branch line lokie

To:	steam_tech@yahoogroups.com
From:	"wholelephant" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Date:	Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:09:18 -0000
Subject:	[steam_tech] branch line lokie

Since branch lines often do not have turning facilities, how about a bi-
directional engine, and since the little streaks of rust do not have
good track very often either, how about a geared, bi-directional engine?

Geared engines are more or less bi-directional to start with and their
trucks negotiate bad track with more felicity than the rigid
underframes of rod engines.

How about a Heisler layout, so we can play transmission games with the
shafts at right angles? The Model T planetary transmission, with gears
constantly in mesh, and shifting done by grabbing the ring gear or the
planetary web, might be a starting point. Even if the locomotive had to
stop to shift, two speeds would make it considerably more versatile.

We might look at the outboard motor clutch in which the vertical shaft
turns a bevel gear, in turn two more bevel gears on the horizontal
shaft, in opposite directions, of course. Each of these gears turns a
coil. When a solenoid in the shaft is engaged, it grabs the end of the
coil, in turn wrapping it around the shaft, and engaging the clutch.
With a two speed transmission, it would be a good lugging and running
engine both. Maybe there still is a two speed bicycle coaster brake
that shifts every time the brake is touched.

For intermittent, seasonal use, under primitive maintenance conditions,
such an engine would not need sophisticated thermodynamic efficiency
devices. Who knows, a market might develop for such a locomotive in
year around use with proper maintenance facilities, in which use such
devices might be justified.

For seasonal use it would be essentially a glorified steam tractor,
bringing the fertilizer in and taking the harvest out. A fleet of them
might even follow the harvest like migratory combines do. The
considerably lower capital cost ought to revise branch line economics.
One factor in the branch line controversy has been the road damage done
by trucks replacing rail service.

Such a locomotive might be the steam road switcher DPM thought
impossible in 1950, doing the branch lines like a Consolidation, the
transfers like a Mikado, industrial sidings like a switcher, and
commuter runs like a Pacific.

Steam's Finest Hour recorded dual service Canadian Pacific light
Pacifics bought right up to dieselization, and with 275 lb. psi!
CP also had a legion of superannuated Ten Wheelers for seasonal use,
although I cannot remember where I read that.

The March 1978 TRAINS (p12, not listed in the table of contents, but
the same issue that had a nice wrap-around painting of steam engines on
both covers)had a comment by former railroad president Perry Shoemaker
on such an engine.It's just awful, being ahead of your time and waiting
all these years for the world to catch up, isn't it?