Was watching RFD-TV and they were showing UP844 running in 2009. Some of the shots were from the cab and Steve Lee looked as if he was having to really pull on the throttle while adjusting it. Just how much effort is required to move the throttle while working steam? And is it a function of how much steam is being admitted into the cylinders?
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Was watching RFD-TV and they were showing UP844 running in 2009. Some of the shots were from the cab and Steve Lee looked as if he was having to really pull on the throttle while adjusting it. Just how much effort is required to move the throttle while working steam?
A LOT of effort! Seated in the Engineer's seat, one must force your knees up against the brake valve so as to provide a fulcrum for your upper body & arms. The throttles on the larger, more modern, UP steam locomotives are the American Multiple Valve Front End Throttle type, so there is a large very long rod that runs down the Engineer's side forward to the short lever on the throttle camshaft. There is packing around that camshaft, which also adds to the force required to turn the camshaft within its housing.
And is it a function of how much steam is being admitted into the cylinders?
No, not really. The increasing force required tends to be dependent on how far open you are pulling on the throttle lever in the cab. I takes pretty good arm strength. One of the fun things to do, is while running along, let the Pilot Engineer (male or female) sit in the Engineer's seat for awhile. Obviously the Pilot Engineer knows the territory, so sooner or later some adjustment must be made with the throttle position. When the Pilot squeezes the latch on the throttle, the throttle tries to close, and generally pulls the unsuspecting Pilot Engineer (male or female) right up out of the seat! Great fun the first time THAT happens, and everybody gets a laugh, except the Fireman of course.
Our double-poppet dome throttle can give you a bit of a workout as well. It's a heavy-enough chunk of metal to lift, for one thing, and for another, steam pressure is acting on it to keep it shut (although, due to its design, a lesser amount of pressure is trying to push it open).
NKP 765 has a "bump" in the throttle at low throttle settings. As Jack described, you have to properly set yourself and provide some leverage with your feet and body to be able to move it gently, a notch or two at a time.
We have also had a laugh every once in a while when an inexperienced and unsuspecting engineer unlatches the throttle and promptly finds himself/herself yanked up out of the seat! After a few minutes, most people get the hang of it and stop handling it like they were wrestling with a two-headed monster.
Once past about half-way however, I can move it easily with one hand, just sitting in the seat.
I never got to handle the throttle - last time I was in the cab of a steamer in operation was in the very early '50s, one of the big ATSF Northerns with my uncle driving (And yes, I realize many here don't like the term "driving" and say it is British, but my uncle always described himself as an "engine driver."). Anyway, he was a big guy but clearly had to work a bit, it obviously took a lot of effort. I recall being most impressed that the throttle was wrapped with a lot of black cloth friction tape like my Dad used to wrap the handles of all his tools at home. It makes sense - it was hot in there and hands probably did get sweaty at times.
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