Say you have a steam locomotive sitting idle, hot and ready to go, no cars just the engine, brakes are off, its on level track, and a couple of miles of level good track ahead. reverse gear is in the corner. what would happen if you suddenly pulled the throttle out a significant amount, but not all the way? (othet than possibly sucking out the fire)

adofmsu@aol.com

Why of course it would go. Rather it would be a runaway, and would operate until it ran out of steam. If the water in the boiler was low, it conceivably could cause a boiler explosion, depending on how built up the fire is (a non-issue for and oil burner).

Of course I would question the engine operator who would leave a locomotive unattended in this state, when it should have the independent and hand brakes set, drivers chained, and throttle pegged or locked off so nobody monkeying in the cab will cause the engine to runaway.

Since the answer is so obvious, why are we asking? This is akin to the question I saw,from a fellow who wanted to hike through Hoosac Tunnel and was wondering how (there is no right answer).

If you, or somebody else, is entertaining something based on the question.... DON'T.

Michael Seitz

> Say you have a steam locomotive sitting
> idle, hot and ready to go, no cars just the
> engine, brakes are off, its on level track,
> and a couple of miles of level good track
> ahead. reverse gear is in the corner. what
> would happen if you suddenly pulled the
> throttle out a significant amount, but not
> all the way? (othet than possibly sucking
> out the fire)


mikefrommontana@juno.com

That would depend on how hot and how ready, if the cylinders were not cleared of condensate, there would be a good possibility that something would have to give, possibly a cylinder head cover, as with what happened to one of the TH&B engines around here many moons ago. I don't think any engineer worth his salt would leave the engine in this condition, and if he did, likely the tender brakes were tied down.

b.hume@rogers.com

I guess I should just ask what Im wanting to know specifically. I was wondering if this action would cause rod damage or if this could cause the engine to jump the track.
Or would it simply slip? I know your not supposed to operate the throttle fast, but I wondered what would happen.

Alan
dont read into my questions, Im not a thrill taking kid. Im not even a kid.

adofmsu@aol.com

If the engine is hot, blown out, and ready for work, the result really depends on how slippery the engine is (part factor of adheasion, part rail-wheel condition, wet, oily, dry,or on sand). If the engine is slippery, it will spin its drivers, and the throttle should be closed instantly. Many times, however, you can put the throttle "into the coal pile" and not slip a bit. They sure dig out when you do though. If you're on an up grade with a heavy train, sometimes you can open her right up, and the engine just sits there without the torque to move the train, or to spin. This is generally a cause for profanity, and time to take slack.

Maybe Tom Gears can chime in on this one. I remember when Wilmington & Western's #98 was sitting in the yard and I believe it was a cracked dry pipe, (not exactly sure) sent her on her way by herself. She hit a derail and stopped, but the tender was on the ground. Not a great site. But, she came back quite a few years later.

Jeff Lisowski
West Chester, Pa

unfunkyufo76@hotmail.com