Date: 2025-01-06 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00027729
HISTORY
STEAM ROAD ROLLER
Genius at Work: How to fire up a Steam Roller
With @dampfdreschen
STEAM ROAD ROLLER
Genius at Work: How to fire up a Steam Roller
With @dampfdreschen
Original article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgzAwhk8Ig4
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
When I was about 10 years old ... in 1950 ... or maybe even younger, a street very near our house was being resurfaced by some road repair contractors. After school I watch what was going on, trying to see everything but not getting in the way!
I did this for a good number of days after school ... and even into the weekend Saturday workday!
Eventually, the driver of the steam road-roller invited me to ride along with him on 'footplate'. Better yet, I got to 'steer' the machine!
I remember being shocked at how many turns of the steering wheel were required to move the direction of the front stearing roller ewven a little bit!
I got to do this for several days after school ... I don't know how many days, but maybe a couple of weeks. The 'steam-roller' was an essential part of road construction and repair in the UK for about 20 years after the end of WWII. It was eventually replaced by diesel power ... much more efficient, but far less interesting!
This video is from Switzerland, not the UK ... but the steam roller looks much the same as I remember!
Peter Burgess
Genius at Work
Apr 28, 2024
14.5K subscribers ... 7,764 views ... 237 likes
DAMPFDRESCHEN
Driving a Steam Roller, that was built in 1929 by Internationale Baumaschinen-Aktiengesellschaft (IBAG) in Neustadt/Weinstraße, Germany. Today, it is the last surviving Steam Roller built by IBAG.
The Steam Roller is owned by Martin Hofbauer, check out his YouTube Channel @dampfdreschen and his Website https://dampfdreschen.de/
- 00:00 Chapters
- 01:33 Boiler Water
- 02:50 Firing up the Boiler
- 04:54 Lubrication
- 06:25 Steam Engine starting
- 08:50 Feed Water Pump
- 11:55 Throttle and Reverser
- 13:57 Steering and braking
- 16:00 Gears and Wheels
- 17:34 Pumping Feed Water
- 19:43 Driving around
- 21:12 Cleaning