hot rods

[cabforward]

someone please name & explain how driving rods work on a steam loco.. preferably a large machine like the big boy..

[cabforward]

someone please name & explain how driving rods work on a steam loco.. preferably a large machine like the big boy..

[Anonymous]

The side rods are the traction motors of a steam engine, if you will. They relay the steam power from the boiler through the valves to the wheels. The valve motions are various. The oldest, Stephenson link, was cranked to the axles. The other types, Walshaert; Baker; Southern, and some minority types like Pilliod, were externally mounted. Examples of all of them are found at various museums. The museum in the old WMRY station at New Oxford, Pa, had hand-cranked working Walshaert v.g.; as you cranked the gear while in forward, you could latch up the gear through the johnson bar and the wheels went faster [even though you cranked at the same speed]. After reversing the gear, even though you still crank the same way, the wheels ran in reverse. Really a neat way to see how the Walshaert gear worked.

[Anonymous]

The side rods are the traction motors of a steam engine, if you will. They relay the steam power from the boiler through the valves to the wheels. The valve motions are various. The oldest, Stephenson link, was cranked to the axles. The other types, Walshaert; Baker; Southern, and some minority types like Pilliod, were externally mounted. Examples of all of them are found at various museums. The museum in the old WMRY station at New Oxford, Pa, had hand-cranked working Walshaert v.g.; as you cranked the gear while in forward, you could latch up the gear through the johnson bar and the wheels went faster [even though you cranked at the same speed]. After reversing the gear, even though you still crank the same way, the wheels ran in reverse. Really a neat way to see how the Walshaert gear worked.

[sooblue]

Hi Cabforward,
Are you asking about the main rods and the side rods? the heavy ones?
they are simply connecting rods just like in an internal combustion engine.
The axle that the main rod is connected to acts as the crankshaft. The axles that are connected by the side rods just follow along but they too act as crankshafts.
Sooblue

QUOTE: Originally posted by cabforward

someone please name & explain how driving rods work on a steam loco.. preferably a large machine like the big boy..

[sooblue]

Hi Cabforward,
Are you asking about the main rods and the side rods? the heavy ones?
they are simply connecting rods just like in an internal combustion engine.
The axle that the main rod is connected to acts as the crankshaft. The axles that are connected by the side rods just follow along but they too act as crankshafts.
Sooblue

QUOTE: Originally posted by cabforward

someone please name & explain how driving rods work on a steam loco.. preferably a large machine like the big boy..