White Paper: Mechanical Balancing of Steam Locomotives

CSR is pleased to provide this second part of a two-part series on locomotive balancing.  This white paper provides an in-depth, yet approachable explanation of steam locomotive rail wheel dynamics.  From defining dynamic augment to explaining how a Franklin Radial Buffer helps alleviate the need for overbalance, the Mechanical Balancing of Steam Locomotives white paper provides the fundamentals of steam locomotive balancing.

This paper attempts to distill important concepts into more understandable verbiage. Beginning with defining key terms, CSR presents equations relevant to the rail wheel dynamics of steam locomotives, takes a closer look at the techniques and technology introduced to facilitate high speed operation and concludes with a discussion of how advances in materials science, physics, computing, and machine design over the last 50 years provide additional tools for the modern locomotive design engineer – tools which may just help CSR relegate dynamic augment to the history books.

New White Papers Available

CSR is excited to announce the release of two new White Papers: 1) Visit to Mauritania to Explore NRRI-Developed Option for Conversion of Typha australis to Biocoal and 2) Steam Locomotive Rail Wheel Dynamics Part 1: Precedent Speed of Steam Locomotives. 

The first white paper outlines exciting research CSR research collaborator, the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) of the University of Minnesota - Duluth, is undertaking in pursuit of converting invasive species to energy in Mauritania. Working with the non-profit  Agency to Facilitate the Growth of Rural Organizations (AFGRO), NRRI has investigated the ability of turning Typha Australis, an invasive relative of the North American cattail that is choking the Senegal River in Mauritania and Senegal, Africa, into a usable, clean cooking, heating and electricity fuel source.

In late June 2013, CSR Board Member and Director for the Center for Applied Research and Technological Development (CARTD) at NRRI, Dr. Don Fosnacht, and Peter P. Strzok of AFGRO traveled to Mauritania to meet with officials and share information about the torrefaction technologies NRRI champions.  

The second white paper is the first in a two-part series on steam locomotive rail wheel dynamics.  An outgrowth of having received a number of inquiries concerning the feasibility of a modern steam locomotive to operate efficiently and safely at higher speeds since announcing "Project 130" in May 2012. That in mind, it has decided to formulate a two-part white paper on steam locomotive speed and rail dynamics: 1.) Precedent Speed and 2.) Primer on the Mechanical Balancing of Steam Locomotives. This paper focuses on the anecodotal history of traditional steam locomotives at speed, while the next paper will provide an in-depth engineering investigation of locomotive wheel balancing and engineering.

The current interest in the Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W) J Class steam locomotive, due to the recent announcement of the Virginia Museum of Transportation's Fire Up 611 committee to investigate the feasibility of restoring locomotive 611 to operation, provides an ideal segway into a solid precedent on steam locomotives at high speed. In this white paper, the high-speed performance of the N&W Class J will be explored. While the 3460-class of locomotives, of which CSR's 3463 is a member, were well suited to running at 100+ miles per hour, it is valuable to take lessons learned from the Class J, which has 14" smaller diameter driving wheels and could attain similar operational speeds.

Photo Exhibition Heading to Topeka

The Center for Railroad Photography and Art, John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library and the Coalition for Sustainable Rail are happy to announce the opening of a photo exhibition at the Great Overland Station in Topeka, Kansas this Saturday, July 20.  The exhibition, "View from the Top" showcases the works of seasoned railroad executive John W. Barriger III and were taken during the 1930s and 1940s. 

Photographer John Walker Barriger III (1899-1976) ranks among the 20th century's most significant railroad leaders, having achieved high acclaim for his leadership of federal transportation agencies and private railroad enterprises. Barriger's use of photography in making decisions and prophesies was unusual, but the photographs he took of railroad infrastructure helped him pinpoint what ailed railroads, both in general and specifically. So successful was his problem-solving style from the 1920s into the 1970s that he became known as "the doctor of sick railroads."

CSR Director of Project Management Rob Mangels, a steam locomotive engineer and mechanic with years of experience operating large locomotives over main lines in the U.S., explains that "the work outlined in Barriger's photographs document a time gone by and the raw power of the steam locomotive. Our work with CSR is a new approach to the issue; pursuing the modernization of one traditional locomotive to record data from which truly modern, new-build steam locomotives can be developed."

The exhibition was prepared by the Center for Railroad Photography & Art and the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library. The Center (www.railphoto-art.org) is based in Madison, Wisconsin, and works with institutions around the country to preserve and present significant images of railroading. The library, a special collection of the St. Louis Mercantile Library on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus, stands today as one of North America's largest and finest railroad history collections.

Locomotive 3463 Prepped to Roll

Towards the end of June, CSR completed a successful trip to Topeka to prepare locomotive 3463 for its first big trip in 57 years.   In just a few day's time, the crew drained and inspected all of the locomotive's roller bearing axles and refilled the boxes with new oil.  Following that work, the crew removed key side rods, inspected all of the running gear and cleaned / re-lubricated all necessary parts.

A detailed description of that work performed can be found at this link or by clicking the image at right.  

CSR is in discussions with appropriate parties concerning the move of 3463 out of the Kansas Expocentre Grounds.

For more information, feel free to sign up for the CSR email list. Also keep in mind that, if you donate to CSR and become a Supporter, you will receive updates in advance of the general public as well as knowing you are promoting the mission of CSR.

CSR Sponsored by the American Boiler Manufacturers Association

CSR announces a sponsorship from the American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA), the oldest national manufacturing trade association in the U.S.  Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2013, this sponsorship speaks to the efficacy and importance of the research CSR is pursuing.  

"To have a trade association of such strong technical and marketplace background excited by and supportive of CSR's research is really an encouraging sign. It is indicative of the growing support our group has garnered since its launching this time last year," said CSR Director of Engineering Shaun T. McMahon. "Not merely a benefit in terms of monetary contribution, the support ABMA and its members are providing CSR is a verification of the efficacy, timeliness and importance of the research our organization pursues."

ABMA President and Chief Executive Officer W. Randall Rawson stated, "As the ABMA enters its 126th year, the work of CSR not only complements ABMA's heritage of boiler-generated, steam-driven locomotion and power generation, it promises meaningful, still-to-come concomitant advances in boiler technology, applications and fuel flexibility. It is something with which ABMA and its member companies need to be associated and actively participate, and we are delighted to become a proud and active contributor to the overall effort."

Project 130 Provides Benefits to Preservation

In a recent letter of support, Railroad Artifact Preservation Society (RAPS), the restoration group undertaking the overhaul of former A.T. & S.F. locomotive 5000, exclaims that they "...would like to commend [CSR] and its efforts to rescue former Santa Fe Railway steam locomotive #3463."  

Aside from providing support for the "rescue" of locomotive 3463 and the actions the Great Overland Station took to see that the locomotive was kept safe, RAPS President Sam D. Teague also complimented CSR on the research it is undertaking.

He writes:

...since your organization is clearly aimed at technological development, two of those advances will have a direct, positive impact on preserving other operable steam locomotives. First, the sustainably‐sourced, carbon‐neutral, low‐ash torrefied biomass fuel will provide a clean, lower cost, and readily substitutable alternative to traditional coal. Second, the advanced water treatment program will vastly increase boiler life.

Though CSR is a research and development organization not a railroad preservation group, the work it is undertaking and the careful way it will modify its 1937-built locomotive provides benefit to railroad preservation overall. That said, CSR is always happy to receive support from preservation groups that forsee a benefit in the work it is pursuing and the technologies it refines.

Click on the image of 5000's number board above or this link to read the entire letter.