I’m looking for a book that deals with steam engine design. It should be a book used prior to 1950 at universities etc. teaching steam engine engineering.
I do not expect to find a new book but may be a used book or some kind of a reprint. It should be really technical. No color pictures of beautiful engines but pure facts how for example a feed water pump is designed or why the boiler may be conical (e.g. USRA Mikado) or straight like a tube.
Frequently referred to as "THE book on what steam locomotives SHOULD be, "La Locomotive a Vapeur, Andre Chapelon, Paris 1938, second edition 1952. Not for the technically or mathematically challenged!
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Sorry, I did not express me right.
It should/must be a book used in the USA dealing with the US specific steam locomotive design. I have very good books used here in Germany over the 110 years but they explain the specific German engines.
I would like to learn how US designers approached and solved the same problems or specific US problems (e.g. longer distances).There are certainly differences if you look at US and German locomotives.
That book is about what I’m looking for but it is a little bit too old. I would like to have the USRA engines covered too. Ideal would be about 1940. That should cover everything in US steam engine design.
ps. Yes, I noticed the price but book like that are around the world expensive:-(
pps. I got pointed to http://signalcom.stores.yahoo.net/viramaoncd.html. First order is under way:-)
You might try Simmons Boardman at : www.transalert.com
Dave H.
Although it is not their primary purpose, the various Locomotive Cyclopedias have some text discussing steam locomotive design and “modern” appliances. The 1930 Locomotive Cyclopedia is fairly frequently seen at swap meets, sometimes in reprinted editions. Kalmbach reprinted the 1941 edition many years ago but it too is seen at swap meets, usually a bit cheaper than an original.
This outfit offers a CD of the 1922 edition:
http://www.softrail.com/19locyofampr.html
Dave Nelson
Thank you
I bought http://www.transalert.com/cgi-bin/details.cgi?inv=BKMAL&cat=19
I have enjoyed very much the book “The Steam Locomotive in America, Its Development in the Twentieth Century” by Alfred W. Bruce.
Ed
If you want to get into the specifics of steam locomotive design, I recommend The Steam Locomotive, by Ralph Johnson. It’s available as a reprint from Simmons Boardman (about $70?) and also at used book vendors on the internet (prices very high for original editions).
My thanks to all of you. You have been very helpfull.
I have several books you suggested on order in USA. It will take some weeks until they arrive here in Germany
Thank you!.
Although it’s not quite what your looking for, you may consider a CD from forum member Max Magliaro. It is a set of books from the International Correspondence School on the theory, design, and operation of steam locomotives. They were used to train locomotive engineers and fireman.
He offered it over on the Atlas forum: http://forum.atlasrr.com/discussion/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40534
For a moderate price, it’s quite good.
garya is right about the ICS books. I don’t know yet what titles Max has to offer, but, they are more than worth the money!!!