Educator Steam Buggy

Hi, Owen Bennett in New Zealand. Having built two 7 1/4inch locomotives for local club use, I have moved sideways and built an “Educator” style buggy as built by Richard Smith in 1967, with tiller steering, clad with plywood over a 1inch box steel frame. Running on an electric mobility scooter motor, I am hoping to run on steam. To that end I have built a two-cylinder double acting steam engine with Stephenson’s Link valve gear, 2inch bore, 3inch stroke. As I don’t weld it is fully fabricated, loosely based on the Stanley Steamer engine. A steam generator will be required and I would like to use the Richard Smith design as he used for the Educator. I would like to run on propane and will need help with control valves, etc. I joined SACA about a year ago but had no luck trying to communicate, better luck this time I hope. Will attach photos as soon as I can find a way to reduce their size. Cheers, Owen.

Hi Owen,
Please review the SACA website and the on-line store for documents on the educator design and the Richard Smith mono-tube designs. I haven't seen any boilers like the educator in actual function or performance. At least not since the original. I have seen an excellent Smith mono-tube as performed on Jerry Oliver's steam motorcycle. If you are a mono-tube guy, I recommend the Richard Smith's bike mono-tube design.

The store room link: SACA store room

I'm pretty sure Jerry monitors this forum and if interested in contacting Jerry, I can set up the contact info after vetting it through Jerry. Jerry and I talk on the phone like once a week.

Love that you are building a steam buggy. It will be a great learning experience. I love your steam engine. Does it run nicely on air?

Kind regards,
Rick

Further to my last post . . . see attached photos

Hi Folks,

In the name of simplicity, I merged the two topics since they cover the same project.

Ken

Gosh that's a beautiful engine, and a really nice buggy! Best of 2023 to you!

Having been there and done that, I would recommend using the control system in the Educator buggy drawings. I frequently filled the tanks, lit off the burner and drove the Educator until the sun went down or the water ran out (non-condensing), and never had to touch anything.

I have absolutely no idea why no one has ever simply built a duplicate. Propane is fine so long as you do not leave any place for escaped propane vapor to accumulate including the garage or shed.

Keep us posted!!

Karl Petersen

All files from this thread

File Name	File Size		Posted by	Date
StanleyEngineSmall.jpg	135 KB	open | download	owenb	01/03/2023	Read message
StanleySmall.jpg	76 KB	open | download	owenb	01/03/2023	Read message