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    The History of Locomotives: The Steam Era
    The History of Locomotives: The Steam Era
    The History of Locomotives: The Steam Era
    Ebook117 pages1 hour

    The History of Locomotives: The Steam Era

    By Eugene Weiser

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    About this ebook

    The steam locomotive has brought fascination to railroad fans worldwide. As you watch them roll by, you cannot help admire the beauty of the motive. Artisanship is evident as you look at the sleek lines, the wheels that seem to move with an almost orchestrated movement led by the conductor.
    It could also be the steam seen belching from the smoke stacks as the engines move across the country, or it could even be the sound of the clickity-clack as the massive wheels move over their tracks. Either way, the fascination also has plenty of history behind it and we will take this trip together to discover what makes these behemoths run and why we love them so much.
    The steam engine had progressed from an unstable, slow moving machine into a fast, strong, and reliable locomotive. After the invention of the diesels a modern electric engines, steam locomotives soon began to fall by the wayside with the few surviving steam motives used only on special occasions. Many were scraped, but, luckily for the train enthusiast, we are still able to find perfect examples of these pieces of machinery in railroad museums and a few select ones still on display.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEugene Weiser
    Release dateFeb 18, 2013
    ISBN9781301184262
    The History of Locomotives: The Steam Era
    Author

    Eugene Weiser

    Golf Course Superintendent. Love growing grass. Enjoying the outdoors is the best part of the job. Seeing other people enjoy the course is the best feeling in the world.

    Read more from Eugene Weiser

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      Book preview

      The History of Locomotives - Eugene Weiser

      The History of American Railroads

      A History of Locomotives:

      The Steam Era

      Part One

      Series Four

      The History of Locomotives: The Steam era

      By Eugene Weiser

      Published by Eugene Weiser At Smashwords

      Copyright 2013 Eugene Weiser

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

      ISBN 9781301184262

      .

      Introduction

      The steam locomotive has brought fascination to railroad fans worldwide. As you watch them roll by, you cannot help admire the beauty of the motive. Artisanship is evident as you look at the sleek lines, the wheels that seem to move with an almost orchestrated movement led by the conductor.

      It could also be the steam seen belching from the smoke stacks as the engines move across the country, or it could even be the sound of the clickity-clack as the massive wheels move over their tracks. Either way, the fascination also has plenty of history behind it and we will take this trip together to discover what makes these behemoths run and why we love them so much.

      The steam engine had progressed from an unstable, slow moving machine into a fast, strong, and reliable locomotive. After the invention of the diesels a modern electric engines, steam locomotives soon began to fall by the wayside with the few surviving steam motives used only on special occasions. Many were scraped, but, luckily for the train enthusiast, we are still able to find perfect examples of these pieces of machinery in railroad museums and a few select ones still on display.

      To begin this book, we will go into detail of how a steam engine works to provide you with an idea of what moves these powerful engines. As we move further along, we will discuss how steam locomotives are classified in the United States, some of the most notable steam locomotives, and provide you with time lines of the steam locomotive and some brief facts.

      The information contained has been researched through libraries, railway museums (thank you Pennsylvania Railroad Museum for your help in locating and correcting some information), and the many railroad books that are on the market. Some information has been obtained through personal knowledge and general science classes while detailed information has been provided through public research.

      The History of American Railroads

      A History of Locomotives:

      The Steam Era

      Part One

      Series Four

      Chapter One

      The Locomotive Steam Engine Invention

      There is some confusion when asked about the invention of the steam locomotive. Many people assume the steam engine and steam locomotive are one in the same, but they are not. The concept begins with many similarities, but that is where it ends. The steam engine was invented in the 1600s’, but it was not until 1825 that the steam locomotive became a mission for a small group of men.

      What is a steam locomotive? Simply put, it is a locomotive gets its power from of a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some type of combustible material like coal, wood, or oil, to produce steam in a boiler that then drives the steam engine. Both fuel and water supplies are carried with the locomotive, either on the locomotive itself or in wagons pulled behind.

      Steam locomotives were first designed and built in Britain and dominated railway transportation until the middle of the 20th century. From the early 1900s, they were gradually, but steadily, became outdated by electric and diesel locomotives. The first steam locomotives in America were actually imported from Britain until the construction of the Tom Thumb in 1830 by inventor Peter Cooper.

      Figure 1 William Murdoch's railway prototype Found at the Sterling Smith Art Gallery and Museum

      As the development of steam engines progressed into the 18th century, various attempts were made to apply them to road and railway use. In 1784, William Murdoch, a Scottish inventor, built a prototype of a steam road locomotive. An early working model of a steam rail locomotive was designed and constructed by steamboat pioneer John Fitch in the United States probably during the 1780s or 1790s. His steam locomotive used interior bladed wheels guided by rails or tracks. The model still exists at the Ohio Historical Society Museum in Columbus.

      The first full-scale working steam locomotive was built by Richard Trevithick in the United Kingdom. On 21 February 1804, the world's first railway trip took place as Trevithick's unnamed steam locomotive hauled a train along the tramway from the Pen-y-darren ironworks, near Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon in south Wales. Along with Andrew Vivian, it ran with varied success. The design included a number of innovations that included using high-pressure steam that reduced the weight of the engine and increased its efficiency.

      Figure 2 Trevithick's locomotive, 1804 the first successful steam locomotive

      Trevithick visited the Newcastle area in 1804 and he had a ready audience of colliery owners and engineers. The visit was

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