Hi Keith,

that's a very good point and one I'd not considered. Actually I do
usually warm up the cylinders etc by running up and down the steaming
bay track a few times with the regulator just cracked open before
going out onto the main track. I must admit though that I do this to
heat up the 'Peek' piston valves and expand them so that they seal
properly rather than warm the whole loco up.
I think the loco warms up pretty quickly anyway as I have a very high
level of superheat judging by the way that the silicon O rings in the
steam distribution manifold have gone soft and gooey! I reckon the
steam temperature is at least 250° C. Now looking for some
high temperature replacements!

John