Steam & Excursion > Steam Locomotives Could Power More Than Just Themselves!

While the boilers of steam locomotives were designed to power the drive wheels for each engine, it was quickly learned that that same steam power could be tapped to power other railroad equipment when needed.

We see an early example of this principle employed by the crew of Southern Pacific 4-4-0 #1476.  The crew of #1476 has been assigned to perform some trestle repairs between Cook and Newberg, Oregon.  For this duty they have been given a steam powered pile driver that has been cleverly plumbed off the steam dome of #1476.

The small size of the steam line that fed steam from the locomotive to the pile driver is testament to the enormous power that even a small amount of steam can produce.  H.L. Arey was on hand with his camera to record this fine scene.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/17 04:50 by LoggerHogger.

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Back in the 80's, the Crab Orchard & Egyptian handled business for Penzoil.  The railroad supplied steam from 2-8-0 #17 to heat the oil in inbound tank cars to aid in the unloading process.  It was a side benefit of operating steam at that late date that helped gain the traffic.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

If I'm not mistaken, a few years ago Cumbres & Toltec did a demonstration/photo freight using their pile driver with a similar setup.

They were also used at times to provide steam for heating buildings when the regular boiler had problems.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

MojaveBill Wrote:
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> They were also used at times to provide steam for
> heating buildings when the regular boiler had
> problems.

That happened In Louisville in 1937.  There was a major flood in the Ohio Valley.  The L&N headquarters had about 3 or 5 feet of water on the street in front of the building, meaning that the basement was filled with water.  Before the water got too high, the pipefitters rerouted some of the heating lines out to the rear of the building where there were two tracks that stopped just short of the building.  The railroad brought two of their largest locomotives to the back of the building and used the steam from them to heat the building.  It was a 10 story building.  When the locomotives needed fuel or water they would disconnect and run to the roundhouse about 2-1/2 to 3 miles to the south and then back up to the building and continue with the heating duties.

There are some pictures of the engines there but I can't find them at this time.

John