Curious About Steam Locomotive Plumbing?

 

I'm sure there are more detailed pics available....

This book is a must:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Model-Ra...otives/dp/0890240019

 

for anyone wanting to know what is what and where it goes.

 

If you're into modeling a prototype, even this book won't tell you everything, you need photos.  RR maintenance crews often made changes that didn't follow the engineering drawings, like placement of pipe hangers.

I asked the same question several year back.  I found it fascinating, these huge machines.  At the Railroad Museum of PA, Strasburg, PA I spent some time with the M1b Pennsy. Took a lot of pictures, unfortunately, a lot has been dismantled, but there is a good bit still intact.  

(1.)  Some piping is electrical, still remnants of Radiophone and signal wiring on this locomotive. (at least one pipe/conduit here) 

(2.)  Most steam driven appliances (example: Stoker motor, and steam feed water pre-heat system motor),  have a steam power in and steam exhaust, that in most cases is piped to the smoke box front of the locomotive.(Acount for two pipes here for each appliance)

(3.)  Some appliances are air controlled, such as the sanders, Most air control piping appeared to be copper tubing installed under the boiler insulation jacket.

(4.)  The duel air pump system showes the steam in from the Steam dome and then exhausted to the smoke box front.  Some have said this is a Pennsy thing, most air pump steam drive systems were controlled from the steam valve manifold high in the backhead, cab area of the locomotive. Steam in, Steam exhaust, Air out to the Air tank system, and there is an air intake system also.  (3 or 4 pipes)  

(5.) Add to this, there are air brake lines for the locomotive and seperate air brake lines for the rest of the train. (2) pipes.

(6.) Passenger Service locomotives would have steam piping extending under the tender to the Passenger cars.  Most likely, but I'm not sure, this piping would return to the locomotive or the  tender.

(7.) There is also an automated lubrication system.  Nathan oiler.  ????  

That's a start, gives you an idea how complex these machines were with very limited electrical.  

Photo-bucket picture file M1a

     

Some images from "Model Railroader Cyclopedia-Volume 1 Steam Locomotives" Kalmbach Publishing Company c.1960

 

 

There's more, but I couldn't fit it easily into my scanner.  As you can see, it's a lot more involved than can be answered in a paragraph or two.

 

Rusty

Steam locomotives must have been a kick to engineer (by which I mean the design, etc., not the driving).  I've read several biographies each of both Andre Chapelon and Sir Nigel Gresley that delved into the intricacies of steam loco design, the trade offs ofr different characteistics inherent in their design, and the particular engineering approaches that earned each a reputation as a genius.  Steam locomotives were fascinating machines - initially (1860s) of rather simple and direct design but near the end (1930s and 1940s), particularly after it was clear the industry could not get more power and pull b y just making them bigger, very complicated machines with lots of variable sub-components - what we would call systems today - to extract maximum efficiency and power out of fuel and loco alike.  Alot of that is the "stuff" - pipes and equipment, attached to the locos that makes them look so complicated and industrial - I love it!

If you really want to how know how all of the various bits and pieces of a steam engine work together, then I can heartily recommend this book. http://www.amazon.com/Steam-Lo...w+steam+engines+work

After reading this book all the way through, you could probably build a top-line steam locomotive from scratch. It is by far the best book that I have yet found for those that really wish to know all of the details. 

Here's an online link you might want to look at:

 

http://www.steamlocomotive.com...iances/valvegear.php

 

There's others like this, if I can locate the links I'll post them.

 

Do a GOOGLE search on STEAM LOCOMOTIVE ANIMATIONS.

That last link is not about piping, but the valve gear animations are great!

 

To figure out piping, it is helpful to distinguish between:

 

* steam pipes

* water pipes

* air pipes

* brake pipes

* sand pipes

* electrical conduits

 

others?

Many modern locomotives have a rod and lever system that turn an arm at the back of the smokebox.  What is that?  External throttle linkage?

Wowak, that linkage is part of a front-end throttle mechanism. This gives a more precise allocation of steam to the superheater header than a standard throttle, which resembles a kitchen sink plug.
All the answers above are correct, if you are looking at the same parts. Some of the piping also serves as a condenser, too.

With all do respect Nicole, that might be a good book for those who want to know about British locomotives, but, if you want to know about American locos, don't waste your money!

Your money would be much better spent on "How a Steam Locomotive Works" by Karen Parker. Keep in mind that this book is really just a primer. It doesn't get very detailedand it has at least one mistake, but, it should get most people headed in the right direction.

 

If any of you feel a very real need to own the book Nicole suggested, I have one copy in like new condition that I will gladly sell the first person here that wants it.

OK after reading my own explanation, you guys must think I am a maniac or something.
The front end throttle box has a series of openings, whereas the standard throttle has only one, which lifts up and down via the throttle. On the front end device, the linkage is part of allowing the steam to go into two, four or five of the openings based on how wide open the throttle is pulled. This sends the steam to the superheaters to dry out the steam before it heads to the cylinders and pushes the pistons.
I hope this is a clearer answer.

Actually Tim, your explanation is backwards.

In the steam circuit for the Front end throttle:

The front end throttle is placed after the superheater header. So, the steam in the dome enters the dry pipe, then goes through the superheater, then through the throttle to the cylinders, So, superheated steam is throttled.

In the steam circuit for the dome throttle:

The throttle in the dome is ahead of the superheater header. Here, saturated steam is throttled through the dome mounted valve into the dry pipe, through the superheater and to the cylinders.

Thanks to all for the helpful information and diagrams, as well as teh links to books.

It looks like I will be ordering a couple of books pretty quick.

Also the explanation of how the steam valves work is nice to know.

I always wondered about the forward steam valve and its function.

 

I always thought the thing in front of the stack on a scale berk was another stack, but I wondered why it has no opening in the bottom. Now we know!

 

Rod