A Question Regarding Coal Burning Steam Engines

Ol' Hoghead Sep 21, 2006

  1. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Curious here- Can you explain the term "rag?"

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  2. Ol' Hoghead

    Ol' Hoghead TrainBoard Member

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    Boxcab
    The term "rag" was used when you let the train get running too fast in a restricted area. I was using it referring to the hogger allowing the train to move too fast in a siding. This siding was on the downhill side of Cajon Pass. If you figure to stop in the siding, you had better keep the train under your thumb. This young engineer got flustered and let the train get away from him, because of lack of experience. He wouldn't listen to me,after all he was the brave engineer.
     
  3. Ol' Hoghead

    Ol' Hoghead TrainBoard Member

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    Another story from the Ol' Hoghead,
    One of the many hazards of running an engine, is grade crossing accidents. While I didn't keep count, I'm sure I had my share. Let me tell you about some that I recall. I had 2 on the main line, which are memorable. Approaching Oro Grande, at 10pm, I see this car turning off the main highway and coming toward the tracks. At 60 mph, we blew our whistle loud and long. The last thing I saw, asI looked over the nose of the diesel, was a womans face, eyes like saucers, then came the crash. Would you believe, the only damage to the car was a missing trailer hitch on the rear bumper. No one injured. I can't say that about another, that took place just West of Victorville. We were Westbound with a heavy train, double track and as we were only making 15 mph, a young woman drove around the gates. What she didn't see, was an Eastbound train, making 50mph. He knocked her into our lead unit and we rolled her car under our power. This is the only fatality I was mixed up in. Working locals, you had more traffic to contend with as you were mostly in a residential area. One collision that really bothered me, happened on Terminal Island. Around midnight, a sailor and his girl friend attempted to out run us. We hit the passenger side of the car. The females legs were trapped in the twisted metal. What really bothered me was her frantic calling for her Daddy, while we waited 45 minutes for an ambulance. Another case I'll never forget, happened in broad daylight. A car drove into the side of our lead unit, as we were moving at 30mph. As we were coming to a screeching halt, I looked back in a mirror. A man, his wife and baby were thrown out of the car. The wife suffered only a cut on her forehead. There is no doubt where my gray hair came from.
     
  4. Tony Burzio

    Tony Burzio TrainBoard Supporter

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    I talked to an engineer at the C&TS about firing and he said that smoke comes from coal that is fresh or not hot enough. When cold, you get partial combustion and smoke. When the coals get hot enough, they burn bright blue. It's actually the gasses that burn, not the oil in the coal itself. "Good firing" is actually knowing how to keep the fire evenly hot, since adding too much coal at one spot in the firebox will reduce the temperature so that you get smoke. I have no idea how he could shovel coal at that altitude!

    As for popping off, adding coal is a time delay. The engine doesn't run on the coal you just put in, it runs off the coal you burned in there a while ago, stored as high pressure steam. If you are very good, you can know when to stop firing so that a half hour later you have just enough steam left. Of course, if you miscalculate it takes a while to get pressure back up! :eek:mg:
     
  5. Ol' Hoghead

    Ol' Hoghead TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for your reply to my question on coal burning engines. I've had several replies and they all helped me to understand the difference from what I was used to with an oil burner. I'd sure like to see steam engines make a comeback.
     

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