Re: [CBQ] Re: Help me understand

["qutlx1@aol.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>]

Tom,

The story comes direct from the fireman on the engine, who is a spry very senior citizen. I just checked the written version and he refers to side rods once and main rods twice.

Leo

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 19, 2016, at 12:38 AM, 'Tom Kline' TKline@airmail.net [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Usually the case in Greg’s explanation causes the cylinder heads to blow off.  The bolts on the head are weaker than the rods and this was not an uncommon occurrence and something to look out for.  This can also occur by simply not opening the cylinder cocks.  Not paying attention to the cylinder backpressure gauge and allowing excessive backpressure to build would also cause blown heads.  I wonder if the story has changed through the years and ‘side rods’ was really part of the valve gear and it happening to the main rods is an assumption over time?  Adding the possibility of a crank pin shearing before a main rod bending is a possibility along with a bent piston rod.   

 

Also, ‘drawing water’ into the dry pipe can admit water into all of the steam lines.  I’ve had a heavy-handed engineer douse my fire out by blowing water through the atomizer box in the firebox after yanking the throttle out too far.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Tom Kline

Houston

 

 

From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 10:24 PM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Re: Help me understand

 

 

Thanks Greg, that explains why at the investigation the hogger  was asked if he knew about the drain cocks.
Was there a control in the cab for the drains or did one have to go to the cylinders and drain them ?

By the way the fireman was asked at the investigation how much water was in the glass and he stated 1/2 a glass.

 

 

Leo

On Apr 18, 2016, at 9:46 PM, graywolfs02@hotmail.com [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Hi Leo,

A short answer to start with: You can compress Gas (steam) but you cannot compress liquid (water)

After a loco stands for a while, any steam still in the cylinders cools and condenses back to water. When starting the engineer will open drain cocks on the cylinders to let the condensed water out then close them to keep the steam in to do its work.

Another thing that happens and what may have happened here is that the boiler was most likely full of water,and as they tipped over the hill and drifted down grade, the water in the boiler entered the steam dome (where the throttle valve is at) and when Eng Nelson opened the throttle instead of admitting steam to the cylinders, it let water in and as water cannot be compressed the mass of the engine and momentum, kept the side rods moving, even though the pistons for all intense purposes "stopped"....and "poof" bent rods.

Any others with further steam experience, please chime in.......................

Hope this helps Leo.


Greg K

__._,_.___

---

Posted by: qutlx1@aol.com

---

Visit Your Group

• New Members 1
• New Photos 1

• Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___