Beam engine at work.

Lovely photo of this great piece of craft engine Peter. I used to see a few versions of mini steam beam engines but I presumed this was electric, until I read the comments above. This shot certainly conveys movement and power but sadly without the tell-tale steam clouds lacks that certain nostalgia that you so well portray in your train steam shots. That being said, I still love it. Well done my friend.
Herb

Hi Herb,

Thank you so much for your visit, and well considered words. Of course there are many working models of beam engines which guys have made, just do an internet search for them! I am very pleased that you like this one!
I too had thought about exhaust steam, and poetic licence (ie photoshop!), but one of the key features of James Watt's engine was that the exhaust steam was condensed back to water, and the vacuum so created pulled one side of the piston, while steam pressure pushed the other side. (This was a development from the Newcomen engine which condensed in the cylinder). Hence no great clouds of steam.
It is only in later years when steam locomotives were introduced that the blast pipe and chimney were invented. At this time boiler pressures were higher (along with steam temperatures) and so it was possible to directly exhaust steam to the air. Of course this lacked thermal efficiency, since the sink temperature is higher, but saves a lot of weight of a separate condenser.

But to make a dramatic picture you are right!! Let me think what I can do about this!!

Best Wishes
Peter

PS, a 'Popular science' explanation can be found here. science.howstuffworks.com/steam-technology3.htm

Very interesting Peter.

Many thanks for clarifying the mechanics of these things to me Peter. In truth it was probably the very popular mini steam engines and steam rollers that I saw the most. I remember the very loud hissing and clouds of steam from them and always wished that I too could own such a device. I had not really thought about the condensed exhaust system used with these and so I thank you for the links and enlightening that you have kindly provided. I really should have know about such things as I possess a fine library of technical books all about steam trains.
Regards, Herb