Original Nyitra Records

Found a Hungarian Boat Registry that confirms some details about the original
Nyitra and gives me some new information!

This is an important confirmation that Nyitra was registered by my great Grandfather Emil Fricke: "1913-NYITRA, Fricke Emil, Győrsövényháza, HU" with the correct home listed for Emil as Győrsövényháza.

Built: 190? [AJ Note: I think Nyitra was built then or perhaps in the 1890's]
Length between perpendiculars: 8.50 m
Beam: 2.00 m
Depth: 1.10 m
Draft: 0.78 m

It is listed a screw (propeller) propelled steam tug. It's not clear if Nyitra was also a classification/style of screw steam tug because it's listed like this "Classification: NYITRA/ class screw propelled steam tugs" which links to another section that has no more information.

From HajoRegiszter: http://www.hajoregiszter.hu/hajoadatlap/nyitra/3184

-AKJ

Following the Rábca and Rába Rivers to the original Nyitra & Emil

I went to Europe for a two week trip and went to Györ Hungary where I was able to find exactly where the picture of the original Nyitra was taken. The Spartacus boathouse on the Rába River near the center of the city still exists. Part of why the building remains is that it an unusual architecture for Hungary, it is a German style of timber frame building.

I made a cross-fade video from the 100+ year old picture to the present day, 2016.

Please wait till the end of the video!

I also visited my Great Grandfather Emil Fricke's grave (who we believe owned Nyitra) and paid my respects to him in Györsövényhaz.

Both the Rábca and Rába rivers, which flow together and then into the Danube, were quite beautiful.

Would be fun to take my Nyitra there, but it's way too far away to practically achieve in any forseeable way.

Rábca river in Györsövényhaz:

Rába river in Györ:

-AKJ

For the gear heads...

Successful launch of my steamboat Nyitra! Or Steam Launch (SL) Nyitra to be proper:

 

Update 8/28/2016:

The Engine used in SL Nyitra, a "Toledo" sir of course. 114 years old! A 1902 Toledo Steam Carriage Engine. Twin 3" bore  by 4" stroke, rated at 6HP with 10 times the torque of an equivalent diesel engine of the same horsepower.
I'm definitely a Toledo fan boy - can you tell by my shirt? :

For the gear heads, Nyitra's Drive Train:

Success!!

Limited Drive Test Complete

Nyitra went for a right on the trailer around the block 2 times. Istvan(Steve, 2nd in command of Nyitra) towing Nyitra and her trailer with his truck.

Unfortunately adding a stronger jack to the trailer I drilled through some wiring and the trailer lights are out of order. :( Istvan has towing lights.

It's pure steamboat: hull+boiler+engine.


Launch is still ago for tomorrow(Monday)!

-AKJ

The word is given

The word has been given to Nyitra's second in command that Nyitra will launch Monday Sep 19th at [Undisclosed Lake] for a Powered Test under steam!!!!!

Steering and Propulsion is complete and ready for test.

I added the Jackshaft in today - vertical silver bar on bottom of image below. It's a 1" stainless steel shaft that converts the chain&sprocket from the Toledo steam engine to the cog belt(timing belt) below Deck to the propeller shaft. 

"As promised she's all yours sir! All systems fully automated. A chimpanzee and two trainees could run her." - Scotty

This is most likely the first time in aprox. 100 years that this 1902 Toledo Steam Engine moved a vehicle. It moved a steam car for a while, I don't know the full history but she sat in a heated room for 40 years sort of in statis.

-AKJ

Regarding 'Steampunk'

"Steampunks", show me your boiler and we can talk.

Otherwise just realize you know nothing about steam and are indeed just a punk. :)

I enjoy the genre, but please understand that an asthetic for a future that did not occur is not what Live Steam is about!

Until you've fired a wood or coal steam boiler and run a steam engine you just won't get it. Running a steam engine on compressed air is just for testing purposes and is really unrelated to operating steam equipment.

That being said don't operate steam equipment unless properly trained. Steam is very powerful and still runs most of the electricity in the world utilizing steam turbines. It can be operated quite safely, but the history of steam is written in blood and is not a toy.

-AKJ