A totally dumb question about steam....

Trains.com General Discussion (Trains.com)
1

Why do stean locos “Puff” from the smoke stack when they operate?

I don’t know why in the world the fire smoke puffs every time a piston reaches the end of its stroke. Does the steam vent into the fire box somehow?

Call me stupid, I can’t figure this one out.

Thanks.

2

The spent steam from the piston exhausts into the smokebox to help with the draft. It also explains why simple steam locomotives have a sharper exhaust than compounds.

3

If you would like to do some reading about it, try this-

http://www.nymr.demon.co.uk/works/works.htm

4

Dale

Thanks for the link to the North Yorshire Moors Railway – one which inexplicably is not on the

http://www.tadlane.com/rrlinks.htm#toc TrainNet listing.

5

Michael,

You’re welcome, and thanks for posting that link.

6

British Mike:

You can remedy that deficiency by going to the TrainNet website and giving them the URL.

-Ed

7

D.Beachel:

There’s almost no such thing as a totally dumb question about anything.

If you don’t know the answer, it’s a valid question.

-Ed

8

Ed,

Perhaps you could try it – all I get is some recruitment rigamarole for their Email carrier.

Thanks

9

British Mike:

Okay, I’ll try and see what happens.

( I used to be a member of the TrainNet staff, ages ago… )

-Ed

10

Thanks for the answer and the link…That explains it…

11

The only dumb questions on this forum is when they ask a question … then state they already made up their mind before answered ! Seen a few of those here .