The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
OF THE LOCOMOTIVE
A MACHINE WHICH EXERCISES A
FASCINATING INFLUENCE.
Details of It's Construction and Opera
ton Told I'm Language That All
Can Easily Understand.
Chicago Record.

rapid-transit kisses to the pretty girl on the
fence; a fresh pipeful OF tobacco, bright.
crisp morning steam shut off, the locomo-
tive sliding down the slant with only the
noise of rumbling machinery and the rush
of sixty-five tons of metal. and breakfast
but half an hour of, are conditions which
fill the heart OF the engineer in the cab
with q rapturous love of life and move
ment. Like an enormous toboggan the freight
train glides down the incline, swaying and
creaking. jolting and jumping on the
curves, but not puff or hiss from the en-
CINE. Then comes the drone of the whistle,
the grinding Of the brakeshoes on the
wheels as the air is put on, three or four
impatient yaps from the locomotive, a
switch is thrown, and the magnificent ma
chine draws ahead slowly and with dignity
on to the siding.
1t was an old engineer who said, patting
the great driving wheel: Electric motors
may take the place of steam locomotives
some day, but they never will be as hand
some"
He spoke from his heart, for to the engi-
neer and fireman a locomotive is the great
est, the most magnificent the finest, the
most intelligent and nearest approach to
human being in the mechanical world. The
engineer speaks of his engine as her" He
encourages her, and chides her, and some
times swears at her when she is cranky"
He protects her from stiff joints with the
finest of lubricating oil; she is fed with the
best of coal. and bedecked with brilliantly
polished brass and copper fittings. He
watches over her with a jealous guardian
ship and humors and caresses her con-
stantly. He is sad when she does not re-
cprocate his affection and lauds her with
un5tinted praise when she is good.
This enthusiasm of the engineer is shared
to some extent by every man who stands
beside a locomotive. 1t is fascinating TO
the average admirer because it is myster-
ious. The beautiful proportions and mas
sive construction excite admiration because
they appeal to the eye, but the rods, pipes,
other parts of its anatomy are beyond the
common understanding.
WHAT THE LOCOMOTIVE is.
Yet a locomotive is but two stationary en-
gines mounted on wheels, which also carry
the boiler, fire box, pump and attendants.
If anything, it is more simple in construc.
ton than some of the triple expansion or
compound Corlss valve engines which are
bolted to foundations in a machine shop
or a great factory. There are thousands
of stationary engines equipped with re-
versing gears almost identical with those
used on locomotive, and the steam valve
of a locomotive is simple sliding valve.
The locomotive consists, first, of it's boil
er, which is Solidly attached to the two
steam cylinders in front The cylinders are
bolted firmly to the frame of the running
gear. The back part Of the boiler stands
between and over the driving wheels, and
over it is the cab, which protects the engi-
neer and fireman from the weather.
The furnace, or fire box, is part of the
boiler, in that il is not a separate and out
side furnace, and the sides of the furnace
are formed by the water legs. of the boiler.
which come down to below the CRATE bars
This gives the rear end of the boiler
shape like key hole.
The hump or dome on top of the boiler
nearest the engine cab is the steam DOME
and from this dome the dry steam is taken
to the steam cylinders through a pipe
which passes through the boiler and di
vides into two pipes under the smokestack
That part of the boiler which begins
der the smokestack and extends to the
pilot or 'cowcatcher," is called the smoke
catches the sparks and cinders.
The exhaust" steam from the cylinders
does not quite reach the bottom of the
stack inside of the smoke box, SO that
the steam. forced out OF the exhaust in
puffs, makes a strong draft which sucks
the air through the CRATE bars in the bot
tom of the fire box to perfect combustion.
LIN, In the dome men end of of the the steam,
p tho dome s' to s'D't the Cylinders is '0
valve, which is opened and closed
by q. rod that passes back to the engine
cab. This IS the throttle valve" and when
the engineer says that he has thrown her
wide OPEN he means that he has pulled
back the starting barr so far that the
valve in the dome is opened as far as it
will go. and the cylinders are getting all of
the steam that it is possible to give them.
The engineer keeps his hand on the lever
Of the starting BAR as s 1t is commonly
comes up almost touching his knee, is the
reversing lever. 1t is similar in design, but
much more finished in workmanship and of
handsomer proportions, to the grip lever in
cable car.
At its lower end it is held by a steel pin
to the frame and moves back and forth. An
arched piece of fiat steel with notches cut in
the upper edge, called the sector is used
to hold the reversing lever in any position
desired. for a steel tongue. raised and low
cred by lever which extends down the
handle of the reversing lever, fits into the
notches and thus holds the reversing lever
The reversing lever moves the reach far
back and forth, and the reach bar is con-
nected with the link motion.
The link motion is device by which the
engineer can let steam in at either end of
| the cylinder and thus start his engine ahead
| or reverse ii. This is done by two eccentric
rods, the forward and backward" which
| by suitable mechanism that mus. be seen to
| be understood, actuate the sliding valve in
the steam chest.
| BY throwing the reversing lever forward
the valve gear is so adjusted that the steam
| enters the cylinder SO as to move tie en-
| CINE forward; by throwing the reversing
| lever back the opposite effect is secured
locomotive moves over the smooth steel
| rails because of its "tractive" force. This
traction is increased by increasing the
weight over the driving wheels. The fric-
| ton between the tires Of the drivers and
the steel rails causes the wheels to grip
| the metal, and the rails are mmoy2 BILE,
| the wheels must go around.
The steam. by pressure and expansion,
| forces the piston in the cylinder to move.
| The piston rod" is connected with the
| "cross head" which moves hack and forth
l>o<r do hay> <;,,<~
| rod transmits the motion TO the drivers,
| and the drivers. revolving, move the en-
| CINE.
It Is sometimes necessary to increase the
| friction between the drivers and rails and
| this is done by throwing dry sand on the
| rails Immediately in front of the driving
wheels. On some locomotives the sand box
is perched on top Of the boiler. and rod
| from the engine cab opens the sand valves.
one for each side of the engine and the
sand falls down through pipes to the rails.
| OTHER POINTS OF THE MACHINE
Steam cylinders require oil for lubricating
purposes, and this oil is fed to the steam
valve through pipe which passes from the
| cab through the boiler, so that the oil is not
| affected by the cold air. AS soon as steam
| is shut of from the cylinders they grow
| cold and the steam condenses to water.
| This must be drawn off, and the engineer
| in his cab, by pulling rod, opens the
'cylinder cocks and keeps them open until
| the sound of the escaping steam tells him
| that nothing but dry steam is passing
| through 1t l.; when the cylinder cocks are
| onan that the fying locomotive sends or,s