wct 230726

The poppet head will not work without an engine to hoist the cages up from the underground. The previous purchased steam roller has now been modified. The back with the coal bunker has been cut off and the rest mounted on a ‘concrete’ base. The fly wheels are from the front rollers. A safety valve and a whistle have been mounted on the top. The coal bunker has been replaced by a stack of firewood made from eucalyptus twigs.

Images of old gold mines all show fully enclosed buildings housing the steam boiler. I don’t want the engine hidden from view, so the ‘poor’ fireman will only be protected from the elements by a tin roof.