Awards

• Winner of Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2019 (United States)

Overview

Between 1900 and 1950, Americans built the most powerful steam locomotives of all time—enormous engines that powered a colossal industry. They were deceptively simple machines, yet, the more their technology was studied, the more obscure it became. Despite immense and sustained engineering efforts, steam locomotives remained grossly inefficient in their use of increasingly costly fuel and labor. In the end, they baffled their masters and, as soon as diesel-electric technology provided an alternative, steam locomotives disappeared from American railroads. Drawing on the work of eminent engineers and railroad managers of the day, this lavishly illustrated history chronicles the challenges, triumphs and failures of American steam locomotive development and operation.

Full Product Details

Author:   Tom Morrison
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 21.60cm , Height: 3.20cm , Length: 27.90cm
Weight:   1.448kg
ISBN:  

9781476679006

ISBN 10:   1476679002
Pages:   636
Publication Date:   30 March 2019
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock  
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Preface • 1 Introduction • 3 Part One: Background to Locomotive Development Chapter 1. The American Railroad Industry • 12 1.1 Political and Economic Environment • 12 1.1.1 Early Years of the Industry • 12 1.1.2 Depression and New Expansion • 13 1.1.3 The New Political Climate • 16 1.1.4 War and Government Administration • 21 1.1.5 The 1920s • 22 1.1.6 The Depression Years • 24 1.1.7 War and Aftermath • 27 1.2 Size and Extent of the Railroad and Locomotive Building Industries • 28 1.2.1 The Railroad Industry • 28 1.2.2 Locomotive Building • 31 1.3 Railroad Engineering • 35 1.3.1 Management Science and the ­Ton-Mile Statistic • 35 1.3.2 Locomotive and Train Operating Costs • 35 1.3.3 The Trend to Bigger Equipment • 37 1.3.4 The Trend to Higher Speeds • 39 1.3.5 Track and Substructures • 41 1.3.6 Signaling Systems • 42 1.3.7 Integrated Improvement Programs • 43 1.3.8 Maintenance and Availability • 48 1.3.9 Working Conditions • 52 1.3.10 Safety • 55 1.3.11 The Motive Power Dilemma and the End of Steam • 58 Part Two: Compounds and Mastodons, 1895–1905 Chapter 2. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1895–1905 • 64 Chapter 3. Locomotive Engineering, 1895–1905 • 76 3.1 Fuels, Firing and Fuel Economy • 76 3.1.1 Coal • 76 3.1.2 Oil • 76 3.1.3 Coal Firing • 77 3.1.4 Mechanical Stokers • 79 3.1.5 Firing Rates • 80 3.1.6 Fuel Economy • 80 3.2 Fireboxes and Combustion • 82 3.2.1 Fireboxes • 82 3.2.2 The Vanderbilt Boiler • 86 3.2.3 ­Water-Tube Boilers • 87 3.2.4 Grates • 87 3.2.5 Brick Arches • 88 3.2.6 Crownsheet Failures and Boiler Explosions • 90 3.3. Boilers and Steam Generation • 92 3.3.1 Boilers • 92 3.3.2 Water Quality • 93 3.3.3 Steam Generation • 93 3.3.4 Water Gauge Glasses • 95 3.3.5 Injectors • 96 3.3.6 Feed Water Heaters • 96 3.3.7 Superheating • 97 3.4 Smokeboxes and Drafting • 99 3.5 Cylinder Arrangements and Compounding • 103 3.5.1 Cylinder Arrangements • 103 3.5.2 Compounding • 104 3.5.2.1 Early Compound Locomotives • 105 3.5.2.2 Compounds in America • 106 3.5.2.3 Road Tests, Performance and Service Results • 109 3.5.2.4 Reappearance of the Tandem Compound • 111 3.5.2.5 The ­Four-Cylinder Balanced Compound • 111 3.5.2.6 The Mallet ­Four-Cylinder Articulated Compound • 113 3.6 Valves and Valve Gear • 113 3.6.1 Valves • 113 3.6.1.1 Slide Valves • 113 3.6.1.2 Piston Valves • 116 3.6.2 Valve Gear • 117 3.7 Frames and Running Gear • 118 3.7.1 Frames • 118 3.7.2 Accommodation to Curvature • 119 3.7.3 Suspension • 120 3.7.4 Counterbalancing • 122 3.7.5 Internal Friction • 124 3.7.6 Brakes • 124 3.8 Performance Testing and Design • 124 3.8.1 Road Tests • 125 3.8.2 Static Test Plants • 127 3.8.3 Tonnage Rating • 128 3.8.4 Design • 130 Chapter 4. Locomotive Construction, 1895–1905 • 133 4.1 Development of the 4-4-0 • 133 4.2 Fast Passenger Locomotives • 136 4.2.1 The Last 4-2-2s • 136 4.2.2 The Abortive Columbia Wheel Arrangement • 136 4.2.3 Pursuit of High Power at High Speed: The First Atlantics • 137 4.2.4 Heavy Passenger Power: The First Pacifics • 144 4.3 ­Six-Coupled, ­Multi-Purpose Locomotives • 148 4.3.1 ­Multi-Purpose ­Ten-Wheelers • 148 4.3.2 Mogul Freight Locomotives • 152 4.3.3 Further Pursuit of High Power at High Speed: The First Prairies • 154 4.4 Heavy Freight Locomotives • 157 4.4.1 Consolidations • 158 4.4.2 Mastodons • 168 4.4.3 The First Mikados • 170 4.4.4 Decapods and the First Santa Fes • 173 4.5 Switchers, Suburbans, Geared and ­Special-Purpose Locomotives • 174 4.5.1 Switchers • 174 4.5.2 Suburban Locomotives • 176 4.5.3 Geared Locomotives • 177 4.5.4 Other Unconventional Locomotives • 182 Chapter 5. Traction Other Than Steam, 1895–1905 • 186 5.1 Electric Traction • 186 5.2 Internal Combustion Traction • 188 Part Three: Transformation, 1905–1920 Chapter 6. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1905–1920 • 190 Chapter 7. Locomotive Engineering, 1905–1920 • 200 7.1 Fuels, Firing and Fuel Economy • 200 7.1.1 Coal • 200 7.1.2 Oil • 201 7.1.3 Coal Firing • 202 7.1.4 Mechanical Stokers • 203 7.1.5 Fuel Economy • 211 7.2. Fireboxes and Combustion • 212 7.2.1 Combustion • 212 7.2.2 Ash Pans • 214 7.2.3 Brick Arches • 214 7.2.4 Combustion Chambers • 216 7.2.5 Thermic Siphons • 217 7.2.6 Problems of the Staybolted Firebox • 218 7.2.7 The Wood Corrugated Firebox • 219 7.2.8 The ­Jacobs-Shupert Firebox • 219 7.2.9 ­Water-Tube Fireboxes • 220 7.2.10 Boiler Explosions • 221 7.3 Boilers and Steam Generation • 223 7.3.1 Boiler Pressures • 223 7.3.2 Water Circulation • 223 7.3.3 Boiler Washing and Water Treatment • 224 7.3.4 Superheat • 226 7.3.5 Feed Water Heaters • 232 7.4 Cylinder Arrangements, Valves and Valve Gear • 233 7.4.1 Compounding • 233 7.4.2 The End of Compounding in America • 235 7.4.3 Valves and Valve Gears • 237 7.4.4 Power Reversers • 240 7.5 Front Ends • 242 7.6 Frames and Running Gear • 244 7.6.1 Frames • 244 7.6.2 Counterbalancing • 245 7.7 Performance and Performance Testing • 246 7.7.1 Performance Testing • 246 7.7.1.1 Static Test Plants • 246 7.7.1.2 Development Work on the Pennsylvania Test Plant • 246 7.7.2 Performance Calculations • 251 7.7.2.1 Locomotive Performance • 251 7.7.2.2 Train Resistance • 252 Chapter 8. Locomotive Construction, 1905–1920 • 254 8.1 Passenger Locomotives • 255 8.1.1 Obsolescent Types: 4-4-0s, 4-6-0s, 2-6-0s and 2-6-2s • 255 8.1.2 Heyday of the Atlantics • 260 8.1.3 The 4-4-4 • 263 8.1.4 Growth of the Pacifics • 264 8.1.5 The First Mountains • 278 8.2 ­Rigid-Frame Freight Locomotives • 282 8.2.1 The Consolidation Becomes Obsolete • 282 8.2.2 Reign of the Mikados • 287 8.2.3 Decapods • 295 8.2.4 Heyday of the Santa Fe • 296 8.3 Mallets • 303 8.4 Switchers • 335 Chapter 9. Traction Other Than Steam, 1905–1920 • 340 9.1 Electric Traction • 340 9.2 Internal Combustion Traction • 342 Part Four: Superpower, 1920–1930 Chapter 10. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1920–1930 • 346 Chapter 11. Locomotive Engineering, 1920–1930 • 359 11.1 Fuels, Firing and Fuel Economy • 359 11.1.1 Coal • 359 11.1.2 Oil • 359 11.1.3 Firebox and Grate Design • 360 11.1.4 Power Stokers • 361 11.1.5 Fuel Efficiency • 363 11.2 Boilers and Steam Generation • 364 11.2.1 Steam Generation • 364 11.2.2 Pressures in ­Fire-Tube Boilers • 365 11.2.3 ­Water-Tube Boilers • 366 11.2.4 Feed Water Heaters • 371 11.2.5 Exhaust Steam Injectors • 374 11.2.6 Boiler Washing and Water Quality • 374 11.2.7 Water Gauges • 375 11.2.8 Boiler Explosions • 376 11.3 Cylinders and Valve Gear • 378 11.3.1 ­Three-Cylinder Locomotives • 378 11.3.2 Compounding • 383 11.3.3 Boosters • 384 11.3.4 ­Cut-off Control • 385 11.3.4.1 Limited ­Cut-off • 385 11.3.4.2 ­Cut-off Instrumentation • 385 11.3.4.3 Automatic ­Cut-off Control • 386 11.4 Front Ends • 387 11.4.1 Improved ­Exhaust-Blast Drafting • 387 11.4.2 Fan Drafting • 389 11.5 Frames and Running Gear • 389 11.5.1 Counterbalancing • 389 11.5.2 Frames • 390 11.5.3 Trucks • 391 11.5.4 Tandem Side Rods • 392 Chapter 12. Locomotive Construction, 1920–1930 • 394 12.1 Passenger Locomotives • 394 12.1.1 The Last ­Ten-Wheelers • 394 12.1.2 Twilight of the Pacifics • 395 12.1.3 The Mountains Hold On • 400 12.1.4 The First Hudsons • 405 12.1.5 The 4-8-4: The Ultimate ­Multi-Purpose Locomotive • 406 12.2 Freight Locomotives • 410 12.2.1 Last of the Consolidations and Decapods • 410 12.2.2 End of the Line for the Santa Fes • 411 12.2.3 The Union Pacific Type • 412 12.2.4 Mighty Mikados • 415 12.2.5 Superpower: The Berkshires • 418 12.2.6 Superpower: The Texas Type • 421 12.2.7 Coming of the Simple Mallets • 424 12.3 Switchers • 429 Chapter 13. Traction Other Than Steam, 1920–1930 • 432 13.1 Electric Traction • 432 13.2 ­Internal Combustion Traction • 433 Part Five: Finest and Final, 1930–1950 Chapter 14. General Steam Locomotive Development, 1930–1950 • 438 Chapter 15. Locomotive Engineering, 1930–1950 • 454 15.1 Fuels, Combustion, Firing and Fuel Economy • 454 15.1.1 Fuels • 454 15.1.2 Fireboxes and Combustion • 454 15.1.3 Power Stokers • 456 15.1.4 Fuel Economy • 457 15.2 Boilers and Steam Generation • 457 15.2.1 Boiler Pressures in ­Fire-Tube Boilers • 457 15.2.2 ­Water-Tube Boilers • 459 15.2.3 Boiler Maintenance and Water Quality • 462 15.2.4 Superheat • 463 15.2.5 Injectors and Feed Water Heaters • 464 15.2.6 Welded Boilers • 464 15.2.7 Boiler Explosions • 465 15.3 Steam Application, Valves and Valve Gear • 467 15.3.1 Reversing Gear • 467 15.3.2 Boosters • 467 15.3.3 Poppet Valves • 467 15.3.4 ­Steam-Turbine Locomotives • 469 15.3.5 Duplex Drive • 473 15.3.6 ­High-Pressure Reciprocating Engines • 474 15.4 Front Ends • 474 15.5 Frames and Running Gear • 478 15.5.1 Engine Beds • 478 15.5.2 Roller Bearings • 478 15.5.3 Disc Driving Wheels • 480 15.5.4 Tenders • 481 15.5.5 Counterbalancing and Effects on Track • 481 15.5.6 Streamlining and Decoration • 484 Chapter 16. Locomotive Construction, 1930–1950 • 491 16.1 ­Multi-Purpose 4-8-4s • 493 16.2 Passenger Locomotives • 504 16.2.1 Last of the Pacifics • 504 16.2.2 Triumph of the Hudsons • 506 16.2.3 The Last Mountains • 509 16.2.4 Oddities • 511 16.2.5 Duplex Drive Locomotives • 513 16.3 Freight Locomotives • 515 16.3.1 ­Eight-Coupled Locomotives • 515 16.3.2 ­Ten-Coupled Locomotives • 517 16.3.3 Mallets • 523 16.3.4 Duplex Drive Locomotives • 538 16.4 Switchers • 540 Chapter 17. Traction Other Than Steam, 1930–1950 • 543 17.1 ­Internal Combustion Traction • 543 17.2 ­Gas-Turbine Locomotives • 550 17.3 Electric Traction • 552 Conclusion • 553 Appendix A: Thermodynamics and Dimensions • 555 Appendix B: Railroad Gazette/Railroad Age Gazette/Railway Age Locomotive Type Articles • 558 Appendix C: The Cole Ratios • 571 Chapter Notes • 574 Bibliography • 610 Index • 612

Reviews

do not deny yourself a copy of this marvelous book --SpeedReaders. Generously illustrated... Meticulously documented, this work of both love and precision is an essential addition to transportation libraries...highly recommended --Choice Stunningly comprehensive...those engaged in exploring the intermingled evolution of the various modes of transportation, their societal and economic impact on one another, and on the broader society, can gain much from what's written in this book....Making Morrison's writings all the more worthwhile are the detailed and careful annotations throughout the entire book, leaving a clear trail to origins and sources of all information...If you've even a modicum of interest in steam locomotives and their concomitant history, do not deny yourself a copy of this book. --SAH Journal This book captures not only the changes in American steam locomotive development, but also the why that it happened. And that makes it worth reading --The Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society

This book captures not only the changes in American steam locomotive development, but also the why that it happened. And that makes it worth reading --The Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society.

Generously illustrated... Meticulously documented, this work of both love and precision is an essential addition to transportation libraries...highly recommended --Choice; This book captures not only the changes in American steam locomotive development, but also the why that it happened. And that makes it worth reading --The Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society; do not deny yourself a copy of this marvelous book --SpeedReaders.

"""do not deny yourself a copy of this marvelous book""--SpeedReaders. ""Generously illustrated... Meticulously documented, this work of both love and precision is an essential addition to transportation libraries...highly recommended""--Choice ""Stunningly comprehensive...those engaged in exploring the intermingled evolution of the various modes of transportation, their societal and economic impact on one another, and on the broader society, can gain much from what's written in this book....Making Morrison's writings all the more worthwhile are the detailed and careful annotations throughout the entire book, leaving a clear trail to origins and sources of all information...If you've even a modicum of interest in steam locomotives and their concomitant history, do not deny yourself a copy of this book.""--SAH Journal ""This book captures not only the changes in American steam locomotive development, but also the why that it happened. And that makes it worth reading""--The Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society"

Generously illustrated... Meticulously documented, this work of both love and precision is an essential addition to transportation libraries...highly recommended --Choice Stunningly comprehensive...those engaged in exploring the intermingled evolution of the various modes of transportation, their societal and economic impact on one another, and on the broader society, can gain much from what's written in this book....Making Morrison's writings all the more worthwhile are the detailed and careful annotations throughout the entire book, leaving a clear trail to origins and sources of all information...If you've even a modicum of interest in steam locomotives and their concomitant history, do not deny yourself a copy of this book. --SAH Journal This book captures not only the changes in American steam locomotive development, but also the why that it happened. And that makes it worth reading --The Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society do not deny yourself a copy of this marvelous book --SpeedReaders.

Author Information

Mining engineer Tom Morrison has written technical histories on mining and aviation. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions