Simulated Steam

[chorst01]

There is a great article in the current issue of CTT (November 2004) about the modern-era N&W class J Northern. In a sidebar at p. 60 mention is made of the Lionel 1981 release of the Powhatten Arrow passenger train pulled by a N&W J which "featured electronic Sound of Steam and simulated steam smoke escaping from its steam cyclinders." Did Lionel ever include this "simulated steam" feature in later years in other N&W J models or in other steam engine models? Does anyone know anything about the technology involved, i.e., the engineering involved in this feature?

--chh

[ben10ben]

The 1995 release J was advertised as having this, although I don't know whether it really did or not. Some Marx engines had this also.

I'm not really sure how the engineering is different, though.

[Anonymous]

Ive done this with my 4-4-2 by pulling the smoke unit off of the smoke stack a bit, just to let some of the smoke come from the underbody.

[Algonquin]

Lionel has included this feature on many of its steamers. My Rock Island Northern made in 1987 has it. It consits of a pair of tubes from the smoke chamber down to the steam drums.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[chorst01]

It seems to me the challenge is how to re-engineer this feature so that the "simulated steam" vents only when the train stops, or when it starts, or both, but not when running down the line. Any ideas?

--chh

[Anonymous]

Actually, the steam should leak out of the packing gland when running; indeed, except for steam venting from the cylinder cocks near the bottom of the cylinder upon moving after having idled for a while, steam leaks around the packing gland are only too realistic! ( the packing gland is the "hole" where the piston rod enters the cylinder).

On the prototype, the packing gland is "packed" with material, and compressed, thereby creating a steam-tight seal around the piston rod. After a few weeks, however, this material wears down. If the gland isn't tightend up agian, steam leaks out on every thrust. So, having steam leak from this area while running is completely prototypical, and eye-catching as well!