How a Steam Engine works - with the Mamod Minor

Hello everyone,
Have you ever wondered how a steam engine actually work? Today Lawrie is talking over the basics, with a steam engine that's as basic as they come.
The Mamod Minor1 .
A video shot, featuring, and edited by Lawrie
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[@Hyce777]

Only houses have chimneys... Locomotives have stacks. :P Only teasing! Great overview mate, seriously. Explained very well to the general audience.

[@Jordan4Ibanez]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we want to see every step of it getting progressively more complicated. So my idea with this would be: this is a PERFECT opportunity to make a Playlist. So this one could be labeled something along the lines of "Part 1 - The Basics - Components And Design". So you know quite a lot more than me about this so you would know what part 2 would be, so an example of that would be "Part 2 - Adding Controls - Regulators" or whatever you think the next step in getting to the more complex engines would be. Continue on until you feel like you've reached the peak. If you put these into a Playlist in order, people can watch all the videos in a row in one sitting. Perhaps multiple times. Then they will have a COMPLETE understanding of every aspect of a steam engine. This is from a programmer's perspective, this is how I learned how to program. So who knows, maybe we'll see some new designs come out if you do it like this :)

[@DavidWilliams-rn6uq]

When I was a kid, my father brought home a steam roller model, called “Old Smokey”. I used to love watching it! It had a slightly more complex steam engine and boiler, with all the running gear of a steam traction engine. It used the solid pellets for the burner, not sure what they are made of. It’s on my shelf now, I really should take it down and check it all out for safe and proper operation, and run it again!

[@jarridcockey3810]

You must have a wilesco brand

[@webtoedman]

Hexamine.

[@Musicalmane]

You can get solid fuel tablets in most stores with camping supplies but they need to be cut down to fit in the burner

[@w1swh1]

My story is very similar😀😀

[@eggs_trains]

Now il show people this every time I get asked how steam engines work 😂 you explained it perfectly

[@jpsholland]

Maybe you want to make a video on the more sophisticated engine designs like the Franco Crosti locomotives. You are very good in explaining thing in a relaxed and understandable way.

[@Paddyandpoppy]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video, watched it with my 7 year old son and we both found it interesting. Your delivery was great. Thank you.

[@lmm]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@w1swh1]

Fascinating! Good video.The invention of the steam engine really started (good or bad) the industrial revolution. The rest is history. We no longer relied on low and/or erratic water and wind power. All we needed is some water, fuel and a steam engine. Location was largely irrelevant!

[@Modelsteam-jw4wk]

You should make a video series of going over all of your little engines you have explaining them and running them

[@janhanchenmichelsen2627]

Nice. Many years ago I bought an old Mamod kit, semi-complete with various miniature workshop tools. I soldered some broken fittings and pipes, found drive belts online, mounted the whole kit on a plate and had some fun with my then eight year old son, who enthusiastically participated during the whole process. Eleven years later, he’s now training to become a qualified automation technician. The steam engine was not a main reason, but I think this, and us building a layout for my old Märklin train set kind of pushed him on the way to a well paid, very interesting profession. Do not underestimate the power of old school toys!

[@IndyD89]

Excellent and informative video, really enjoyed it. Would certainly be interested in seeing something similar on the big stuff too.

[@bentullett6068]

Great informative video. The history and mechanics of the steam engine are always interesting and we have the steam engine to thank for the birth of the internal combustion engine.

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

A jolly nice little film, That has inspired me to dig out my old Mamod Steam car and Bowman stationary engine and get them running.

[@tmdrm9817]

It really is a beautiful model, I got one for Christmas and it is really a fabulous item.

[@SandPVRR]

Sending this on to a group of children whom I sure will have a great many more questions! Thanks!

[@TheGreatMoonFrog]

Amazing stuff. So simple but so revolutionary. Thanks for making this so easy to understand. I have a dream of a self turning fire burning coffee roaster.

[@eze8970]

TY Lawrie! 🙏🙏

[@petewilliams4289]

Fantastic explaination, especially the single stroke and small exhaust hole, thank you. Also thanks for explaining the 'water level' technique, again, many thanks.

[@superseven7947]

Mamods are Magical, I have many different models but alas not the boat engine which is rare. The history of Mamod and the Malin family that were behind the company is fascinating ❤

[@marshallstates9675]

Awesome presentation

[@SAM-zt2uy]

Excellent description I had one just like it from a car boot years ago and recently been looking at getting another 😅

[@philkelsall1207]

Having had that model in the mid 1960's. I would guess it is the earlier model. I had the long trough style burner taking meths. Later, that model changed to meths tablets. Great fun.

[@fabrizioviscardi40]

Interesting movie! Cheers Fabrizio

[@Jerry-rm9vc]

Wow. I love it. I bet you could use propane to heat the water on the cheap and clean and off you go. Could power just about anything with it if size is proportional to whatever it is youre trying to power. I love older tech to this newer stuff. Simply put, I can understand it, its cheap, easy and it actually works. Nice.

[@matthewhibbs9602]

takes you right back to being a kid again👍

[@graemew7001]

That was a good explanation, some of it didn't go in when you scaled up to full size but it did answer the question of what the pipes are inside a full size boiler for. I'd be up for an explanation on a full size while you're showing one if that would be possible, it would really help thanks.

[@andrewentwistle515]

What a fantastic in sight into how Steam Engines work. It was great to see the differences between all types of boilers and how to use them safely and the locos they power.

[@lmm]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@busrestoration646]

Brilliant engineering, this year are you going to come to sandtoft trolley bus museum

[@johnspear3452]

Great video mate. As a kid I had both the Mamod stationary engine and the showmans engine, 1980s solid fuel versions great toys. Even though I know how these things work, I appreciate that you are educating and 5his was still entertaining enough for an engineer to watch to the end. Well done.

[@lmm]

Oh thank you!

[@RichsRidesandRestorations]

Great video. I suspect that the o-ring seal on your safety valve may have gone as it shouldn’t be leaking from the base of the valve but from the cap at the top.

[@lmm]

Yeah, they're old so could do with replacement

[@oldmandoingstuff8997]

Mate, tks for Info, about a old Tech,,I'm at bit late at 65yo to steam. I'm a Rc airplane Guy, glow rc engines. Just retired in Alabama USA. Tks

[@jarridcockey3810]

I just got me one of these little stationary engines I think mine is a older wilesco d5 from Germany I've only ran it once or twice for testing purposes now the only thing I got to get is fuel tablets thanks Lawrie for that water tip I'm gonna use it on mine since it does have no water gauge on it

[@jeanlucfaille7495]

merci, très intéressant

[@uncled39]

Lovely little engine

[@jalleman61]

Nice review of the junior series.I have so.e older ones but not this one.My favorite is what the English call nuts and bolts engine as I've just got my second one.Nothing special other than these are not pinned.😊

[@Peppercorn60163Tornado]

I’ve got one of those, but in the form of the TE1A, lovely thing from the 80s, quite good condition as well considering it has barely ran at all

[@stevenj9414]

Mamod still makes many of their old stationary engines. Not sure if they still make this specific one. Very nice video.

[@lmm]

This one hasn't been made for decades

[@siraff4461]

I still wonder how things may have been different if steam had carried on being evolved. In the usual engines there are obvious limitations to how much pressure and how dry and so on but I feel like a lot of those issues would have been engineered out by now. When you consider so much rubbish is still burned with no recapture of the energy it does seem like there is a lot of energy being wasted which could be doing useful work. As for seeing more - yes I would love to see how the different systems work. There were quite a few over the years and steam turbies are still with us so right the way from the most basic to the most extravagent would be great.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

cool !

[@jeanlucfaille7495]

merci du Quebec, très intéressant

[@carolinecleaveley]

My original te1 has an annual check and run round the close with its trailer.

[@tmaxyb]

I had one of these static steam engines when i was young. Of course i wanted the traction engine but my parents couldn't afford one. I used some mechsno to make it into a traction engine of siets. I think there was a double cylinder model but again i didnt have the money for that.

[@sarahhall738]

My modern Mamod a TE1 I think runs on solid fuel paraffin tablets two does a twenty minute run from cold but add warm water more like 25 to 30 the down side they are a pig to light especially if outside. She works at 10psi safety valve goes off at 15psi and according to instructions on the box in the factory they are pressure tested to 50psi. Mines called Jessie Sarah after a great grandma 😊

[@johnpearcey]

I see you have some tiny Route Masters. What numbers do you have? I have the number 16, Edgware Road, which I used to drive some decades ago!

[@johnlomas7398]

Have you ever had an engine on a base board with some of the accessories like the circular saw etc? Incidently what is with the three RM double deckers on the shelf behind the table you were working on? Are they different makers, different ages/versions or jusr different side ads?

[@lmm]

I got given the buses - they were unboxed on the last live stream! I only have a couple of accessories - I think the punch and the grinder

[@miken3260]

I still have mine that I was given in the 1960’s

[@borderlands6606]

Mamod, Keil Kraft, Tri-ang and chemistry sets taught my generation how the world worked. Then along came the Sinclair ZX80...

[@eliotreader8220]

this engine is British engineering at its best. she's certainly better designed that other engine you reviewed

[@CZ350tuner]

Yoou missed out the most important detail..... always use distilled or demineralised water, unless one doesn't mind a boiler crude up with limescale!!

[@lmm]

Honesty I've never bothered, I just don't run it dry and drain after usage.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

-Go back in time -Give this to Hero of Alexandria -Come forward in time -2023 is Star Trek

[@Zebrails]

Lawrie, what'd ya do to your thumb? John BC, Canada

[@lmm]

Trapped it!

[@M_ADAX]

Your mm1 is from the early 60s as it has a wick burner

[@lmm]

Oh thank you!

[@M_ADAX]

@@lmm no problem! :)

[@Plokman040]

Forget that, I will never call the exhaust on a locomotive a "Stack" they are funnels. Ships have stacks and buildings have chimneys. I am American and I can't call them called Stacks, I can call cowcatchers as Awdry called them pilots, but never will my locos have stacks.

[@JintySteam1]

I've always used 3 in 1 oil. Maybe I shouldn't.... but then I don't know where to get steam oil from.

[@lmm]

3 in 1 is fine for barings. Ebay is where I normally get mine from.

[@rjstandland4459]

Jensen has a more compacted system

[@Arkay315]

At this point, you could start a miniature power plant in your closet.

[@C.I...]

From where do you hail? I've never heard another Englishman say "huv" in the Scottish way before.

[@philnewcomers9170]

i cant get my camey velo to run on e5 muk,so iv obtained a alfa laval cream separator to do the needfull i was telling my friend about this proj what do you with the etonal i said put it in your Mmamod he said with great shock 'how did you know iv got a mamod' reply ' every bodys got a mamod' laughs all round ttfn&ty

[@matthewdixon5534]

So Peter Sam has a special chimney not special funnel…

[@lmm]

Correct. The Giesl is a whole drafting arrangement