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[quote user="Dr D"] Indeed the famous Baldwin Locomotive Works demonstrator 50,000 - now at the Franklin Institute - is a unique water tube firebox high pressure, superheated, "three cylinder compound" design of 1926!  Doc  [/quote] I believe you mean Baldwin 60,000. It should be noted the water-tube firebox was never suited to railroad applications, as it was sensitive to temprature variations. When it leaked, it wreaked havoc, throwing water and steam down onto the fire, smothering it. Also consider the higher maintenance cost of this boiler type, and the maintence of a 3rd cylinder (in an inconvient place for serviceing) and the compounding maintenance. It is easy to see why this locomotive never would have been successul, as costs associated with the "extra stuff" quickly outweighed fuel savings and power. 60,000 is the only surviving (American-Built) compound 3 cylinder.   On a side note, I think that the vauclain compound and the 3 cylinder locomotives are the most unique "fads" of steam development. They both had their benefits, and downfalls, but none the less hold a place in the story of steam development, and deserve a spotlight in the field of preservation. Now to get one of each operational. All in due time, I suppose.
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