How Steam Locomotives Work

Steam locomotives ruled railroads through the 1940s. From the beginnings of railroading in the early 1800s until the coming of diesels in the 1940s, steam locomotives led almost every freight and passenger train in North America. From their diminutive beginnings, steam engines developed into large, powerful locomotives that could lead mile-long freight trains at 60 mph or lug thousands of tons of coal up mountain grades. With their moving rods and valve gear, steam locomotives have long captivated observers with their sights, sounds, and smells. In How Steam Locomotives Work, Brian Solomon explores the details of these marvelous machines, tracing their workings from the firebox and boiler through the valves, rods, and wheels. You’ll learn how wood, coal, and oil turn water to steam, and how steam’s tremendous power is transformed into motion. This book explains how steam locomotives evolved and shows how variations were developed, including three- and four-cylinder locomotives, compound locomotives, and specialty engines such as geared locomotives, articulateds, Cab-Forwards, tank engines, and narrow gauge locomotives. Learning how steam locomotives work will help you better appreciate these wonderful machines from a bygone time. Book jacket.