The Topeka state journal., 1905-12-11
TURBINE LOCOMOTIVES.
They are Being Perfected and XXim
Soon Be in Use on Roads.

CDO4A A1I IA L9N O-A AAOtAU1s
The successful and extensive appli-
cation Of the steam turbine to most Of
the purposes for which the reciprocal
ing steam engine is used has led engi-
neers to speculate upon the possibility
of its use as a locomotive engine, and
several designs for such an application
by prominent builders have already ap-
says the Railway Age.
The principal objection to the usual
design for the simple engine in locono-
tives is the destructive effect of the
counterbalance for the reciprocating
parts at high speed, which is damaging
to the track and to the engine. There
is also the wear and expense for re-
pairs, much of it due to the constant
oping and starting Of the piston
cFoSshead and value twice during every
lating to counterbalance, is successful
ly overcome by the use of four cylin-
ders with pistons arranged so that the
reciprOcating parts balance each other,
but it is at the expenses of a duplica-
ton of parts which still retain the
longitudinal motion of piston and
crosshead, and the expense for the re-
pairs OF these parts must increase with
the number. There is also the con-
stant uncertainty of the crank axle
rod bearings and the ihaccessibility of
bearings when they require removal
for the adjustment of wear or on ae-
count of heating.
Although the four-cylinder balanced
locomotive is a marked Improvement
in its operation, in the matter of MAIN
tenance and repairs it must of neces-
sity be Il more expensive machine. At
present it is regarded by many as the
ultimate Improvement in the steam To-
comotives and its final form before Civ
ing away to the electric motor. The
advantages of the rotary engine in
having Il uniform turning moment,
perfect balance, simplicity and fewer
moving parts and its ready adaptation
to high speed, appeal to engineers as
attractive features i'll the further inn
proVement of the steam locomotive for
competition with its electric rival.
1.-THE most favorable conditions for
the steam turbine are high velocity,
constant speed and revolution in one
direction. In its application for driV-
ing electric generators these conditions
are easily met and appear to be nat
uraI development. The steam locomo-
tive, however, requires the engine to
work under conditions entirely oppo-
site to all these; that is" it must have
a variable speed, much of its work done
at slow speed, and it must be reversi-
bic. A reversible turbine has been de-
veloped in connection with its use for
marine purposes and It is now in sue
cessful operation.
The most difficult feature in the ap-
plication of the turbine to the iocomo-
tive is the possibility of getting a
maximum turning moment for start
ing and one of sufficient magnitude to
develop a high .tractiEeo power at slow
speed. This must be combined with
economical operation at high speed.
and thus far steam turbines have not
been developed along these lines. The
conditions of engine load in marine
service are somewhat similar to those
in the motive fO1. TaifTn1 ClS and
the principles employed in the modi-
fications of the marine turbine, which
enable it to handle variable loads econ
omically, may be applied to the loco
motive.
On steamships a slow-speed, medium
pressure. cruising turbine is inserted in
front Of the main high-speed turbine.
For a heavy load corresponding to the
starting of a train by a locomotive,
both turbines are supplied with high
pressure steam. It is quite probable,
therefore, that the turbine locomotive
will employ the compound principle
and include a number of turbines so as
to secure a superior economy under
variable conditions of speed and load.
What a happy man the future mo-
tive power superintendent Will be,
when it is only necessary to turn steam
on the buzz wheel and the train starts
Off There will then be no pounding
of driving boxes nor of rods, no guides
to be fabricated and kept in adjust
ment, no slide valves, with their wear
and cutting and imperfect perform
ance. Should the turbine require re-
pairs the drop table will remove driv-
ing wheels, engine and all, and a new
set viii replace them within the same
hour. A successful turbine locomotive
will make the competition of the cleo
trio locomotive still more difficult, and
it is possible that in this new form the
steam locomotive Will continue III use