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+--- Thread: Learn Something New About Steam... (/showthread.php?tid=1709)
Learn Something New About Steam... - Mileswestern - 09-07-2009
Ever wondered what each valve, gauge and lever does on a steam locomotive? Take a look.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://modelrailroading.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/steam-locomotive-controls-the-backhead/">http://modelrailroading.wordpress.com/2 ... -backhead/</a><!-- m -->
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - nkp_174 - 09-08-2009
The "ALL the controls present on the full sized locos are displayed here" line isn't quite right nor universal. Still, it's reasonably close for a small oil burner.
Some modern locomotives have a "steering wheel".
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - Mileswestern - 09-08-2009
even though you're joking, what do you mean by "steering wheel"?
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - nkp_174 - 09-08-2009
Mileswestern Wrote:even though you're joking, what do you mean by "steering wheel"?
Here is a locomotive with a steering wheel (and a 26 year old whom couldn't find any winter coat at his parents' place other than his HS coat):
![[Image: steer.jpg]](http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn218/myork2005/steer.jpg)
And here's a locomotive that lost its steering wheel:
![[Image: nosteer.jpg]](http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn218/myork2005/nosteer.jpg)
These locomotives are sisters, with identical controls, other than the steering wheel, brake stand, and MU box.
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - Mileswestern - 09-08-2009
Ha! At least the jacket fit well. You mean an Overhead-Mounted Johnson Bar? Those are probably just for boilers with greater height over the crown sheet, right? On smaller lokies I've seen them mounted where they are on RVRy 7.
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - nachoman - 09-08-2009
Look at the parking brake lever in the last picture!
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - nkp_174 - 09-08-2009
Mileswestern Wrote:You mean an Overhead-Mounted Johnson Bar? Those are probably just for boilers with greater height over the crown sheet, right? On smaller lokies I've seen them mounted where they are on RVRy 7.
Nope. That is the whistle in on hand and the throttle in the other. The controls on RVRy tell you relatively little about modern steam...I'll upload a modern locomotive's backhead...
The "steering wheel" is a Franklin power reverse control. The "steering wheel" control was bad for road switching...so a few received reverse lever instead (still powered though...so they weren't Johnson bars).
Yep, my coat still fits!
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - Mileswestern - 09-08-2009
Duh! I always mix up the throttle and Johnson bar when it comes to the terminology, that's why I always call them reversers. If you want, could you post a modern coal-fired backhead and I'll post it up on the website as a "part 2" if you would want to do that, I'll of course give you an appropriate byline.
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - nkp_174 - 09-08-2009
Here's a photo (from the NKP Story, photo is in the Allen County Museum) of a NKP H-6 2-8-2's backhead...
![[Image: IMG_4320.jpg]](http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn218/myork2005/IMG_4320.jpg)
It was an improved USRA light 2-8-2 built by Lima in the '20s. The overhead lever to the top right of the boiler is the throttle.
This youtube clip has a nice view of the controls in the cab of the 4449:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML0vgs5UrqM&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML0vgs5U ... re=related</a><!-- m -->
I recognize a few of the controls...to the left of the brakes is a little brass lever...the sander. The electrical controls above the window are, I believe, the headlight, mars light, and cab lights (not certain). Their is a little brass whistle in between the speedometer and the right water glass...that is a low water alarm...and I was petrified with fear of the 765's when I was little...I've never heard one, but they are LOUD! Typically, you assume that the water is in between the level of the two water glasses. 4449 has a reverse lever and power reverse just like the 765. The injector show up at 5:53 in the clip next to the fireman's seat, you can hear/watch him turn it off at 6:02...you can see it below the engineer's seat on the picture of the 765 I posted. A major difference on coal burners is that their are grates to shake on the floor...the berks have 3 shakers per side.
As a note, only oil burners have sand added to the fire daily to clean the flues.
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - nkp_174 - 09-08-2009
Mileswestern Wrote:Duh! I always mix up the throttle and Johnson bar when it comes to the terminology, that's why I always call them reversers. If you want, could you post a modern coal-fired backhead and I'll post it up on the website as a "part 2" if you would want to do that, I'll of course give you an appropriate byline.
I'll try to get one of the 765 or 779 for you.
Re: Learn Something New About Steam... - Mileswestern - 09-08-2009
That would be ideal, send me a message when you've aquired everything and I'll post it up.