The Traveling Engineers' Association to Improve the Locomotive Engine Service of American Railroads Informative Summary

Overview:

Published in 1911, “The Traveling Engineers’ Association to Improve the Locomotive Engine Service of American Railroads” was designed to educate and assess firemen as they trained to become locomotive engineers. The book offers a detailed breakdown of essential locomotive knowledge, covering everything from firing techniques to troubleshooting breakdowns. It emphasizes the importance of safety, efficiency, and the need for harmonious cooperation between engineers and firemen.

The book’s core message centers on the need for firemen to not only perform their tasks accurately but also to develop a deep understanding of the locomotive’s mechanics and operation. This is crucial for both their personal growth and the smooth running of the railroad. The content delves into the importance of fuel economy, highlighting how wasteful practices not only harm the environment but also impact the financial well-being of the railroad.

Key findings:

Fuel economy is paramount: The book strongly emphasizes the need for efficient and economical use of coal, highlighting how wastefulness directly impacts the financial health of the railroad.
Safety is paramount: The text stresses the importance of following procedures for safe operation and maintenance of the locomotive, especially regarding handling steam and water pressure to prevent accidents.
Understanding is key: The book advocates for firemen to develop a deep understanding of the locomotive’s mechanics and operation, not simply memorizing procedures.
Cooperation is critical: The book emphasizes the importance of harmonious cooperation between engineers and firemen for both their safety and efficiency.

Learning:

Firing techniques: The book provides detailed instructions on firing techniques to optimize combustion, minimize black smoke, and achieve maximum steam output.
Locomotive mechanics: Readers will gain a thorough understanding of the locomotive’s components, including the boiler, steam system, valve gear, and various auxiliary systems.
Air brake systems: The book comprehensively covers both automatic and independent brake systems, explaining their functions, components, and proper operation.
Troubleshooting and repair: The text outlines procedures for identifying and addressing common locomotive breakdowns, enabling firemen to react effectively to emergencies.
Federal regulations: The book covers federal regulations regarding locomotive boiler inspection and safety appliances, ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Compound locomotives: Readers will learn about the design, operation, and maintenance of compound locomotives, gaining a deeper understanding of this more efficient type of engine.
Electric headlights: The book explores various types of electric headlights, outlining their operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting methods.

Historical context:

The book was written at a time of rapid technological advancements in railroading, particularly with the introduction of compound locomotives and electric headlights. This signifies a period of transition and innovation within the industry.

Facts:

Steam is generated by heating water above its boiling point. The temperature at which water boils increases with pressure, reaching 388 degrees Fahrenheit at 200 pounds of boiler pressure.
Complete combustion of coal requires around 300 cubic feet of air per pound of coal. This air must be heated to the ignition point of the gases released from the coal, which is about 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.
Black smoke is a sign of incomplete combustion and is not combustible. It is composed of carbon particles that cannot be burned after they have been produced.
Safety valves limit the maximum pressure in the boiler. They are typically set at the maximum allowable pressure and are often set at two or three pounds above the maximum pressure.
Flues are designed to provide heating surface for the boiler. Clogging or stopping up of flues reduces the heating surface, hindering the engine’s ability to steam efficiently.
Honeycomb on flues is often caused by sulfur and molten clay in the fire. These materials can stick to the flue sheets and clog up the netting in the front end.
Clinkers form when coal is fired too heavily in spots. They reduce the grate surface and hinder airflow, impacting combustion efficiency.
A locomotive boiler is cylindrical in form with a firebox at one end and a smokebox at the other. Flues extend through the cylindrical part, surrounded by water.
Wide firebox boilers offer a larger grate area and a slower rate of combustion. This allows for more efficient burning of coal.
Locomotive fireboxes are subjected to crushing strains and unequal expansion and contraction. Staybolts are used to support the firebox sheets.
The ash pan collects ashes and prevents them from setting fire to bridges or other property. It’s crucial to ensure the ash pan slide and hopper bottoms are closed before leaving the enginehouse.
A steam dome on a locomotive boiler provides additional steam space for dryer steam and houses the safety valves, steam pipes, throttle valve, and whistle.
Hollow staybolts are used to indicate when the staybolt is broken. Steam will escape through a small hole in the bolt if it’s broken.
The exhaust nozzle, diaphragm, and draft pipes in the front end regulate draft. Larger nozzle tips increase draft, while raising the draft pipes and diaphragm causes the engine to burn the fire more at the rear.
A partial vacuum in the smokebox causes “pull” on the firebox door. This indicates dampers closed, a clinkered fire, or insufficient airflow under the fire.
The principle behind the injector relies on the conversion of kinetic energy (moving steam) to static energy (water). The condensing steam imparts velocity to the water, enabling it to overcome the boiler pressure.
Superheated steam is saturated steam with additional heat added. This increases its temperature and volume, reducing steam consumption and improving efficiency.
Superheated steam eliminates cylinder condensation, improving efficiency and reducing coal and water consumption. The superheater adds heat to the steam as it passes through units located in large flues.
A locomotive boiler’s heating surface includes all parts directly exposed to the fire and surrounded by water. This surface is crucial for transferring heat from the fire to the water.

Statistics:

Coal consumption: One pound of coal should evaporate between six and eighty-four gallons of water.
Steam waste: An engine popping off wastes about fifteen pounds of coal per minute.
Temperature of ignition: Gases from coal must reach 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit to ignite.
Heat absorption: Water absorbs heat rapidly, limiting gas combustion in the flues.
Boiler pressure: At 200 pounds of pressure per square inch, the pressure per square foot on the boiler sheets is about fifteen tons.
Total firebox pressure: A large locomotive firebox can withstand over 3,000 tons of pressure.
Superheated steam volume increase: For each 100 degrees of superheat, the volume of steam increases by about 16-17%.
Superheated steam efficiency: Superheating can increase the volume of steam by 33%, reducing coal and water consumption.
Water temperature impact: A locomotive generates 1% more steam for every 11 degrees that the tank water is heated.
Oil burning locomotive temperature: Fuel oil should be kept at 112 degrees Fahrenheit to flow freely.
Oil tank safety: Never carry oil lamps or torches within ten feet of a fuel oil tank opening.
Oil tank steaming: For safety, oil tanks should be steamed for 6-8 hours before being entered for cleaning or repairs.
Compressor governor excess pressure: The excess pressure head is typically adjusted to 20 pounds above brake pipe pressure.
Maximum pressure head adjustment: The maximum pressure head is typically set at 130 pounds.
Compressor speed: A compressor should operate at 100-120 strokes per minute.
Air valve lift: Air valves in compressors should have a lift of 3/32-inch.
Cross-compound compressor steam cylinder diameters: The high pressure steam cylinder is 8½ inches and the low pressure steam cylinder is 14½ inches.
Cross-compound compressor air cylinder diameters: The low pressure air cylinder is 14½ inches and the high pressure air cylinder is 9 inches.
Control valve safety valve adjustment: The safety valve in the control valve is typically adjusted to 50 pounds.
Independent brake cylinder pressure: The independent brake valve typically develops about 45 pounds of pressure.
Dead engine feature charging pressure: The main reservoir of a disabled engine can be charged to about 50 pounds using the dead engine feature.
Brake pipe reduction for full brake application: A reduction of about 20 pounds from 70-pound brake pipe pressure will fully apply the brakes.

Terms:

Combustion: The process of burning, which involves the rapid chemical reaction between oxygen and fuel, releasing heat.
Igniting temperature: The minimum temperature required for a substance to ignite and sustain combustion.
Atmospheric pressure: The pressure exerted by the atmosphere at sea level, typically about 14.7 pounds per square inch.
Superheated steam: Saturated steam that has been heated further, increasing its temperature and volume, improving efficiency.
Circulation: The free movement of water within a boiler, ensuring even heat transfer and efficient steam generation.
Heating surface: The area of a boiler exposed to the fire and surrounded by water, responsible for transferring heat.
Eccentric: A rotating part of a valve gear used to create the necessary motion for the valve to open and close ports.
Lap: The amount by which the valve overlaps the port opening when it is in its central position.
Lead: The amount the steam port is open when the piston is on dead center. This allows for early steam admission and efficient power transfer.
Cut-off: The point in the piston’s stroke where the valve closes the steam port, ceasing steam admission.
Release: The point in the piston’s stroke when the valve opens the exhaust port.
Compression: The point in the piston’s stroke when the exhaust port closes and the remaining steam is compressed.
Simple engine: A locomotive with a single cylinder that exhausts steam directly to the atmosphere.
Compound engine: A locomotive with two or more cylinders that use steam expansively for greater efficiency.
Intercepting valve: A valve in a compound locomotive that controls steam flow between the cylinders.
Auxiliary reservoir: A reservoir on a car that stores compressed air for brake application.
Brake cylinder: The cylinder on a car that receives air pressure to apply the brakes.
Triple valve: A valve on a car that controls the flow of air to the brake cylinder.
Brake pipe: The pipe that runs through the train, connecting all the brakes to the engineer’s brake valve.
Angle cock: A valve on the end of the brake pipe that allows the engineer to isolate sections of the train.
Cut-out cock: A valve used to disable a brake on a car.
Feed valve: A valve that controls the pressure in the brake pipe.
Main reservoir: A large reservoir on the locomotive that stores compressed air.
Distributing valve: A valve on the locomotive that controls the application and release of the locomotive brake.
Quick action: The rapid venting of brake pipe air that occurs when an emergency application is made.
Retarded release: A feature in some triple valves that delays the release of the brakes on the front end of a train to ensure uniform release throughout the train.
Retaining valve: A valve that helps to hold the brakes applied on a car while the auxiliary reservoir recharges.

Examples:

Coal firing: The book provides detailed instructions on how to fire a locomotive efficiently and minimize black smoke. It advocates for light and frequent firing, ensuring the firebox reaches a high temperature to fully burn the gases released from the coal.
Water glass: The book emphasizes the importance of regularly checking the water level in the boiler using both the gauge glass and gauge cocks. This is crucial for preventing the boiler from overheating or running out of water.
Injector operation: The book details the operation of both lifting and non-lifting injectors, explaining the process of priming and delivering water to the boiler. It also covers common injector problems and troubleshooting methods.
Superheater locomotives: The book outlines the advantages of superheated steam, highlighting its impact on fuel economy, water consumption, and overall locomotive performance. It explains the operation of the Schmidt Superheater, a common type of superheater used in locomotives.
Wide firebox boilers: The book discusses the advantages of wide firebox boilers, which offer a larger grate area and slower combustion, improving efficiency.
Locomotive breakdowns: The book provides guidance for handling common breakdowns, such as broken staybolts, leaky tubes, or a disabled link.
Compound locomotives: The book delves into the operation of compound locomotives, explaining the flow of steam through the cylinders, the role of the intercepting valve, and the benefits of using steam expansively.
Electric headlights: The book provides a comprehensive overview of electric headlights, discussing their benefits, focusing methods, troubleshooting common problems, and maintenance procedures.
Air brake systems: The book provides detailed explanations of automatic and independent brake systems, covering their components, operation, and troubleshooting methods. It also covers features like the dead engine device and the retaining valve.
Stokers: The book describes the operation of the Duplex Locomotive Stoker, explaining how it automatically feeds coal to the firebox and how to maintain and troubleshoot the system.

Conclusion:

“The Traveling Engineers’ Association to Improve the Locomotive Engine Service of American Railroads” serves as a valuable tool for firemen seeking to advance their knowledge and skills. It emphasizes the importance of understanding locomotive mechanics, maintaining safe operation, and practicing fuel efficiency. The book’s comprehensive coverage of locomotive systems, air brakes, and common breakdowns equips firemen with the necessary knowledge to perform their duties effectively, ensuring both their safety and the smooth operation of the railroad. The text highlights the constant evolution of railroad technology, underscoring the need for continuous learning and adaptation within the industry.

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