The Gauge One Model Railway Association

G1MRA Schweiz

Track equipment/provisions:

• Containers of spirits and water must be clearly marked (tip: add purple or red food colouring to spirits).
• Ensure that fire extinguishing equipment is always at hand (water spray, CO₂ extinguisher).
• Always fit a safety edge to baseboard tracks to prevent locomotives or rolling stock from toppling off.
• When running locomotives fired by gas, spirits or coal in enclosed areas, always provide adequate ventilation and air extraction facilities.

Running:

• The organiser of the event will ensure that maximum priority is accorded to SAFETY.
• Each steam locomotive operator is responsible for the safe handling of his/her locomotive.
• The organiser of the event will provide a list of operating regulations.
• Guest steamers must be fully briefed.
• Track use and operation must be supervised by a person with the appropriate experience (track steward).
• The track steward will maintain a list of persons (clipboard) wishing to run their locomotives and will also allocate running times.

Visitors (guest steamers):

• Always comply with any instructions issued by your host (or the track steward).
• Adhere to the allotted running times be ready in plenty of time.
• Always run your locomotive with due care and caution.
• Always ensure that the locomotive is under control at all time.
• Ask for help if in doubt.
• While generating steam prior to running, check that the safety valve(s) operating correctly and that the adjuster is seating correctly.

Spectators/guests:

• Spectators are welcome. However, they must ensure that they maintain an appropriate distance not only from people running their locomotives and rolling stock on the track but also from the trains themselves.

Beginners/tyros:

• Pay careful attention to the manufacturer's instructions.
• A first-ever steam-up as well as initial runs must always be carried out under the guidance of an experienced model steam locomotive owner (“mentor system)”.
• Danger! Spilt spirits will burn with an almost invisible flame.
• When extinguishing burning spirit fires: use a water spray (spray bottle), wet cloths or a CO₂ extinguisher.
• Never attempt to refill a locomotive gas tank while the burner is still lit.
• Never attempt to refill a locomotive gas tank while a locomotive is passing on an adjacent track.
• Never add, pump or otherwise introduce water to or into an overheated boiler.
• A locomotive under steam requires your attention 100% of the time.
• While generating steam prior to running, check that the safety valve(s) operating correctly and that the adjuster is seating correctly.
  

A. Hydraulic test

1.  Commercially manufactured boilers and tanks are initially tested by the manufacturer. He is liable for the latter within the framework of product liability.

2.  The integrity of boilers built by the owner or by the builder of the locomotive must be tested by a third person experienced in boiler construction. Boiler pressure tests are carried out using cold water at twice the operating pressure. All boiler fittings except for the pressure gauge and the safety valves are fitted to the boiler during this pressure test.

3.  This test procedure also applies to LPG tanks.
Required test pressure for gas tanks is 20 bar (propane, butane mix, max. 35% propane content). When gas tanks warm up to over 50°C either due to exposure to the sun or due to being surrounded by hot water, their internal pressure can rise to more than 10 bar.

B. Testing the loco under steam

Locomotives must be tested under steam before any track running is envisaged. This test also checks the correct operation of the safety valves. Additional checks are carried out to ensure that a) all fuel lines do not leak, b) that combustion is correct and c) that the locomotive can be safely operated under normal operating conditions.

C. Issue of a certificate by G1MRA-CH

The entire documentation relating to the successful test of a boiler and/or gas tank must be submitted to G1MRA-CH's coordinator. This does not apply to commercially manufactured boilers and tanks.

D. Validity of the certificate

The test must be repeated every 4 years (gas tanks every 10 years) at 1.5 X working pressure and at 2 X working pressure whenever any repairs or changes of any kind have been made - especially after soldering work has been carried out on boilers or tanks. A full documentation must be submitted to G1MRA-CH’s coordinator and all relevant details entered on the certificate. This does not refer to the replacement of water-gauge glasses.