Steam locomotives dominated the railways from the 1820s through the 1960s. Today almost all of them have been replaced with electric and diesel engines, yet the fascination surrounding steam-powered trains has not dwindled. A diverse community of enthusiasts--from mechanics to teachers to lawyers--have taken up the hobby of building and running steam locomotives in their own backyards. Drawing on the author's extensive experience and research, this guide covers the materials, tools, skills and technical information needed to get started or to improve an existing design.
Photographs by Stephen Dupont Introduction by Mark Tully This is an extraordinary photographic record of the last steam trains in India that captures not only the fascination of the steam engine but also the sense of past which will never be revisited. It is not, however, simply a book for railway enthusiasts; these are images of great emotional power that embrace not only just the magnificence of steam but also portrays the dignity of a workforce in an industry on the verge of extinction. 70 duotone plates.
All aboard! This train travels through history making stops in time to learn about the progress of travel by rail. Hop up into the cab of a speeding modern-day locomotive and look down the tracks into the past. Perhaps these are the same tracks that the diesel-electric locomotives of thirty years ago thundered down, pulling their loads. Perhaps you can see the steam engines of thirty years before that. Watch time unravel and the landscape change as the history of trains barrels through the pages of STEAM, SMOKE AND STEEL: BACK IN TIME WITH TRAINS. The first trains puffed great billowing clouds of smoke and showered passengers with burning embers as they sped down the rails at a pulse-pounding twenty miles an hour! By the 1850's, however, trains were traveling much faster, much farther, and much cleaner and train travel contributed to the growth of our nation. Young readers will be fascinated by the exciting -- and sometimes dangerous -- story of trains while they learn about the different kinds of engines, equipment, and jobs necessary for operating trains throughout history. The young narrator introduces readers to trains from the time of his great-great-great-great-great grandfather at the turn of the nineteenth century to his father's train of today, showing the great changes that invention and progress have brought over time. Patrick O'Brien's striking illustrations emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and romance of the train. Detailed and richly textured oil paintings take readers on a trip through time to ride aboard open-air cars, travel through mountain passes, and roar down the rails on high-speed bullet trains. Budding engineers will love getting a glimpse at the past and dreaming about the future of trains.
Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive documents the role played by mechanical engineers in the development of locomotive design. The steam engine and the mechanical engineering profession both grew directly out of the Industrial Revolution's need for sources of power beyond that of men and animals. Invented in England when coal mining was being developed, the practical steam engine eventually found numerous applications in transportation, especially in railroad technology. J. Parker Lamb traces the evolution of the steam engine from the early 1700s through the early 1800s, when the first locomotives were sent to the United States from England. Lamb then shifts the scene to the development of the American steam locomotive, first by numerous small builders, and later, by the early 20th century, by only three major enterprises and a handful of railroad company shops. Lamb reviews the steady progress of steam locomotive technology through its pinnacle during the 1930s, then discusses the reasons for its subsequent decline.
Anyone who has watched in anticipation as a powerful steam engine rolled into a station, belching iconic billows of black smoke, or heard the memorable blue note sound of a steam engine whistle will revel in Charles McShane’s amazingly detailed exploration of the inner workings of the classic steam engine. This historical record from 1909 will delight fans of classic American steam locomotives and those who have an unwavering love for classic American history. You’ll be able to look over hundreds of detailed illustrations, from mechanical side valves and engines to locomotives like the Baldwin and the Richmond. Not only will you see the beauty of these historical machines, but McShane also explains every aspect of how these incredible behemoths of the railways operated. With detailed examinations of the engineering of the classic steam engine, you will be able not only to understand and admire the outer workings of these locomotives, but also to learn what a side valve, steam injector, and pressure gauge are, and how they work. This classic will be loved by all and fit perfectly as the centerpiece of any train aficionado’s library.
Designed to the 8-1/2" square format, "My Little Square Book of Steam Locomotives" is simple to read and factually educational in its content. This full-color, 32-page, children's book presents a fascinating look at steam locomotives in the nonfiction genre. Entertaining and informative, children learn how steam locomotives work; how to identify steam locomotives by their wheel arrangements; how brakeman slowed and stopped trains by climbing up on freight cars and turning brake wheels; what the first self-propelled steam engine looked like and how it evolved into providing steam power to locomotives; the purpose of water stops, the tender, and the caboose; and a glossary of steam locomotive and railroading terms. Children who love trains will love this little book not only because of the knowledge it imparts to them, but because they can take pride in disseminating the knowledge gained to their friends, schoolmates, and even to older acquaintances who know little about steam locomotives. This book about steam locomotives is the first volume in a complete set of My Little Square Book titles listed below. By collecting the entire set, children will possess a mini-library that's all about trains. Recommended for readers between the ages of 8 and 12. Volume 1: Steam Locomotives Volume 2: Steam Locomotive Tender Cars Volume 3: Railroad Box Cars Volume 4: Railroad Coal Cars Volume 5: Railroad Tank Cars Volume 6: Cabooses
For nearly half of the nation's history, the steam locomotive was the outstanding symbol for progress and power. It was the literal engine of the Industrial Revolution, and it played an instrumental role in putting the United States on the world stage. While the steam locomotive's basic principle of operation is simple, designers and engineers honed these concepts into 100-mph passenger trains and 600-ton behemoths capable of hauling mile-long freight at incredible speeds. American Steam Locomotives is a thorough and engaging history of the invention that captured public imagination like no other, and the people who brought it to life.
Originally created in 1911, Locomotive Building is the definitive text concerning the construction of steam engines for railroad use. Chapters include descriptions of all locomotive systems and their functions, including side rods, boiler, wheels, axle and diving boxes, frames and cylinders, valve motion, shop practice and more. Profusely illustrated with diagrams and rare photos, this reprint has been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.
