I WANT TO KNOW HOW THE VARIOUS PARTS OF A STEAM LOCO WORK I’M TALKING ABOUT THE GENERATOR, BRAKES, THE HEATER AND COOLING , REVERSE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HANG ON THE SIDES OF A STEAM LOCO ARE THERE ANY BOOKS ? WHERE CAN I LOOK ON INTERNET?
On the internet try googling “how does a steam locomotive work?”.
One link you’ll find that way is http://www.steamlocomotive.com/. There are many more listed by google that will help you.
A good book to start with is Linn Wescott’s “Cyclopedia Vol. 1, Steam Locomotives” by Kalmbach. You may find it at your hobby store or a library or you can buy from MR/Kalmbach or perhaps on E-Bay.
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Also try the 1942 Locomotive cyclopedia. Kalmbach sold reprints several years ago so they are out there. I was given an original and the parts are in the thousands. nearly every company that made something has an advertisement stating the features and benefits. It would take several months of reading to be knowledgeable about everything.
Generator, steam turbine
Brakes, steam driven air compressor, the rest of the system much like today’s brakes (see other thread on the brakes) prominent parts are pump(s) and air tanks
Heater, simple steam radiator but usually found on Canadian locos
Cooling, open the windows and doors
Reverse, manual and power assisted (usually air) either a bar and lever or a screw
Most of the other items are “options” like feedwater heaters, lubricators
I find www.howstuffworks.com an excellent source for these types of questions.
Lubricators on steam locos are not “options”, they are a necessity, just like putting oil in your automobile …
All the best,
Mark.
Mechanical Lubricators were an option. They simply replaced the Fireman going around with the oil can at each stop.
Check out this website for diagrams and explanations as to how steam locos work:
http://home.new.rr.com/trumpetb/loco/index.html
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No, they didn’t. Mechanical lubricators largely replaced hydrostatic lubricators.
Lubricators of either type were not an option. The fireman can’t go round with an oil can while running and feed oil into the valve chests and cylinders. That’s the main purpose of the lubricator. Grease lubrication of rods and motion is what replaced the fireman going around with the oil can at each stop.
All the best,
Mark.
It depends on the time you are referring to but sometime between the Tom Thumb, Good Freind of Charleston, John Bull era and old 999 lubricators came about. McCoy was supposed to have it’s reputation for it’s superior design.
Elijah McCoy was an African-American inventor who successfully designed an automatic oil cup that may have inspired the popular phrase, “the real McCoy.”
Lubricators, and in particular cylinder lubricators I have been referring to, came about before steam locomotives. The earliest stationary engines had them. You and the other poster seem to be confusing the lubrication of cylinders and valve chests with rods, motion and bearings.
No they are not. You stillhad oil cups on the chest and the firemans job was to go out on the walways while moving and pour warmed tallow into them. Done at stops as mentioned or while moving.
I run a 1912 Heisler with no mechanical or hydrostatic lubricator. You get on the ground and oil around.Modern mainline steam however ran the lubricators your speaking of. But old school stuff that was turn of the century ( before and after Mr McCoy even) had the old tallow pots and firemen that would go out while in motion and pour it in.