How A Steam Train Works

A steam engine is truly a marvel of technical innovation and at the same time testament to the ingenuity of the human mind. No matter how many newer and more efficient power sources science and technology will come up with in the future, the steam engine will always enjoy a significant place in history.

The steam engine is of course the crucial component in another marvel of technology, the steam train. In this article we will cover the basics of how a steam train works.

A steam engine, such as the one that can be found in a steam train, is basically made up of four components: the tank, the boiler, the cylinders and the driving wheels. The tank holds the water, which is eventually turned to steam for use in the engine, and the boiler is where the conversion of water to steam actually takes place.

The boiler contains a throttle valve, which can be controlled from inside the cab by the engineer. The steam exits the boiler through this throttle valve, and makes its way through a pipe into the cylinders.

Now within the cylinders are a number of valves and pistons, depending on the design of the particular steam engine. The valves are what allow the engine to move either forward or backward, depending on the direction specified by the engineer. The pistons are in turn connected to rods that drive the wheels and set the entire steam train into motion. As the pistons use up the steam, it is forced out through the stack at the top of the cylinders and this produces the characteristic chugging sound that steam trains have been known for.

The process outlined above is basically how steam trains achieve movement or locomotion, but there are a number of other mechanisms in place in the typical steam engine. There are air brakes for example, which are driven by air compressors. Controls for all the brake mechanisms in a steam train are located inside the cab where the engineer has easy access to them. Air is pumped in through the brake cylinder via a series of fulcrums and rods, allowing them to slow the engine down and eventually stop its motion. Hoses that are located on both sides of the engine supply the air that is needed and the movement of air through this entire mechanism again produces a distinctive sound this time the hiss of the air brakes as they are applied.