ccltrainsBefore starting the engine we would start the lubrication pumps for a minute to have everything lubricated before starting. Is such a system used today? What type of lubrication does the Big Boy employ?
A version of this used on diesel vehicles involves building a preluber into the end of the starter motor, and controlling the Bendix drive so that the one motor does both jobs. On a vehicle that does not have separately-driven lubrication pumps this is a useful way to pressurize and fill internal galleries before a mechanical oil pump can prime and develop the needed pressure at volume.
The job of pressure lubrication (not just mechanical lubrication which normally involved very low distribution pressures and 'total loss') on steam locomotives is one of the functions the engine on a Lewty booster is capable of providing -- either 'directly' or by providing electricity for one or more lube pumps. As with automotive practice this provides good tribology for the liquid side just as the springs in Alemite reservoirs provide good tribology for 'hard grease'.
As an amusing aside, the PRR T1s as built, which had crosshead drive to the little Walschaerts analogue in the Franklin valve gear and hence no external motion, had little external linkages to drive the mechanical lubricators, and this can be seen in film of the locomotives running, clearly demonstrating what was involved.
As noted, the mechanical lubricator would be worked a few strokes by hand as part of a locomotive's preparation (I believe this is explicitly described in the 1944 PRR fireman's manual, which also includes how an older hydrostatic lubricator is 'primed' and checked before starting)
ccltrainsIn my prior life while working with large natural gas engines similar to those in present day diesels we had them lubricated with Manzel or Trabon lubricators. Before starting the engine we would start the lubrication pumps for a minute to have everything lubricated before starting. Is such a system used today? What type of lubrication does the Big Boy employ?
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NKP guy What would be the right kind of music to use here? Why?
What would be the right kind of music to use here? Why?
Punk rock. (Just quoting some friends of mine who do a podcast on trains and actively decided to use punk rock as a back track to avoid the stereotypical bluegrass. The fact one of them is a DJ at an Alternative Music station though also had a lot to do with that decision...)
Miningman The music is enough to drive you batty. It's just so unnecessary.
The music is enough to drive you batty. It's just so unnecessary.
I take your point. I agree with Balt that it's (innocuous) 40's-type music, and with you that maybe it's unnecessary. But it is a nice change from the usual country-western or bluegrass music that people often use to accompany railroad videos or movies.
BaltACDOne thing I have always wondered - the Engineers Oil Can - how much oil did it hold and how much would be used in his inspections and topping up all the oil cups and other points in need of lubrication?
A 3460 class had multipoint lubrication for both lube and steam oil. Most of the peripheral points covered by Wolf's analysis are areas, like the sliding points of the relatively lightweight Walschaerts gear or the various truck pedestals, that are not well served by continuous relatively-low-pressure but positive-displacement lubricator feeds. (I have always thought that at least part of the use of the can was for 'pre-lubing' key points for the time between the engine starting to move and the mechanical lubricator actually putting oil on the surfaces necessary.)
If I remember correctly, all the roller bearings on a 3460 as built were oil-lubricated and required careful inspection and topping-up (presumably including the same general level of cleaning of the area around the inspection plugs as automotive hydraulic brake systems do when checking reservoir level).
Note that the whole issue of Alemite pressure lubrication is outside both what a typical Detroit lubricator or an oilcan would involve.
You can see why some care in simplifying tribology is part of effective design-for-maintenance in modern locomotive design (as for example in Norfolk and Western late practice and lubritoria, or adaptation of AAR M-942 to rod roller bearings)
NDGAnother. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwXRylQ3BVo Thank You.
Thank You.
One thing I have always wondered - the Engineers Oil Can - how much oil did it hold and how much would be used in his inspections and topping up all the oil cups and other points in need of lubrication?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
MiningmanThe music is enough to drive you batty. It's just so unnecessary.
Unnecessary but 40ish.
Better, albeit using older technology just before a major 'paradigm shift':
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