Excerpt from The Design of Valve Gears for Steam Engines It is assumed that the student is already familiar with the arrangement and operation of the simple steam engine having the plain slide valve. The purpose of this first chapter is mainly to review certain definitions, to bring out certain conceptions, and to give the symbols, abbreviations and letters of reference which will be used through the text, so as to ensure a common basis of under standing before proceeding with the development of the subject. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

To address the needs of today's readers, the complex engineering of the steam locomotive is unraveled by use of a large number of easily understandable diagrams, explaining the function of the components in a step-by-step manner. There is no technical knowledge required on the part of the reader, nor is there any requirement to understand engineering drawings, because the diagrams and explanations are carefully approached. Nevertheless, the book should also appeal to the technically minded. Starting with a basic introduction to the principle of the steam locomotive boiler, the book goes on to provide explanations of both coal and oil firing. Further detailed chapters cover all the essential components, including gauge glasses, injectors, control valves, mainframes, cylinders, valve gears, lubrication, air brakes, vacuum brakes, auxiliaries and cab layouts.

Ken Gibbs tells the history of the engineering triumph that is a steam locomotive from the 1800s to the 1960s showing how each development changed the course of history.

This is the first comprehensive history of the steam engine in fifty years. It follows the development of reciprocating steam engines, from their earliest forms to the beginning of the twentieth century when they were replaced by steam turbines.