Slightly off beat trivia, comparative overview of connecting rod length factors.:
In motor sports we were made aware of the effect of rod length ratio to bore diameter and it's effect on performance. Early on in the development of Chevrolet V-8 truck engines. The truck blocks had a raised deck to accommodate a longer rod to increase torque for hauling loads. Truck blocks at that time frequently had smaller bores to bump the torque and a lower R.P.M. range.
In contrast light load high speed engines took an opposite approach, comparatively larger bore short stroke and higher R.P.M. range.
In boat racing we destroked engines for less displacement to make a particular class but found our power range was higher.
Where this get interesting in relationship to steam engines is we ran a longer rod with the piston pin boss set higher in custom pistons to reduce rod angle & maintain the torque needed due to the high drag friction of boat racing.
Some pins were so high they got into the oil scrapper groove.
Connecting rods are unique because they experience both the rotating motion of the crankshaft or loco driving wheel and the reciprocating motion of the piston.
Delete error.
Longer rods also made balancing difficult, frequently there was a need to either use a harmonic balancer with steam locomotive type off set cast in weights and or heavy metal machined into the crank throws.
Rich, Thanks for realigning my head. 
