Since we're on the subject of valve gears.

Here is website to enable you to see animated versions of different types of steam engine valve gear on your computer and be able to control them too.

Although, I posted this on trainorders.com, I thought I'd post it here too, for those who haven't been to that site..

http://www.tcsn.net/charlied/

The Windows programs are in twelve files, VALGR10.ZIP ,VALGR10A.ZIP to
VALGR10K.ZIP. The total programs expand to about 34 MB. To use, create a folder on your hard drive and download the ZIP files into the folder. From inside the folder use an UNZIP program to unzip the files. To start the program use VGSTART.EXE. Or make a short cut to VGSTART.EXE and place the short cut on the desk top.

Once you click on VGSTART.EXE, you will see a "Valve Gear Selection Menu" After selecting the one you want, refer to the "Valve Gear Controls" listed below, which are a few hints I came up with to help with the basics of running the valve gear.


Valve Gear Controls
Each valve gear has an "Instruction Special" file that may contain the history for that valve gear and/or special instructions, which are for more advanced users.
To view that file, go to the "Help" menu and then "Instruction Special"

There is a button that can be used for turning on and off the steam display and exhaust sounds. The button is in the middle of the window on top and looks like a smoke stack emitting light blue exhaust.

You can also control the speed of rotation and the percent of steam cutoff (forward and reverse), by using the scroll bars on the right side. To manually control the drive wheel, click on "stop" next to the middle scroll bar and scroll back and forth. To resume, click on "run".

To zoom in or out on a certain area, use the scroll bars on the left side or use the "pan and zoom presets" to the left of the scroll bars.