This White Paper, was written by mechanical engineer L.D. Porta in 1999 and addresses some of the misconceptions and concerns surrounding old steam locomotive boilers.
The paper addresses a bit the history of riveted construction in bridges, including the famous Firth of Forth bridge. Apart from being one of the most iconic railroad structures in the world, it is also constructed of steel held together with millions of rivets, all of which have stood the test of time since their installation in the 1880's. Porta provides an interesting analysis of the stresses incurred in bridges as compared with locomotive boilers.
It is thanks to CSR's relationship with the Porta Family Foundation that we are able to provide these educational re-prints of some of Porta's more informative works to the General Public on an educational basis. Enjoy!