Steam & Excursion > Rarebirds, Part 2

These B&M engines are significant examples of the evolutionary aspects
the development of the steam locos in the 20th century.

With the perfection of the Schmidt superheater design, it brought about
the appreciation of the 'power' of 'high-temp' steam vs. the 'low-temp' pressure of steam.

Power is the rate at which work is accomplished, 'pressure' is the force 
put into the drawbar.   You can exert a great amount of force, without 
accomplishing much work.

The primary need that was required was raising the education level of 
loco designers from the experiential, and  'practical', life-learnings groups 
of Master Mechanics as was common during the period from 1850s 
to about 1880s...  Engineering institutions of "higher learning" were in
their infancy.

There were many engineering specialties that were 'exploding' at the same 
time: electrity, steel making ( metallurgy), iron ships and navies, weapons uniformity.
( from rifles and pistols, to cannons & naval guns, the whole design world of 
building machines that could manufacture things like big gun barrels, large steam cylinders,
as well tge whole field of bridge building, etc.

As universities developed reputations for educating engineers for the various specialties,
it was not possible to put recent graduates  at the top levels at the factories like Baldwin's and
other huge plants and high capacity facilities.  Leaders had to be educated at the factories,
become promoted, experienced and leadership-capable.

This crop of the "slide-rule age" engineers progressed in the manufacturing facilities ,
getting promoted and gaining experience, as well as buikding the trust of the corporate
directors.  

The evolution of intelligent loco engineering expertise, paralleled the development of the
modernized factories that were coming along, world-wide.   Ships like the Titanic and
her sisters came about with convergence of marine engineering skills and manufacturing
capabilities.

In loco design the 'watershed' era dawned with the invention of the superheater, and expanded
into loco designs of the early 20th century ....  The typical freight engines before 1910 were huge
2-8-0, hand-fired Consolidations.  

Their main characteristic was big boilers and narrow fireboxes , between the drivers.  
The first 2-8-2 locos were based on building a 'bigger' 2-8-0... Thus, the trailer truck allowed a bigger
area  grate to be carried aft of the driving axles...

Soon, small-drivered 2-8-2 designs became popular.... but, it was the perfection of the reliable
freight car braking systems that allowed for interchange of rail cars around the nation. 
The near universal adoption of the "KW-triple valve braking system" allowed for longer and longer trains...

Soon, the 2-8-2 locos were taxed more heavily...leading to the desire for more driving axles...
Lima's William E. Woodard, was a classic example of the engineering-degreed, business leader
who conceived of expanding the power of the 2-8-2 designs....  

He was hampered by the lack of the existence of a strong 4-wheel trailer truck.
This was way before the introduction of the Commonwealth Steel Co's,
 3-point, trailer truck designs --- marketed as 'Delta' trailing trucks....

It was in the 1920s that these Lima Berks were born --- largely a Mikdo-loco's chassis, 
married to a 'built-up', 4-wheel trailer truck...  A "Mikado" *. with a 50% larger grate...

They were soon eclipsed by the bigger locos and cast frames and cast one-piece 
Delta trailer trucks  --- like the Erie Berks and The NKP Berks...  B&M was glad to be
able to sell the earlier designs ... which had been out-classed by better technology designs..
To be contniued..

Wes C.

*( The C&O crews called their 2-8-4's , (2700s) " K-4 Mikes", -a larger version of their 2-8-2 Mikes,
but the formal name was "Kanawah" locos)

not proofed ...yet..


 



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/20 16:50 by wcamp1472.

I suggest people look at 1916  Proceedings of American Railway Master Mechanics Association.
(Link eliminated)
There is a lot of information on moderizing older locomotives.

Dreamer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/20 06:26 by Dreamer.

The posted link isn't "doing it"  for me..
Wassup?

Stilts...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/20 06:04 by wcamp1472.

The link failed sorry. Look up the proceedings in google books. The AT&SF had some interesting comments to the modernization of motive power.

Dreamer

Posted from Android

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015012688225&view=1up&seq=430
let us try this link

Dreamer