Sentinel Steam Waggon

The Sentinel S4 Steam Waggon at the Sandstone Heritage Trust.

[thebigoof]

"Operating this machine can only be called; a labour of Love."

Or in today's terms; a pain in the ass.

[-Eckhart]

I have the greatest of respect for the people who keep these running. Another problem not mentioned is the quality of the available coal - poor quality means a lot more work and possible underperformance.

[radekkohoutek]

In Czechoslovakia, the Skoda factory manufactured them under license. It produced about 200 pieces. Between 1924 and 1935.

I can remember actually seeing a Sentinel steam lorry in use. It was delivering coal in Stoneywood, Aberdeenshire at the time. I was at school so it would be about 1950 or thereabouts. A great machine and a grea plume of smoke....

[Martin_Adams]

Thank you for a very clear explanation of the way in which a Sentinel steam engine works. I know about steam locomotive working, but this is significantly different.
I'm old enough (70) to remember steam lorries on the road — both in Littlehampton (Sussex) and in Cardiff. One I especially remember from Cardiff had something to do with road servicing machinery — the company (or was it the local authority? Cardiff Corporation?) had a steam powered road roller and a steam lorry; and I remember seeing them several times on the road between Cardiff city centre and St Mellons (old A48). You could smell them long before you could see them. Lovely!

[angiefav]

Wow l enjoyed it so much l watched it again it’s people like you who keep and preserve these fine machines a touch of a by gone era that l love cheers

[BraveHendrikAS]

Excellent explanation of the working of the machine!

[Chr.U.Cas]

Simply fantastic! A very wonderful truck. Thank you so much for saving restoring showing taping editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards.

[markdodds]

what a beautiful machine. Those men who operated these trucks certainly earned their pay.

[godfreyberry]

What an absolutely wonderful presentation, superb, thank you.

[nlo]

I love the old sentimental steam lorries, they bring back happy memories! ;-)

[pritpalsingh]

Hi, the early pioneers of this technology were really genius. Learning about these steam lorries is must for a engineer. By inventing these technologies made Britain an industrial powerhouse of yesteryears.

[samuelbhagothiparsad]

I am soooo glad to know that there are working/operational steam engines right here in S, A.
Prior to now id been watching fred dibnar videos.

[russetwolf]

Them still building these steam wagons in the 30s might be surprising until you remember that: These were for industrial use not civilian, so the issues of it being hard to run are less important when you're already hiring two guys to run one anyway. Labor was cheap and time could be taken, especially when petrol and diesel trucks weren't that much better or cheaper.

Plus the thing doesn't require a very refined fuel source, and can run on most anything that will fit in the firebox and burn.

It's likely similar in concept to Turbine locomotives, which could burn stuff like Bunker C residual fuel oils. Those are oils that aren't very useful in anything but steam engines and the like, but turbines can burn it more efficiently and with much higher horsepower to weight. So running a train with an industrial turbine, even though it was a bit of a maintenance hog and guzzled fuel, made sense because the fuel it used was cheaper.

So this steam truck is exchanging labor for fuel economy. The moment that ratio becomes unfavorable, though, these trucks become totally obsolete.

[petercooper]

The 'Standard' was one of the earliest wagons that Sentinel manufactured pre dating the 'Super' The 'S' in the case of the Sandstone wagon stands for shaft drive.

[pbreedu]

I think driving to Johannesburg would still be a big adventure today. Not just "in those days".

[DavidBarnkow]

You Sir, are an absolute wizard! Thanks for the show.

[beytibilgec]

Very interesting vehicle 🚗👍great video.

[Pamudder]

Thank you for the video, and for the hard work keeping these marvelous dinosaurs on the road.

[michigandon]

I'm buying a Sentinel as soon as i win the Powerball tonight. Love these things!