines in the UK and a narrow-gauge 1 foot 11 1/4 inch tourist railway in the Welsh Mountains. The only thing you do differently from what I am used to is completely blowing down the boiler water at the end of the day. I am used to blowing down periodically but have always left the remaining water in the boiler when putting the engine to bed as it helps the boiler to cool off gently, whereas emptying the boiler shortens the cooling down time in the boiler and in theory could increase the risk of temperature differentials inducing stress cracking in the boiler itself. However, it seems to work for you so who am I to comment!! Thoroughly enjoyed this one and look forward to visiting you perhaps one day.👍

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks for the comment Ruby , the boilers on our steam engines are so over engineered that the faster cooling down does not cause any problems , because we don't fire up our engines every day , they can sit around for weeks sometimes , especially in the fire season , rust can be our biggest problem , getting rid of the water helps stop that , we also remove the boiler plugs to dry out the inside of the boiler , we have had no problems over the years , again thanks for your interesting comment .

[@avtarsaini8873]

Awesome technology and ride... Love❤ from Yamuna Nagar, Haryana -india🇮🇳

[@ColinBache]

Loved watching this! And great that you have the priorities in order with the pies!! 😋

[@sfenodonte]

A love of a steam locomotive, a dream railway line for every child (even if it is 58 years old) ... shame Australia ............ I live in Italy ....

[@jasonharper2601]

wow just stumbled across this video what a fantastic engine

[@PaulLemars01]

This is what's known as a life well spent.

[@a-Tom-ic]

Really great video, lot of information, easy to understand and really well shot too 👍

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it

[@kylerobbins96]

This is making me want a real life small scale train set

[@hunterbaywolf577]

I could not help but Think That Would be Perfect for The Adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine Come To Life .

[@davebarber2196]

Brilliant video, I really enjoyed and what a great little railway. I drive a 5 inch loco down at our club in Manchester UK, but unfortunately due to this nasty covid we can not run.

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks Dave , yes it's a great little railway

[@CalebsRailFilms]

Lovely work, John! Absolutely love, Merlin. Ken has certainly done an excellent job on her by far. Would love to see it one day. I still have my AME magazine from over a decade ago which Ken wrote about Merlin’s construction and his wonderful railway. An absolute gem this railway is 😍. A credit to those who have built it. Keep well. Regards Caleb

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks Caleb , had fun making it. It's a great little railway

[@notsurehowloudthiscanget6103]

Thank you for sharing your start-up routine for your steam engine! Merlin is just adorable! I also learned how the latches on the smokebox door work! That is a neat 1'-scale railroad.

[@kentate435]

Bloody nice loco!

[@johnphillips592]

Made by a bloke called Ken Tate , you might know him .

[@bruce7699]

Yes ! It is a bloody nice loco !!! I would give everything I had for one of them 😂

[@ztmorris9738]

Most British sentence I have ever read. Lol

[@dickdutch788]

@@johnphillips592 awesome set up knowledge thanks for sharing!

[@sajeesh7100]

hi

[@Spook_Boi]

idk why but i love the friggin dining table and stuff right next to the Loco

[@johnphillips592]

The Loco shed doubles as a meal room

[@Spook_Boi]

@@johnphillips592 yo niiice

[@jack_timber]

Absolutely fascinating, thank you

[@Solaris_347]

God this brings me back to when I'd binge watch Thomas The Tank Engine Episodes

[@W7DSY]

Fascinating. I appreciate the work that goes into such a line. From America...

[@PaulPavlinovich]

A cool day of fun. Great explanation.

[@airailimages]

Simply fascinating. Well made locomotive, and well made video. Thumbs up!

[@easyamp123]

Awesome, it looks like the tracks are coming straight out of your kitchen. I'm jealous

[@petop3]

How absolutely delightful, it's pure joy! Greetings from Denmark

[@johnphillips592]

Thank you , glad you enjoyed it . Greetings from Australia .

[@jimw7916]

superb video! ....I often wonder after researching "tartaria", whether the steam engine was already here when the Europeans arrived. There is a lot about our true history that is being suppressed.

[@ewelinanajgebauer8862]

My fucking god, Tartaria or Tartary didn't fucking exist. I'm genuinly offended, which is a lot considering i don't get offended that often.

[@jimw7916]

@@ewelinanajgebauer8862 "offended"? ........ maybe you need your 3rd booster shot.

[@joshuabrown6791]

Wonderful video. Thank you for sharing this.

[@martinlicht1969]

Awesome! Would love to hear a horn on that gem! That's real railroading! Thanks for sharing!

[@greektiger9549]

Really clear explanations. Thank you.

[@syy8976]

This just showed up on my recommend videos. This is awesome, looks like a serious hobbie. You got to know alot to operate one of these, that would be awesome to ride on one of these. Last steam train I road on, was during a civil war reenactment.

[@762Media42]

Serious Hobby is an understatement, you really do need to know what you are doing, I'm pushing the engine at the start of the video pushing it by the sidetanks, Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@syy8976]

@@762Media42 that is awesome. Looks like some serious money invested.

[@dgr9624]

He beautiful, so small and so cute! I like little engines

[@garyhardwick8489]

What a charming little loco!

[@johnpaulson9700]

Awesome build and the operation is perfect. Well done!!

[@johnphillips592]

Thanks John , glad you enjoyed it .

[@warrengress5932]

Amazing! I didn’t recognize you until the end.

[@1044fan]

A great video! I want come back to Australia!

[@imonsanfui4469]

Tnuob