April 19, 2016
Leo - Do you have the locomotive number and date of the incident? Please
advise - Louis
From: LZadnichek@aol.com
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 4/19/2016 1:39:33
P.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Re: [CBQ] Re: Help me understand
April 19, 2016
Leo - No, this incident is "new" to me. Since the locomotive was able to
limp back to Eola, then I don't see how the side rods could've been bent, as
that in itself would've disabled the switcher. Rods would've had to been
dropped to move the locomotive using a rescue locomotive. Same for a broken
axle. And since the locomotive was moving at the time of the incident, I don't
see how the cylinder cocks could've played into the incident per the
engineer getting a mark on his record for "not" using the cocks. If the
locomotive had been standing still and water had accumulated in the cylinders,
when the throttle was opened and the cocks were closed, YES, I can see a
burst cylinder head as the result. But, moving along one moment and BAM the
next resulting in bent rods, you've got me.... It would be possible to
move a locomotive on its own power with one burst cylinder head
(would be huge clouds of escaping steam) providing the engineer could get the
locomotive off "dead center" with the Johnson bar (reverse
lever). Knowing how age can dim or distort old memories, I now
wonder if the switcher suffered a bent or stripped eccentric rod on one side
caused by the pin crystallizing from lack of lubrication? Or, speculating
further, perhaps the engineer did spot a rabbit, shot it from the open
cab window, then stopped the locomotive to retrieve said rabbit while
forgetting to open the cylinder cocks to drain the accumulating water from the
cylinders. Then, returning to the locomotive with his prized dead rabbit, he
opened the throttle and BAM, a blown cylinder head. You know the engineer
and fireman (and whoever else was riding the light engine movement) all got
their stories together for the investigation that was sure to follow. I just
don't "buy" that the switcher swallowed a slug of water that stopped it in
its tracks (no pun intended) and bent the rods. It surely would've shown
in the investigation that the fireman was carrying too much water, you'd
think. And, I just don't "buy" the crew limping back to Eola with bent
rods; a bent or stripped eccentric rod, yes, a bent main or side rod(s), no. I
think there's another piece to this story we're still missing. Any other
opinions out there? Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 4/19/2016 1:06:58 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:
Louis are you thinking of the same incident ? Engineer got his record
marked for not using the cylinder drain cocks. They did limp back to Eola
roundhouse and head out again with another locomotive
Leo
April 19,
2016
Tom/Leo/Greg - None of the above. It was a broken axle. Best Regards
- Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
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
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
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.
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
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Posted by: LZadnichek@aol.com
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