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steaminon
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 2218
Location: bozeman, montana
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 Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject: EMPIRE B31 |
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I received this engine in the mail yesterday. I purchased it on Epay. I had not intended to buy it but with 5 minutes left on the auction, nobody had placed a $99.00 bid. It was poorly photographed and, generally speaking, just poorly listed. It was in very unattractive condition but I thought I take a gamble. I immediately tested the heater and it was fine. Next I disassembled the engine and stripped what was left of the paint with a chemical paint stripper. I then sand blasted the cast parts and then cleaned them up. Primer and paint were applied last evening. After the painting was done I sat down in front of the idiot tube and started polishing all of the plated parts. I could not believe the condition of the nickel plating on this boiler. I have restored probably 15 of these b31 engines and this is the second best I have run into. Talk about a little luck. The paint was plenty hard by this morning so it was time to assemble. After assembling the engine I filled it, oiled it and gave it a test run. It ran horribly spitting water like crazy out the exhaust. I have run into this before on these engines so I cleaned and rinsed the boiler several times. It now runs perfectly.
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IndianaRog
Honorary Life Member
Joined: 26 Dec 2006
Posts: 16469
Location: Indiana, USA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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Looks factory new...you got a great deal and lucked on one with all the bits and nicely done plating.
Superb!
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Rog
Visit IndianaRog and The Temple of Steam: www.indianarog.com |
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Dean W
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 6271
Location: N. Idaho, USA
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steaminon
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 2218
Location: bozeman, montana
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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| IndianaRog wrote: | Looks factory new...you got a great deal and lucked on one with all the bits and nicely done plating.
Superb! |
Thanks Roger, Getting one of these with good plating anymore is a tough find. I'm really glad the seller didn't clean this one for the photos.
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steaminon
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 2218
Location: bozeman, montana
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Dean W wrote: | | I know you're into Empires, and you sure made it look nice, Alan. What a cracking engine! |
I am not really into them so much as I like restoring these 31's and passing them on to someone else. When did you start saying "cracking"? The forum has gotten hold of you Dean. What's your next project going to be?
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Freespawn
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 25 May 2010
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Location: Eastleigh nr southampton
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magpie38
Steam Supreme Being
Joined: 11 Nov 2009
Posts: 11991
Location: Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, North East England
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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| very nice indeed |
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Dean W
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 6271
Location: N. Idaho, USA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| steaminon wrote: | | Dean W wrote: | | I know you're into Empires, and you sure made it look nice, Alan. What a cracking engine! |
When did you start saying "cracking"? The forum has gotten hold of you Dean.
What's your next project going to be? |
It just seems like a smashin' word, buddy. Someday, if I get to visit England, I want to be able to speak their language. 
I've been building stuff for other folks the past months. You may have seen some of them here.
I have a run of half a dozen engines in the works right now. You'll see them in a few weeks.
Next year, I'm building some things for myself. Need a few new toys for the shelf.
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Filled with a vacuum...
Dean Williams
http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/projects.html
The best things in life... aren't things.
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MrDuck
Steam God!
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
Posts: 20608
Location: Sweden, Uppsala
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:25 am Post subject: |
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It needs to be steamed in front of a video camera -soon! 
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angus
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 13 Feb 2011
Posts: 3112
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| Looks really splendid indeed |
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Roly Williams
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Joined: 02 Aug 2006
Posts: 12161
Location: Lambourn, Berks.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| steaminon wrote: | ... I like restoring these 31's and passing them on to someone else.
... |
I'd be interested if you're selling this one (or another in restorable condition with an intact heater).
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Roly Williams
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." (Mahatma Gandhi) |
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benchmark
Steam Supreme Being
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 10426
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:51 am Post subject: |
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I hope to own one of such engines one day.
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steaminon
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 2218
Location: bozeman, montana
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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| MrDuck wrote: | | It needs to be steamed in front of a video camera -soon! |
I plan on making a vid today and getting it posted.
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Stitch1615
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 08 Apr 2011
Posts: 4127
Location: Dunedin, FL
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Having done a number of Empires, I'd say that is supburb.
Beautiful job.
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Hot Tip: Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day.
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Celsius 100
Steam Supreme Being
Joined: 31 Aug 2009
Posts: 8618
Location: Buckinghamshire, England
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| A first class result. |
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)
