Another new book

This weeks purchase was the 'Spirit of steam' by Roy Sinclair on trademe. While the text is a bit hokey at times ( Its a collection of steal shapes guys, get over it. Then again, all we are is a random assortment of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur with a few trace metals thrown in).

What it is good for is the detail shots of the locos (mostly K and J class) and also some of the smaller details that often are not noticed.


On the picture above note the bent rails protecting the water standpipe, obviously put there through long experience. Ditto the collection of pipework on a Ka boiler that needs to be modeled so as not to offend the purists. Also note that the Ka had a cross compound pump in place of the 2 Westinghouse pumps up the front. (I know that 957 and 962 were so treated, and had large air cylinders at the front in the pumps place. hows that for geeky?)
(Also note how easy it is to spot pictures of the Paikakariki loco depot, just due to the slope of the hillside behind it.)