American Steam Locomotive in the Twentieth Century

Mining engineer Tom Morrison has written technical histories on mining and aviation. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

“Generously illustrated... Meticulously documented, this work of both love and precision is an essential addition to transportation libraries...highly recommended”—Choice

• Table of ContentsPreface • 1Introduction • 3Part One: Background to Locomotive DevelopmentChapter 1. The American Railroad Industry • 121.1 Political and Economic Environment • 121.1.1 Early Years of the Industry • 121.1.2 Depression and New Expansion • 131.1.3 The New Political Climate • 161.1.4 War and Government Administration • 211.1.5 The 1920s • 221.1.6 The Depression Years • 241.1.7 War and Aftermath • 271.2 Size and Extent of the Railroad and Locomotive Building Industries • 281.2.1 The Railroad Industry • 281.2.2 Locomotive Building • 311.3 Railroad Engineering • 351.3.1 Management Science and the ­Ton-Mile Statistic • 351.3.2 Locomotive and Train Operating Costs • 351.3.3 The Trend to Bigger Equipment • 371.3.4 The Trend to Higher Speeds • 391.3.5 Track and Substructures • 411.3.6 Signaling Systems • 421.3.7 Integrated Improvement Programs • 431.3.8 Maintenance and Availability • 481.3.9 Working Conditions • 521.3.10 Safety • 551.3.11 The Motive Power Dilemma and the End of Steam • 58Part Two: Compounds and Mastodons, 1895–1905Chapter 2. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1895–1905 • 64Chapter 3. Locomotive Engineering, 1895–1905 • 763.1 Fuels, Firing and Fuel Economy • 763.1.1 Coal • 763.1.2 Oil • 763.1.3 Coal Firing • 773.1.4 Mechanical Stokers • 793.1.5 Firing Rates • 803.1.6 Fuel Economy • 803.2 Fireboxes and Combustion • 823.2.1 Fireboxes • 823.2.2 The Vanderbilt Boiler • 863.2.3 ­Water-Tube Boilers • 873.2.4 Grates • 873.2.5 Brick Arches • 883.2.6 Crownsheet Failures and Boiler Explosions • 903.3. Boilers and Steam Generation • 923.3.1 Boilers • 923.3.2 Water Quality • 933.3.3 Steam Generation • 933.3.4 Water Gauge Glasses • 953.3.5 Injectors • 963.3.6 Feed Water Heaters • 963.3.7 Superheating • 973.4 Smokeboxes and Drafting • 993.5 Cylinder Arrangements and Compounding • 1033.5.1 Cylinder Arrangements • 1033.5.2 Compounding • 1043.5.2.1 Early Compound Locomotives • 1053.5.2.2 Compounds in America • 1063.5.2.3 Road Tests, Performance and Service Results • 1093.5.2.4 Reappearance of the Tandem Compound • 1113.5.2.5 The ­Four-Cylinder Balanced Compound • 1113.5.2.6 The Mallet ­Four-Cylinder Articulated Compound • 1133.6 Valves and Valve Gear • 1133.6.1 Valves • 1133.6.1.1 Slide Valves • 1133.6.1.2 Piston Valves • 1163.6.2 Valve Gear • 1173.7 Frames and Running Gear • 1183.7.1 Frames • 1183.7.2 Accommodation to Curvature • 1193.7.3 Suspension • 1203.7.4 Counterbalancing • 1223.7.5 Internal Friction • 1243.7.6 Brakes • 1243.8 Performance Testing and Design • 1243.8.1 Road Tests • 1253.8.2 Static Test Plants • 1273.8.3 Tonnage Rating • 1283.8.4 Design • 130Chapter 4. Locomotive Construction, 1895–1905 • 1334.1 Development of the 4-4-0 • 1334.2 Fast Passenger Locomotives • 1364.2.1 The Last 4-2-2s • 1364.2.2 The Abortive Columbia Wheel Arrangement • 1364.2.3 Pursuit of High Power at High Speed: The First Atlantics • 1374.2.4 Heavy Passenger Power: The First Pacifics • 1444.3 ­Six-Coupled, ­Multi-Purpose Locomotives • 1484.3.1 ­Multi-Purpose ­Ten-Wheelers • 1484.3.2 Mogul Freight Locomotives • 1524.3.3 Further Pursuit of High Power at High Speed: The First Prairies • 1544.4 Heavy Freight Locomotives • 1574.4.1 Consolidations • 1584.4.2 Mastodons • 1684.4.3 The First Mikados • 1704.4.4 Decapods and the First Santa Fes • 1734.5 Switchers, Suburbans, Geared and ­Special-Purpose Locomotives • 1744.5.1 Switchers • 1744.5.2 Suburban Locomotives • 1764.5.3 Geared Locomotives • 1774.5.4 Other Unconventional Locomotives • 182Chapter 5. Traction Other Than Steam, 1895–1905 • 1865.1 Electric Traction • 1865.2 Internal Combustion Traction • 188Part Three: Transformation, 1905–1920Chapter 6. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1905–1920 • 190Chapter 7. Locomotive Engineering, 1905–1920 • 2007.1 Fuels, Firing and Fuel Economy • 2007.1.1 Coal • 2007.1.2 Oil • 2017.1.3 Coal Firing • 2027.1.4 Mechanical Stokers • 2037.1.5 Fuel Economy • 2117.2. Fireboxes and Combustion • 2127.2.1 Combustion • 2127.2.2 Ash Pans • 2147.2.3 Brick Arches • 2147.2.4 Combustion Chambers • 2167.2.5 Thermic Siphons • 2177.2.6 Problems of the Staybolted Firebox • 2187.2.7 The Wood Corrugated Firebox • 2197.2.8 The ­Jacobs-Shupert Firebox • 2197.2.9 ­Water-Tube Fireboxes • 2207.2.10 Boiler Explosions • 2217.3 Boilers and Steam Generation • 2237.3.1 Boiler Pressures • 2237.3.2 Water Circulation • 2237.3.3 Boiler Washing and Water Treatment • 2247.3.4 Superheat • 2267.3.5 Feed Water Heaters • 2327.4 Cylinder Arrangements, Valves and Valve Gear • 2337.4.1 Compounding • 2337.4.2 The End of Compounding in America • 2357.4.3 Valves and Valve Gears • 2377.4.4 Power Reversers • 2407.5 Front Ends • 2427.6 Frames and Running Gear • 2447.6.1 Frames • 2447.6.2 Counterbalancing • 2457.7 Performance and Performance Testing • 2467.7.1 Performance Testing • 2467.7.1.1 Static Test Plants • 2467.7.1.2 Development Work on the Pennsylvania Test Plant • 2467.7.2 Performance Calculations • 2517.7.2.1 Locomotive Performance • 2517.7.2.2 Train Resistance • 252Chapter 8. Locomotive Construction, 1905–1920 • 2548.1 Passenger Locomotives • 2558.1.1 Obsolescent Types: 4-4-0s, 4-6-0s, 2-6-0s and 2-6-2s • 2558.1.2 Heyday of the Atlantics • 2608.1.3 The 4-4-4 • 2638.1.4 Growth of the Pacifics • 2648.1.5 The First Mountains • 2788.2 ­Rigid-Frame Freight Locomotives • 2828.2.1 The Consolidation Becomes Obsolete • 2828.2.2 Reign of the Mikados • 2878.2.3 Decapods • 2958.2.4 Heyday of the Santa Fe • 2968.3 Mallets • 3038.4 Switchers • 335Chapter 9. Traction Other Than Steam, 1905–1920 • 3409.1 Electric Traction • 3409.2 Internal Combustion Traction • 342Part Four: Superpower, 1920–1930Chapter 10. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1920–1930 • 346Chapter 11. Locomotive Engineering, 1920–1930 • 35911.1 Fuels, Firing and Fuel Economy • 35911.1.1 Coal • 35911.1.2 Oil • 35911.1.3 Firebox and Grate Design • 36011.1.4 Power Stokers • 36111.1.5 Fuel Efficiency • 36311.2 Boilers and Steam Generation • 36411.2.1 Steam Generation • 36411.2.2 Pressures in ­Fire-Tube Boilers • 36511.2.3 ­Water-Tube Boilers • 36611.2.4 Feed Water Heaters • 37111.2.5 Exhaust Steam Injectors • 37411.2.6 Boiler Washing and Water Quality • 37411.2.7 Water Gauges • 37511.2.8 Boiler Explosions • 37611.3 Cylinders and Valve Gear • 37811.3.1 ­Three-Cylinder Locomotives • 37811.3.2 Compounding • 38311.3.3 Boosters • 38411.3.4 ­Cut-off Control • 38511.3.4.1 Limited ­Cut-off • 38511.3.4.2 ­Cut-off Instrumentation • 38511.3.4.3 Automatic ­Cut-off Control • 38611.4 Front Ends • 38711.4.1 Improved ­Exhaust-Blast Drafting • 38711.4.2 Fan Drafting • 38911.5 Frames and Running Gear • 38911.5.1 Counterbalancing • 38911.5.2 Frames • 39011.5.3 Trucks • 39111.5.4 Tandem Side Rods • 392Chapter 12. Locomotive Construction, 1920–1930 • 39412.1 Passenger Locomotives • 39412.1.1 The Last ­Ten-Wheelers • 39412.1.2 Twilight of the Pacifics • 39512.1.3 The Mountains Hold On • 40012.1.4 The First Hudsons • 40512.1.5 The 4-8-4: The Ultimate ­Multi-Purpose Locomotive • 40612.2 Freight Locomotives • 41012.2.1 Last of the Consolidations and Decapods • 41012.2.2 End of the Line for the Santa Fes • 41112.2.3 The Union Pacific Type • 41212.2.4 Mighty Mikados • 41512.2.5 Superpower: The Berkshires • 41812.2.6 Superpower: The Texas Type • 42112.2.7 Coming of the Simple Mallets • 42412.3 Switchers • 429Chapter 13. Traction Other Than Steam, 1920–1930 • 43213.1 Electric Traction • 43213.2 ­Internal Combustion Traction • 433Part Five: Finest and Final, 1930–1950Chapter 14. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1930–1950 • 438Chapter 15. Locomotive Engineering, 1930–1950 • 45415.1 Fuels, Combustion, Firing and Fuel Economy • 45415.1.1 Fuels • 45415.1.2 Fireboxes and Combustion • 45415.1.3 Power Stokers • 45615.1.4 Fuel Economy • 45715.2 Boilers and Steam Generation • 45715.2.1 Boiler Pressures in ­Fire-Tube Boilers • 45715.2.2 ­Water-Tube Boilers • 45915.2.3 Boiler Maintenance and Water Quality • 46215.2.4 Superheat • 46315.2.5 Injectors and Feed Water Heaters • 46415.2.6 Welded Boilers • 46415.2.7 Boiler Explosions • 46515.3 Steam Application, Valves and Valve Gear • 46715.3.1 Reversing Gear • 46715.3.2 Boosters • 46715.3.3 Poppet Valves • 46715.3.4 ­Steam-Turbine Locomotives • 46915.3.5 Duplex Drive • 47315.3.6 ­High-Pressure Reciprocating Engines • 47415.4 Front Ends • 47415.5 Frames and Running Gear • 47815.5.1 Engine Beds • 47815.5.2 Roller Bearings • 47815.5.3 Disc Driving Wheels • 48015.5.4 Tenders • 48115.5.5 Counterbalancing and Effects on Track • 48115.5.6 Streamlining and Decoration • 484Chapter 16. Locomotive Construction, 1930–1950 • 49116.1 ­Multi-Purpose 4-8-4s • 49316.2 Passenger Locomotives • 50416.2.1 Last of the Pacifics • 50416.2.2 Triumph of the Hudsons • 50616.2.3 The Last Mountains • 50916.2.4 Oddities • 51116.2.5 Duplex Drive Locomotives • 51316.3 Freight Locomotives • 51516.3.1 ­Eight-Coupled Locomotives • 51516.3.2 ­Ten-Coupled Locomotives • 51716.3.3 Mallets • 52316.3.4 Duplex Drive Locomotives • 53816.4 Switchers • 540Chapter 17. Traction Other Than Steam, 1930–1950 • 54317.1 ­Internal Combustion Traction • 54317.2 ­Gas-Turbine Locomotives • 55017.3 Electric Traction • 552Conclusion • 553Appendix A: Thermodynamics and Dimensions • 555Appendix B: Railroad Gazette/Railroad Age Gazette/Railway Age Locomotive Type Articles • 558Appendix C: The Cole Ratios • 571Chapter Notes • 574Bibliography • 610Index • 612