Steam 101: 10 Levels of Steam Locomotive Understanding

[@mfbfreak]

19:40 the beautiful thing about rivets is that they contract while cooling off, pulling the two metal parts together even stronger, creating a pretty good seal between them.

[@michaelmurray11189]

Until you run into an iceberg that is.

[@michaelmurray11189]

At least until you run into an iceberg.

[@DonkenAndToivolaRR]

Level 11: Understanding why boilers can explode. The boiling point of water is a function of pressure. The more pressure, the higher the boiling point. Take the pressure away (i.e. through a rupture of the crown sheet of the fire box due to overheating the steel) and the boiling point of the heated water in the boiler falls quickly. Since the hot water contains lots of energy the water now becomes steam nearly instantly. Steam takes up 1.600 times more space than water and it now tries to rush through the rupture. But there was a lot of water in the boiler... that now has become a very lot of steam which can't all exit through the rupture and thus start to build up uncontrolled presssure. If the pressure then overcomes the structural strength of parts of the boiler it will blow them apart and away. There are examples of boiler barrels and smoke boxes thrown hundrets of meters/yards from the engine by boiler explosions. But flying metal isn't the only danger of a boiler explosion. If you're happen to stand close and don't get hit by metal you'll still have to deal with very hot steam all around.

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

No it doesn't. It's because they're big metal pants. Don't you know that steam is just photons that come from the nuclear reactor in the firmament? The earth is flat and water is an illusion. They're lying to you. There's no water in a locomotive because they're giant metal pants. The earth is ruled by an AI named Flat Stanley. Think about it. Have you ever seen a locomotive? Have you ever seen water? When you touch superheated steam you can see your bones so it's x-rays. Wake Up!

[@chetneedy2895]

Exactly, and many RR employees were scalded to death, and that brought about the Railway Labor Act passed by Congress to ensure safer working conditions for the workers

[@johnshackelford6965]

Historical railroad track VA steam valve frozen from heat. It wasn't the grade but the thing exploded.

[@The_Viscount]

In a naval context, letting cold sea water (or even warm sea water) into the engine room of a steam ship is very bad news. Cold water suddenly cooling a pipe of superheated steam in a ship containing a couple hudred horsepower worth of boilers (8 naval boilers in the case of the Iowa Class Battleship produce 212 KHP) shatters the pipe due to thermal expansion. So, imagine several Big Boys all blowing up inside a sealed engine compartment designed to be water tight and thus air tight. Hooray! You have a massive bomb!

[@TrapperAaron]

TLDR what ur trying to say is PV=nRT. Keep it simple.

[@FloridatedH2O]

It's funny that after years of being train OBSESSED as a kid, I never got past level 2 in understanding. Great video! More animations please. That one explaining the Johnson bar operation helped so much.

[@Ben31337l]

It's kinda the difference between being a train spotter and enthusiast. I feel that an enthusiast cares a lot more about the technical aspect of a locomotive, whereas a spotter likes to document the particular operations of a particular locomtovie.

[@c.ramdath.26]

Never did I think that 2 months go I'd be watching kAN play RO, and now be here, huge fan of the channel, and now learning more about steam locomotives

[@edde1715]

Same for me

[@mattg5852]

Me to

[@blainelintern3008]

Same

[@x1red564]

Same here

[@DeetDogg]

Yes absolutely this

[@SD45-ET44AC]

26:21 "crash course " intended tounge in cheek or pure sarcasm. 28:05 oiled or grease. "this is just an overview ..." yes, just an overview but you are doing an excellent job so much that I'm not consistently watching just listening so the picture you are painting is " spot on"

[@Hyce777]

Ours were just oiled, though I'd bet some of the larger locomotives had soft grease or hard grease fittings for the furnace bearers.

[@engineer6325]

YES. THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT! How long I've bemoaned there isn't too many "detailed" breakdowns of how steam locos work. And in such a way for those unfamiliar to easily understand. Most of the time it feels like gathering info about them was "piecemeal". Bits and pieces here and there....never a full course. Thank you for this! This was awesome!

[@tatwood93]

Yeah, I was at about a level 5 before watching this video but still learned things from lower levels

[@andrewnorrie2731]

A quite thorough and easy to follow explanation. Hard to believe this is just over an hour long. The reviews throughout the video were a wonderful way to tie the presentation together. Thank you so much for this!

[@Ben31337l]

It's a shame how he never talked about draft & the blower.

[@lazym0p670]

My friend is a train nerd and always gives me lectures on very specific stuff about trains (I always listen but I'm always confused) and this video helped a lot with the basics. As a smooth-brained individual this cleared up a lot for me and even though I'm 2 years late I'm gonna be watching all of your train stuff, so thank you.

[@szelag]

As a (mechanical) engineer I love this stuff. Absolutely amazing to me how all these systems were designed and built a century or more ago and still work.

[@wakandaengineer]

I second this comment.

[@f1matt]

Prior to this video I was "level 2". This was a really interesting and well explained way to increase my basic knowledge of how a steam locomotive works. Really enjoyed this and glad I found your channel.

[@Tristan_S346]

I’m literally learning so much just in the first 10 minutes 😂 thank you so much for putting this together!

[@426hemicuda1090]

This was the best explanation of the mechanics of a steam loco I have ever seen!!!

[@dominikpotulski576]

Hi, a level 2.4 here! That's a really interesting video and i would love to see more like this. I am exited for your upcoming videos! Thanks to you I am now a level 1.9 :)

[@leisureshoot]

This was one of the most under-produced, and unrefined videos I have ever watched. And it was fantastic!!! I really hope you will consider doing another!!! Train Brakes. Firing a loco. Toools in the engine shed for working on locos, including machine shop. Lubricating the steam loco. Running the locomotive - the things that you watch for as an eghineer (gauges, sounds, etc....), and how you react. Same for fireman.

[@Hyce777]

Train brakes came out yesterday! Check the channel :). That's a great list for more videos - thanks!

[@Griz1231]

It was really nice having someone explain that the superheater dries the steam rather than claiming it raises the pressure. The level 10 explanation was pretty good, but there are reasons not to run with the throttle full open relating to wear on the valve gear. If the Johnson bar is set too close to the center the ports on the valve gear are in a partially open position longer resulting in more steam erosion of the ports. The higher the steam pressure to the valve gears the greater the wear as well. On the other end, running with the throttle set too low results in hammering the connecting pipes. The old-timers learned the art of finding where the balance between the two was.

[@Hyce777]

Absolutely, good addition. I should have stated moreso that I was talking about max tonnage on a hill, most other times you find the balance for precisely the reason you stated. Cheers :)

[@billybcgn25]

@@Hyce777, not being an expert on locomotives, but wouldn't it be that max open on the Jonson bar provides maximum torque, to get started, and once up to speed, that much torque isn't needed; instead, more horsepower is needed to keep the speed up on level ground?

[@DJLrunie]

@@billybcgn25 the torque only depends on the piston pressure. There will be a pressure drop over the valve but that pressure drop depends on the flow (amount of steam going through the valve in a given time) in combination with how far open the valve is. When the piston is stationary or moving slowly you have little to no flow and thus no pressure drop. Moving the valve does not change the torque as long as the piston still gets fully filled in time. (slight nuance, during the filling of the piston you don't have maximum force so the average torque will be different if the filling takes longer or shorter) To keep the same torque you would actually need to open up the Johnson bar when going at higher speeds because the flow, and thus the pressure drop over the valves, is higher. Opening up the Johnson bar will reduce the pressure drop and increase the torque.

[@ΣτελιοςΠεππας]

@@billybcgn25 Small correction torque and horsepower are not different things. Horsepower is literally torque×RPM.

[@coast2coast00]

@@ΣτελιοςΠεππας Torque is rotational force, and power is force over time, adding in the time factor does change the meaning enough in this sense to not use them interchangeably.

[@gaylanlee6447]

Enjoyed your presentation very much. Very informative--67yrs and wondered how all it all worked. Found your sight and like it!!😎

[@Hyce777]

Cheers Gaylan!

[@09JDCTrainMan]

As a steam lover, this was fantastic! Extra knowledge and understanding obtained, thanks, and very well put!

[@patrickunderwood5662]

Wow… been a steam enthusiast my whole life but apparently KNEW NOTHING. Thanks for this amazing tutorial. Of course I knew there was crazy engineering involved, but everything required to make these things work-knowledge no doubt accumulated over a century of unfortunate outcomes-is just mind-boggling. One thing made my brain ding, the Johnson bar vs the throttle. Analogous to prop pitch vs throttle in an airplane with a constant-speed prop, the interplay of power and torque. Again, thanks for moving my ignorance marker just a touch to the left. I’m in the Springs, been to your museum many years ago but definitely headed back now. Great job!

[@rocketeer8719]

The fact that I’m learning this much from one video speaks to the quality of your videos and knowledge, I look forward to all the nerdy stuff you’ll talk about in the future

[@Ben31337l]

He has earned my subscription!

[@donnaroberts5655]

great job explaining all that "stuff". I have been a steam nut for a long , long time now ....now I know what I didn't know. Fascinating ! Just subscribed !

[@erumaaro6060]

Probably the most in-depth video on steamers on YT.👍 I knew most of the stuff from lvl 1-5, 7, 8 and 10. One day I wanted to know how a steam locomotive goes into reverse, or how on earth they manage to put water into a pressurized boiler and down the rabbit hole I went. 10/10 will do it again.

[@kittty2005]

Of all the men I hear speak on KZbin your voice is the most pleasant to listen to, most every one else holds their camera like a hand held microphone and they sound very distorted and muddy , like as we used to say in ham "eating the microphone", I tried to explain to them the poor quality that it conveyed and they just couldn't understand the explanation, so I just gave up. With these teaching sessions you are aware that your audio IS truly the most important part of your presentation, and me specifically I love listening to your way of speaking too boot, oh my.

[@Hyce777]

Cheers! I do record music things on the side, so having a Shure SM7B and knowing how to use it helps.

[@rucarnuts13]

Fantastic video! Without a doubt, the best breakdown of a steam locomotive I’ve ever seen. I had a very poor, very general idea as to how they worked, which was gained by watching documentaries by the History and Discovery channels - which I now realize were incredibly poorly-researched by people who are far from qualified to talk about them! What a terrifying prospect, once you really think about it… Makes you wonder many people have an entry-level live steam engine, like a Wilesco or Accucraft engine, with History/Discovery channel-level knowledge and understanding of how they actually operate.

[@Hyce777]

Cheers :) and yeah, hopefully not too many... thankfully those aren't too harmful if things go wrong :)

[@rucarnuts13]

@@Hyce777 Very true! It would certainly be interesting to see the statistics, but I doubt there are any regarding live steamers.

[@matt47110815]

There is A LOT of stuff wrong on the History Channel, especially when it comes to the older content they had about Military Tech and Tactics.

[@rucarnuts13]

@@matt47110815 I knew a lot of their more current stuff was junk, but I never realized it went further back than that. The railroading documentaries they did wwwaaaayyy back, between 1995-2000 when they were just getting started, are also evidently pretty poor. Seems they were never good to begin with. :S

[@rucarnuts13]

@barnabyjoy Anthony Dawson is fantastic, I love his content. And I agree wholeheartedly, a lot of the railroading stuff on KZbin, and even network TV, is very poor. Will definitely support Hyce’s content as it’s rare to get this kind of quality of content anywhere.

[@_darquan]

Thanks, man. Thanks to you I went over level 4.

[@nathanielnau1700]

There's a lot of interesting technology that went into a steam engine that isn't common to see nowadays but is still useful in certain applications. I would love to know how these systems truly work together to make a steam engine function on a deeper level

[@MegaSockenschuss]

Since I think about getting one every other year for over two decades now... Fiddling around with things is imho the best way to learn. If you're willing and able to spend 100-200 Dollar/Euro, you maybe should get a working (stationary) steam engine in model size. Or a mobile one if you spend more. Here in Germany the company "Wilesco" seems to be a "huge" manufacturer of these cool little machines.

[@Green4321]

@@MegaSockenschuss here in the U. S. each state has an office of boiler inspector. They are very very strick, especially if you bought a vintage locomotive. I'm not sure what the rules are for a stationary engine. I do know that larger office buildings that have a steam boiler are subject to an annual inspection.

[@MegaSockenschuss]

@@Green4321 *model size* is the key word. ^^ The affordable stationary ones from the mentioned company got 135 cm³ boilers. (8.2 cubic inch) I doubt these little things need an official inspection at all.

[@Just_Sara]

This was the video I needed. First, I saw The General six months ago, and it blew my mind. Second, about a month ago I was the only adult with no kids OR a man with me at a historical train museum, alone and squealing like a fangirl over machinery, and now here I am! I've been really wanting to understand what on earth I was looking at, so thank you SO much for this video!

[@chriscapezza3264]

I'm waiting for Hyce to start blowing everyone's mind discussing dissimilar coefficients of linear expansion and how that could make a choo-choo go boom

[@sleepygrumpy]

Just plain outstanding work -- thank you

[@ItzDecster]

I'm a Guard for a local heritage railway here in Australia, it's interesting to see the mix of british and american terminology used here. I have quite a bit of knowledge about steam because of my many chats to our drivers, as I wish to drive steam one day.

[@disconer]

Its a Crosshead Arm, not a drop Link - silly Brits

[@louiscypher4186]

@@disconer Thomas Savery invented the steam engine, thus all British nomenclature for steam trains is correct.

[@ajknaup3530]

Language is fascinating! Would you care to share some of the differing terms between Brittish & Americanese?

[@C-M-E]

For the first time in my life, I'm very happy to be a solid 4.5 out of 10, with brownie points for technical acumen. 👌

[@CyarSkirata]

This is great. I've been planning to design a few fictional locomotives, and now I can learn the mechanical specifics of what I need to include.

[@Ben31337l]

I would love to work with someone to design fictional traction!

[@mesenteria]

It's a small thing, but the man for whom the valve gear arrangement is named was named 'Walschaerts.' It's Flemish, and would be pronounced, 'VAL-scare-tz'. I realize that the pronunciation became widely popularized on this side of the Atlantic as 'WALL- sharts', but it's incorrect. But, I offer my compliments for a fine, detailed, and comprehensive description of the operation of a steam locomotive, and of the function and interrelationships of, and between, the various appliances and components. Very nicely done.

[@Hyce777]

That is interesting! I have never heard it pronounced any other way. Thanks for sharing :)

[@richardcrane1262]

Fantastic presentation from a natural teacher! Don't claim to have it all down yet, but very impressed by the ease with which you give a introduction to the many constituents of the power production, distribution and control subsystems.

[@Hyce777]

Cheers Richard!

[@tomasvargas5981]

I just want to said, Thank you!, been a 78 very old, always want to know about steam engines been electrician, all my life, I appreciate your enthusiasm, for this locomotives, I'm the son of a steam locomotive, engineer in the early 1900 in Mexico, as I said I'm the ninth of ten kid not much time to learn, come to the US in the late sixty's all way's work work, now retired, and with the internet and thanks to your channel in KZbin I kind of have an idea of what my dad did back than. thank you again like you videos and your personality to present them god bless you..🛤🛤

[@ashipcrafter2440]

I have fun watching your videos hyce you give a lot of good information. Iv learned a lot of steam locomotive stuff from you and my dad who fired the soo line 2719 when he worked for The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. Keep up the great video's Hyce.

[@mazelme]

Dude. Just so much here I have struggled to understand for 50 years, finally presented in a way that makes complete sense. Awesome.

[@cmrs521]

thanks to your vids and railroads online ive started rediscovering my childhood love of trains. and this video has helped me finally answer some of the questions ive had.. of course it makes me ask some more as well... but thats always a good thing

[@Hyce777]

Ask away!

[@jimbobisme1]

Thank you. It's clear you have a passion for these machines and you took the time to break them down for others to be able to learn about them and how they operate.

[@I-LOG]

Great video, I learned a lot! Love the look of those big counterweights(?) on the wheels of the K-37, can't wait for that fat caterpillar to travel down the rails in RRO!

[@Hyce777]

They are indeed counterweights!

[@LeifTheHead]

Yes, those counterweights are countering the weight of all the rods. Else the shifting of those up, down, forward and back would rock the engine a lot. It's one of those things I found missing being noted in the video.

[@Hyce777]

@@LeifTheHead If I explained literally everything about each piece we would've been here for a week :P expect shorter deep-dives on specific things for items like that.

[@LeifTheHead]

@@Hyce777 are you telling me that wasn't the plan? :D

[@H.pylori]

To us novices just beginning to learn the intricacies of how the steam locomotive works, this is a master class. I will never look at a "train" the same way again. Thank you! Thumbs up. Now, on to watch more. Already subbed.

[@billyrueckert5113]

Thank you SO MUCH for this education! This helps me understand to higher levels as we finish restoring the locomotive at our organization, and also with the narrations and answers I provide to passengers.

[@rogerletsom2127]

I'm an avid steam locomotive fan with an emphasis on Colorado/New Mexico narrow gauge. I've watched many You Tube videos along with DVDs on these marvelous machines. I think you cover the essentials in way that's easy for a novice to understand. Good work!

[@Hyce777]

Thanks Roger! Check back in on the channel in a few weeks. Going to be getting some good up close and personal footage in person quite soon. :)

[@CMDRSweeper]

Hate to say it Hyce... But you have superseeded Railroads Online and this is your BEST video so far. And I have only one thing to say..: MORE! While the game is interesting, you have access to a Fort Knox of gems that would be equally interesting to see and know of. I am a bit ashamed to say it, but I was level 1.5 understanding of steam locomotives when I started this video. What I do know is a bit of pressurization from aircraft and I am a bit intrigued that they are predecessors to a lot of things that are done in aircraft such as the domes / bulkheads not being flat to prevent blowouts. (Rear bulkhead on a 747 or passenger airliner is quite evident and would intrigue you I bet)

[@brandonfox1617]

Great video. I discovered all this through Kan originally, and I have been pleasantly surprised about the entertainment provided by you all using steam locomotives. Thank you for the education Hyce. I would definitely watch more of these deep dive videos.

[@kc4cvh]

The basic principles of the steam locomotive are so simple, a child of seven or eight could understand it. The details are so many and so inscrutable, they filled the careers of graduate engineers for the better part of a century. The problems, such as dynamic augment and the want for a condenser, were so intractable that they were never overcome.

[@Hyce777]

Brilliantly and succinctly put.

[@Tmonger127]

I loved this video, watched it from start to finish. I knew the general idea of how everything worked on locomotives before this, but you've taught me a lot about the nuances of how steam locomotives are actually structured. Thank you. I always find myself in awe to realize how many things I did not know about steam locomotives, were at the for-front of the minds of the people who built them.

[@nathanielnau1700]

Aries useful to do a lot of things semis have air not only for the brakes and the horn but to help them shift into gear and out of gear. The air can also run windshield wipers. Air on a semi truck there's a few extra other things but not a lot

[@gregsbiplays9899]

Just found your channel as I’m starting to get into steam locomotives. It’s good to see that there are good channels run by people who actually work on them. Thank you for the content!

[@Hyce777]

Glad you found me, and glad you enjoyed! Cheers!

[@andrewreynolds4949]

Very cool, I learned a lot. Most of my more detailed knowledge is in the boiler area, the valves and cylinders. You gave a lot of fascinating info on some of the other things I knew a lot less about. Thanks!

[@Ben31337l]

For me, it was more overall knowledge, but I do wonder about what influences a locomtovie's core design aspects (grate size, boiler size and cylinder side).

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@Ben31337l Speaking as an enthusiast, It's usually weight limits on the infrastructure like bridges, needed power, and what speeds they are expected to run at. With speed the larger the wheel diameter the faster the effective running speed of the locomotive, but the less efficient the power is at pulling heavy loads. This is especially noticeable on lines with heavy grades. A good example of this is the GWR Hall and Grange classes in Great Britain, where the Grange class had smaller drivers and was used for heavier freight service than the Hall class. The boiler size is often dictated by weight limits, although it can be limited by other factors like cost to run and maintain. Grate size usually increases with the boiler size, simply because of limitations on ability to heat the boiler water effectively. Cylinder size and boiler size are also closely connected, because while the cylinders are responsible for putting out the power of the locomotive, there are limits on it set by the boiler's steam evaporation rate. If a locomotive needs lots of power for extended lengths of running, it will be more prone to running out of steam than one in less strenuous conditions and will have a slightly smaller limit on its cylinder sizes compared to its boiler. All of this put together helps explain why steam locomotive designs varied so widely. I'm not really an expert so this might not be the best explanation, but I hope it helps.

[@Ben31337l]

@@andrewreynolds4949 "Grate size usually increases with the boiler size, simply because of limitations on ability to heat the boiler water effectively." This is related to the typical calorific value of the fuel that you expect to burn. The calorific value of the fuel, grate size and boiler size are all interconnected from my standpoint. The entire thing is constrained by the MAM (maximum Authorised mass) for a given vehicle length. But given that, the cylinder size and maximum permitted boiler PSI normally determines the maximum HP that the locomotive is able to generate at any one time, whether it is able to put it down is another point entirely. When it comes to weight limits, you can usually get away with a narrower, longer boiler (Smaller radius boiler) spread the weight out over more axles like the LSWR Adams radial tank did. "Cylinder size and boiler size are also closely connected, because while the cylinders are responsible for putting out the power of the locomotive, there are limits on it set by the boiler's steam evaporation rate." I actually feel like this is a false equivellence really, because at a certain wheel RPM at full cutoff, you are going to reach the boiler's maximum HP at a certain RPM regardless of the size of the cylinder. At which point, the boiler will inevitabily run out of steam and the locomtovie reaches an equibrium until an external factor changes. Depending on how large the ratio of the boiler overall volume & PSI compared to the cylinder and the RPM of the driving wheels given the cutoff is wide open, dictates how soon you will run out of steam. And the above is not guarranteed as situations do change, as pressure decreases so does the overall HP of the locomotive menaing that it uses steam less, hence the equibrium.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@Ben31337l Yes, I was trying to offer a somewhat simple explanation

[@Ben31337l]

@@andrewreynolds4949 Well, I tend to go all out if you haven't noticed. Eventually though. (Some vehicles are faster than others), you get to the materials themselves, the properties they have and, honestly, that's how far the rabbithole goes.

[@CrippleX89]

What started out as watching kAN's first RRO video ended up being a true new hobby. Got myself a little Märklin H0 layout to play around with and it turned out someone in the family has a Märklin Big Boy, what a master piece to marvel at! I also started to visit some railroad museums to check out the real deal, I just found out that there's a little heritage industrial peat railway near where I live where they run some old little diesels. Awesome stuff and very interesting. I really dig the RRO videos you, kAN and Dapper make and the more informative videos like this. Thanks!

[@kleetus92]

Excellent video Hyce! So a possible analogy for 'hooking up' or notching back the johnson bar can be somewhat equated to the throttle in a car today. To get moving you typically have to give the car more gas to overcome the stopped inertia of the vehicle, and as you pick up speed you actually let off of the gas pedal because the initial amount of power needed isn't required so you're either going to take off super quick or spin the tires, you will obviously burn less fuel at part throttle as you would with your foot mashed to the floor pan. You'd also use first gear and not 4th to start out. A steam engine isn't quite that simple as you're not controlling an explosion in a cylinder, but rather a compressed, active gas. I say active because it's not just like compressed air at some pressure, you actually have a thermal component of energy tied into that as well. Without getting into really ugly thermodynamics, just understand that hot compressed steam has way more power than just compressed air. Ok, so what practically is going on? At stopped the engineer needs to have fine control of the volume flow of energy from the boiler to the pistons. Because you're trying to acceleration literally thousands of tons, through a contact patch between all the driving wheels and the rail that's maybe the size of a dime, you have to be very careful how you apply that power. At low speed it is easier to just control the flow and use the whole stroke of the valve gear to have that fine control It does waste steam because you have way more energy there than you need, but it's easier to control. Once you get everything broke loose, and rolling in a more or less steady state (let's assume level track for sake of discussion) you're now at the point in the car where you'd start letting off from the gas pedal. But in a steam engine remember that you're real goal is controlling total energy usage... so while throttle is letting the energy get to the pistons, the johnson bar is what determines how efficiently that energy is getting used... Now that you're moving kinda steady state, you can move from full admission (valve open the entire piston stroke) to less admission (moving the bar more towards center and less piston stroke). This is where the thermodynamics part kicks in, such that instead of just flooding the piston with 200 PSI of ridiculously hot steam, you can maybe fill that piston volume with 75% but let the heat transfer it's energy to the motion to do work. Kinda like also going to 2nd gear. I'll call this out separately because this isn't going to be accurate, but for the sake of discussion, you'll get the point, At full admission you push in 100% cylinder volume at say 600 degrees Fahrenheit. When the piston reaches the end of the stroke, that 100% volume of steam has to get out and up the stack, it might leave the cylinder at 550 degrees... but you have a boatload of volume to get out, so that when steam hits the piston to reverse travel on the other side, it can actually move the piston back. There comes a point in speed, where at full gear the valve ports simply aren't big enough to get the steam out of there fast enough to allow the piston to go the other way with the train load and not trying to force the waste steam out too... So, by cutting the Johnson bar back, you might only put in 75% volume at 600 degrees, but now at the end of the stroke, the steam leaving might only be 400 degrees... and... you have 25% less steam volume to shove out to make the piston go the other way.... The more cutoff you use, the less steam goes in, so that might be 50% volume at 600F but now it leaves at 300F ... and so on. And again, you'd use another higher gear, and another and so on. There comes a balance point where once you match flow rate of energy from the boiler to the energy required to keep the train moving at whatever speed you want. You can loosely also equate this to using a higher gear in a car... you start in first, then second and finally end up in 4th or whatever.. You'd never be able to start in 4th, but you couldn't run 70 MPH in 1st gear either. And that gets back to the efficiency point as well... buy using progressively less cutoff as you go, you consume less steam and therefore less fuel to boil the water to make steam. If you tried to run the steam engine at full speed at full gear, bar all the way forward, 2 things will happen, you'll run out of steam, and you won't even get going that fast because of the back pressure issues you'll have in the cylinders and valve chest... Oh and the fireman will probably try to beat you to death with the coal shovel because no human (or probably even mechanical stoker) would be able to supply enough coal and water to match the consumption rate. And as a final note, if you were to come to an uphill portion, just like in a car, at some point you're going to need more power to overcome the grade... same is true here. You probably can't open the throttle any more, or it may already be open all the way, so instead you'll start slowly moving the bar back forward again adding a little more admission, or like downshifting in a car. It's a balancing act. That's a lot to absorb, but that's probably the most simple mechanical analogy I can come up with to further explain what's going on.

[@kilroy_was_here1]

This is an outstanding explanation!

[@Tigerskunk]

@Bill Chisholm I have a Digitrax system and I just find it so much easier to connect it to a pc or a laptop and run JMRI. JMRI is free and on a NCE Powercab there is a NCE USB interface 5240223 that you can buy that connects as a controller and allows you to program using an easier to understand named settings. And it allows you to save those settings for the locomotives, stationary decoders and signaling decoders. I use JMRI to help speed match engines with different brands of decoder. I have a mix of BLI, Athearn, and Kato. With dcc from factory and with added decoders later. And on my Digitrax loconet, it also controls the signals, while running on a Raspberry Pi 3b.

[@markwilliams2620]

A late friend, a machinist and RR geek, and I appreciate that someone decades younger than us truly loves steam locomotives. I was able to ride 5 cars behind Ohio Central (nee Grand Trunk Western) 6235 on her third revenue run. Watching her languidly handle the curves as we headed south on that October 6th, 2001, from the vestibule door, is something I shall always remember. The geep 9's that brought us back were just as impressive. 567's belching sparks into the night sky with their stacato roar. -Run 8.

[@someguy564]

I already knew levels 1,2 and 4 with some information of other levels, but overall I learned a lot and it was all very interesting (I didn't know 3 because whenever I tried learning about all of the rods it was all very confusing, but you explained it in a way I understood).

[@joeclaymore]

Nice presentation. I’ve run a Mikado once but never have I had such a complete breakdown of the workings of a steam locomotive before. Well done!

[@disconer]

Consolidations and Mikados, the prettiest of the lot ( with exception to Jupiter ), that would be a dream to drive.

[@silvoweiss347]

Great video you got here. I finally understand how steam pistons really work. I would love to see similar video focusing on brakes. Especially of how main brakes work since understanding that would be useful not only for steam trains bot basically for all types of trains since most of them use similar system.

[@Hyce777]

Certainly! The most advanced steam engines used the same kind of brakes most of the diesels use(d) so it will definitely be applicable.

[@silvoweiss347]

@@Hyce777 Looking forward to the video

[@Two_Bears]

Nice lessons. I have been a narrow gauge fan for 60 years. RO has given me an opportunity to see again, things I used to hike out in the woods to experience, that are long gone. With the knowledge of steam engines almost becoming a lost art it’s good to see the interests coming back.

[@Hyce777]

Cheers! I bet you've got some good stories :)

[@Two_Bears]

@@Hyce777 From the Michigan California to West Side Lumber, from the Silverton Railroad to San Diego & Arizona Eastern. I learned enough to know that I don’t know anything at all!

[@elijahgreenberg2634]

Yes, please do an in-depth video on air brakes. I have been struggling to find a good, detailed video.

[@davidrayner9832]

Engineer of 40 years here. You'll be sorry you asked.

[@thesuperjed1]

Man this channel is so good! Honestly didn’t know much about steam trains before finding this excellent educational channel, now I’m making plans to go see and appreciate some of these beasts in real life.

[@blockstacker5614]

Would be cool to have more in depth explanation of feed-water injectors and compressors

[@Ben31337l]

I would love more detail about fuels and how they influence locomtovie design, ie: how potent the coal is, how large the firebox would need to be in order to heat a said amount of water and specific Horsepower of a boiler, pistons etc to give a certain amount of power. I already know a little bit about hard and soft water and how scaling is a problem within boilers but I wonder about locomotive design in principle.

[@ronnronn55]

Theses things I did not know! A good, well paced presentation. I especially appreciate that you can admit what you don't know.

[@XDHwilks]

I took a look at an R class steam locomotive cab yesterday and was blown away by the amount of valves and gauges. I knew there were alot but actually being in the cab and seeing all of them in person is incredible. I also met a dog named Hudson in the cab. How he withstood the heat of the firebox I'm not sure.

[@Hyce777]

That's awesome! Yeah it's always crazy to see the bigger engines that have so many gauges and valves. Lol. My narrow gauge stuff feels like so much less!

[@Clockturne]

Wow! I didn't know Wings & Strings made this animation, so cool to hear they are helping out elsewhere as well. Excellent video, Hyce!

[@Hyce777]

I was looking for reference, realized he did and went "wait WHAT" hahahaha

[@General_Taylor]

@@Hyce777 Link to the animation? (Don't feel like spending 5 mins to scroll thru discord)

[@Hyce777]

@@General_Taylor In the description now :)

[@LittleRedToyota]

Nice explaination. I have some experience with woodburning locomotives, they're not really that different from coal burning ones. Our locomotives are coalburners, but they've been run on wood in times where there has been coalshortage (WW1 e.g.). One of our locomotives (UHB No 2. Urskog) has been rebuilt from coal/woodburner to oilburner and later from oilburner to biomass-briquette burner and is now considered a "green" steam engine.

[@arthurkinch1804]

Excellent job Hyce. This video helped provide a refresher on Steam locomotive knowledge. Personally, my knowledge level is a mixture of 9 stages, where I know what the components are and where they are located, but at the same time did not know the interconnectedness.

[@thatoldsoul9397]

I’m so jealous that you get to work on locomotives like this.

[@VAXHeadroom]

OBVIOUSLY not the first time you've given this talk :) Very well done.

[@michgeeson278]

Thanks for the in depth video, its interesting to note the terminology is like for like to the UK but here it is firmly the Regulator and Reverser, and personally never come across a siphoned firebox that seems like it'd help with efficiency but does it make the water level jump in the gauge glass? and yeah ima look forward to a similar video on contolls and breaking as this was really good.

[@Hyce777]

It does make the water level jump! There's a short on my channel of 491's glasses doing just that.

[@Hyce777]

@Alfred Wedmore oh wow. That's kinda crazy!

[@MrDibbsey]

​​@Alfred Wedmore it's a job we're still trained for, all locomotives on my railway carry 2 sets of spares. As they are replaced every washout anyway its rare they actually blow but its still something we need to know how to do.

[@MonsierMadeleine]

Such a wonderful vomit of info. I have always loved steam and this is a wonderful basic overview of how things work. Keep it up!!

[@carlycrawford2713]

I'm not exactly sure how I would fit on the scale. I like steam locamotives but I'm not extremely well versed. However I am a huge naval history buff so the engineering behind coal and oil fired boilers I've got down to a T

[@Hyce777]

But remember these are fire tube boilers, not water tube boilers... always slightly different. :)

[@carlycrawford2713]

@@Hyce777 there were early ships that used fire tube boilers. Like some of the wooden hulled paddle boats from when steam power was first used on naval vessels

[@IrishDrum]

I must tell you that you have cleared up so much for me as to the mechanics of steam loco's; I have been a fan of steam for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Canada and had relatives in both CNR and CPRl. For a while I lived in a logging camp in British Columbia where we were still hauling logs to the mill with among other types a Shay. As a young teen, I had a brief run as the engineer. We didn't go far but in my mind it was many, many miles. I am still to this day blown away with the mechanics of a Shay. I now live in Michigan and see mention of Shay in several areas and am not all that far from where they were build in Lima Ohio. Thank you again for this video.

[@disconer]

A Shay? Did it run steam? or diesel? that would be amazing to work along side

[@datguymiller]

The steam engine is an engine HM YESS THE FLOOR HERE IS MADE OUT OF FLOOR

[@Hyce777]

A lot of people call the whole thing the "engine" when it's just the engine piece of it... :) hahahaha

[@atshinkansen7439]

It always bugs me whenever people call a locomotive an “engine car”!

[@bw_gaming300]

Thank you man, this video is nice. Simple to digest the visuals and goes a kinda deep.

[@mistzy8435]

can we just appreciate at 4:25 how perfectly he draws the air line over the flue line

[@alandaters8547]

As a steam fan (but not fanatic) for quite a few years, I think that you have done a great job in only 1 hour. The further up you got, the more times I found you filling in or clarifying details- Thank You. At the end you did a great job of covering my wish list of other steam engine/train functions. I guess that my only part that could have used a little more work was the injector system. It seems strange that a steam supply at boiler pressure could overcome boiler pressure and force water into the boiler. I have read about the injector venturis, but it still seems like magic (and invented so many generations ago! ) I would have thought a steam driven piston pump would have been need-like the air compressor. Keep up the good work!

[@CaptainKrimson]

I knew some basics about steam locomotives, thanks to your video I know a lot more! You are a good teacher!

[@damiandiepenbrock4592]

This video has been really fun to watch. I would definitely like to see more videos like this.

[@SignalLightProductions]

Once again, a splendid overview! I'm a fireman and student engineer and these videos will make it easier for me to know how to explain these concepts when cab riders ask questions.

[@kilroy_was_here1]

This is really helpful! I volunteer with a Southern 2-8-0 in Illinois and this is very helpful. I’ll definitely come back to this for future reference!

[@donwheeler1683]

I'm so glad I ran across your explanation of the steam locomotive! My father grew up during the era of steam locomotives and was captivated by their engineering. He became an architectural engineer, but was always tinkering with steam locomotive drawings, books and history. He introduced me to model railroading which I continue on to this day! I rode on and learned much about steam locos on our travels to Durango and Silverton, trips to ride on many locomotives at model railroad conventions as I was growing up, so your explanations brought it all back home! Thank you!!!! Really enjoyed your enthusiasm during your presentations. Look forward to hearing more from you. =D=

[@Hyce777]

Cheers Don!

[@donwheeler1683]

@@Hyce777 Just watched you cooking pizzas in your "brick oven". Love your work space! tools everywhere! Have a safe and happy new year! =D=

[@lambtonold-schoolminibiker4552]

That whole "off topic" part was great. I know about the old races, but not so much of the behind the scenes stories. Good stuff

[@therealchayd]

That was awesomely comprehensive, thanks for taking the time to make this!

[@daledennis8332]

Hi, I loved your video, lots of great detail and good explanations overall. One comment about your discussion of the injector: In practice (and I work with model live steam, but it works on the same principles) when operating an injector, you open the water source first, then apply the steam (or some injectors have a single valve that does both simultaneously). Opening the steam passage first will heat up the injector, which prevents it from functioning. Also, the the injector overcomes the boiler pressure because the latent energy of the steam is absorbed by the water as the steam forces the water through the injector cones. Using both forward and inverted venturi cones, the speed of the fluid is accelerated while the water absorbs the heat energy of the steam, then is decelerated, which converts the speed momentum into pressure, allowing the injector to overcome the boiler pressure. In the injectors I am familiar with, the overflow is not closed; rather, the steam being applied causes the water to be forced through the injector and to the boiler, hence the overflow stops. There is a valve in the injector that closes off the overflow path, but this is part of the injector's operational function. The operator only has to regulate the water flow so that the steam is able to pick up the amount of water being provided. Too little water and steam escapes through the overflow; too much water and the water is forced by the steam out the overflow. It is a rather delicate balance.

[@LMR78]

Very good video and very informative. Loving all the content!

[@andrewpalm2103]

Thank you so much for this tutorial on how a steam loco works. I've heard and read many of the terms, but didn't have a grasp of how they worked. Great work!

[@nickmiller9024]

Love the 101 videos! Great video

[@jamescerone]

This video has shown me how complex and fascinating running gear is!

[@blackstorm118]

Even though I knew a good amount of this, this was a interesting video to watch. keep up the great work!

[@kellingc]

Thank you for posting this. It was really informative and entertaining. I love geeking out on things like this.

[@Smedley60]

Easily the best overall explanation I've seen. Thank you very, very much.

[@srabansinha3430]

Finally a video that explains things in plain english. I am into making model locomotives and this is a godsend. Please make more of your “10 levels” series ! P.S.: If Possible, as a request; may I suggest videos on diesel locomotive engines and locomotive trucks/bogeys. Thanks :)

[@Hyce777]

Good suggestions - I'll see what I can do!n

[@srabansinha3430]

@@Hyce777 Looking forward to see your work along those lines ! Take care !

[@srabansinha3430]

@@Hyce777 Oops I didnt notice you already made a video on diesel locomotives ! Sorry I didnt see your video list ! P.S.: More extended videos on those topics are always welcome tho ;P

[@aricjohnson3639]

Outstanding. Great video, thanks Redeye

[@kama7021]

I visited the Virginia Museum of Transportation today while in the area and decided I want to learn more about trains. This video is very informative and easy to follow! Thanks for this!

[@gabrielperez8864]

Great video and explanation. On an oil fired engine, one purpose for the "peephole" on the firebox door is to allow sand to be suctioned through by the draft to run through the tubes and flues to clean the soot off.

[@Travelinmatt1976]

I was so into steam locomotives as a kid. I read every book I could find at the library. Level 6 is the only level I didn't know much about. My grandfather worked for Norfolk and Western in Virginia. I got to ride in the cab of one of the scenic steam railways in Tennessee, and even shovel a bit of coal. The fire was so hot when the door opens. My grandfather gave me a red signal lantern that used to hang on the back of a caboose. I still have it. Yes, please do more videos like this.

[@Hyce777]

Very cool!

[@xenowreborn]

37:54 "I talked about the turret earlier, is that where the machines guns go? Well no!" well, atleast no, not normally but this flaw can easily be addressed by making a Steam powered gatling gun, and hooking up the the steam to the gatling gun's turbine thereby allowing a "Rapid firing gun" to be mounted to a steam locomotive! however this leaves but one question (The question being, where to mount the Ammo drums?)

[@Hyce777]

On the running boards most likely, not too much of a gravity feed to limit the tension on the belt, but also easy to reload.

[@Windsorsillest]

Your videos are absolutely amazing!!! As a rail fan, I especially appreciate you going into detail and breaking these beautiful machines down. Hats off to you good sir, and I wish you the best.🙏🚂

[@whoever6458]

I feel like this is a mobile fire pit. Wow! Your channel is so awesome!

[@MrHoochMeister]

Thanks Hyce for this tutorial. My knowledge used to be around level 0.5 until I saw UP 4017 in Green Bay many years ago and I slowly advanced to maybe level 1.25 🙂. Your awesome - much needed - video is highly appreciated. Now I can start thinking about feedwater heaters , injectors , valve gear systems, water treatment, lubrication etc. It is becoming addictive now... Thanks again for all your work!

[@feynthefallen]

Ok, if that is 101, I don't know what 102 is gonna look like. Steam locomotive time travel basics? How to attach the flux capacitor? How to get enough power with a coal-driven boiler?

[@Psychli]

This is a great video, I've always been a big fan of trains, but didn't understand them at all! This answered a lot of questions that I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for the answers.