Standard Gauge Trains in Action

[For The Love of Music]

Thank you both, and yes it would seem to me wheel slippage would be induced back before technology

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by For The Love of Music

Thank you both, and yes it would seem to me wheel slippage would be induced back before technology

Also keep in mind that “The steam locomotive, as commonly employed, has its pistons directly attached to cranks on the driving wheels; thus, there is no gearing, one revolution of the driving wheels is equivalent to one revolution of the crank and thus two power strokes per piston (steam locomotives are almost universally double-acting, unlike the more familiar internal combustion engine)”

So technically speaking, unless I am missing something there would be a certain degree of “freewheeling” much like when one rides a modern bicycle, you can push the pedals or you can turn the pedals slower and “freewheel” at the same time as the speed picks up. So if one locomotive is slightly behind in torque and speed, it is doing less work but it won’t affect the overall effect.

Of course the “notch settings” (like a throttle setting in a locomotive) would be the same for all of them.

Then there were also “geared locomotives” for “low speed and ample tractive effort” used for mining and logging where conditions favored torque over speed.

[Mikado463]

While wheel slippage could be used to initiate movement it could be a death nail for the locomotive should it be not handled properly under load, for a precipitous amount of steam pressure could be lost and the train stalled. This occurrence is usually associated with heavy trains and steep grades.

As for the 'gearing' of a steam locomotive (side rod), while there is no gear box as such the effective gearing is accomplished via the diameter of the driven wheels. Smaller dia on freight locomotives and taller drivers on passenger.

As for geared locomotives in the logging and mining industry they were a combination of Shay, Climax and Heisler style. FWIW I have a Shay (live steam) that I operate on my outdoor garden railroad.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Mikado463

As for geared locomotives in the logging and mining industry they were a combination of Shay, Climax and Heisler style. FWIW I have a Shay (live steam) that I operate on my outdoor garden railroad.

Very cool Dave. Need to show us some pics of your setup

[Mikado463]

per Serge's request a few pics of my live steam two cylinder 'Shay' operating on our outdoor railroad. Shay type locomotives are easily identified by their offset fire box/boilers and cylinders that are vertically oriented. Power is transmitted via a drive shaft through ring and pinion configuration on the individual wheel/truck assemblies.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Mikado463

per Serge's request a few pics of my live steam two cylinder 'Shay' operating on our outdoor railroad. Shay type locomotives are easily identified by their offset fire box/boilers and cylinders that are vertically oriented. Power is transmitted via a drive shaft through ring and pinion configuration on the individual wheel/truck assemblies.

Very cool Dave! Now there is a neat hobby!

Do your tracks stay in place over the winter months?

[Mikado463]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Do your tracks stay in place over the winter months?

yes they do, solid brass. The pics shown are of our railroad in the Pocono's at my parents chalet. It was a labor of love constructing it over a five year period, 1500' of track and 18,000 lbs of ballast

[Mikado463]

here's a pic of my railroad (Oakwood Central) in my back yard. 2-6-0 'Mogul' pulling a daylight passenger train .......

[SCAudiophile]

Dave, that's beautiful...thanks for posting!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Mikado463

here's a pic of my railroad (Oakwood Central) in my back yard. 2-6-0 'Mogul' pulling a daylight passenger train .......

Very cool. There is a nice train store near me but I don’t dare to go in there. Between all my hobbies, I need another hobby like I need a hole in my head and trains are very cool.