Stanley Steamer in Backwater

Stanley Steam Cars were popular in Australia.

Stanley Model 735B ca. 1921. by Scoty6776, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Backwater is collection of places dear to family, Surfing beaches, Walks and picnics, Shops and cafes, Friends and relatives, Over many decades.

I’m moving to Backwater later this year but no firm timetable no rigid plans no expectations, Just laid back it’ll happen and she’ll be right, Sipping coffee.

Geographically, Backwater can be imagined as taking in Wyee Point, Southern suburb of City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales on Southern shoreline of Lake Macquarie. Closest train station 10 minute drive.

1874 large steam sawmill built on lake at Wyee Point, Supplied wood sleepers for railways Railway station opened 1887, Workers settled along lake’s shore.

Backwater and the Age of Steam.

Enjoyed writing about Backwater’s railway station, Steam locomotives stopping and passing through during rail fan days, Steam express trains travelled through in 1940’s and 50’s by parents and grandparents.

Whimsical thought, Which car might be used to travel around Backwater? Easy choice Love to have a Stanley Steamer!

Stanley Steamer was very popular steam car, In those days motorists were impressed by their quiet running power and acceleration.

Drivers weren’t thrilled having to wait at least 20–30 minutes while boiler built up sufficient head of steam to get car moving.

Mind boggled, Sipping coffee, Imagining coming home to Backwater, Train late and then waiting for boiler and being really late for dinner!

I just find notion of driving steam car romantic and exciting.

Powerhouse Collection - Stanley Steamer model 740B 20 hp steam car

Automobile, full-size, steam car, 'Stanley Steamer', Model 740B, 20 hp, chassis No. 22367 made by Stanley Motor…

collection.powerhouse.com.au

Under the Stanley’s Hood.

Steam generator of Stanley Steam Car (built 1919), seen at Concours d’Élégance in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg. Picture taken 26 August 2017 by Palauenc05 — Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61960333.

6hp Stanley steam car engine. Picture By Daderot — Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6559960

Boiler under hood, two double acting cylinders side by side with slide valves, Simple expansion type common on steam locomotives.

Motor powered direct to crankshaft, Which linked to rear mounted differential via heavy chain.

No transmission no clutch and no driveshaft, Stanley steamer had fully sprung tubular steel frame.

History Outline

Steam-power popular with early buyers, Steam was safe reliable and familiar, People had decades experience with trains and boats.

However steam cars required constant care and attention, Fiddling around waiting to start.

Stanley brothers didn’t advertise, Petrol car makers advertised, Steam cars expensive, Petrol engines improved and prices decreased, Finally with electric starter motor steam became obsolete.

Stanley Motor Carriage Company operated from 1902 to 1924, So many “what could have beens” and “if only” thoughts.

Blessed be.

Summarize