They're Still Building New Steam Locomotives in India

[cjforumadmin]

http://www.bangshift.com/blog/They-re-Still-Building-New-Steam-Locomotives-in-India.html

[Ermott]

Re: They're Still Building New Steam Locomotives in India

They are still building locomotives in England as well.

This one has been completed and runs: http://www.a1steam.com/

This one is just getting underway: http://www.lms-patriot.org.uk/overview.html

Here's a few videos of the Tornado project, the first steam loco built in England in 50 years:

The official first viewing, not even painted final colors yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0w06rSXTYg

At speed, before final painting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkKEURaKY0M

At Speed in final colors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baQmgn1bxuA&feature=fvw

And finally, they built steam locomotives til very recently in China, they still run them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FfVqrP96-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQNn0...1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyAwj...eature=related

There's nothing like steam. Max torque at ALL rpm.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: They're Still Building New Steam Locomotives in India

Hmm, for some reason I'd be leary hanging around those boilers. Don't know if it's my bias on manufacturing in India, the $9 Million price tag being low, or if it's that picture in the blog (which probably doesn't represent the new trains??).

Looking at the low speed they are running, my guess is they are going for the ridiculous torque steam generates relatively easily at low rpm. Full horsepower potential as soon as the wheels start moving.

[Ermott]

Re: They're Still Building New Steam Locomotives in India

What's interesting about the Indian locomotives, is that they are mountain engines, designed for maximum power, and that they are rack locomotives. There's a big gearwheel (probably several) mounted between the drivers, and these engage a long toothed rack which is laid between the rails. This helps the loco pull the train on grades well past what a normal engine could do. In fact, these engines are switched into the trains when the going gets steep. The engines generally (but not always) push the train cars up the hill, so that no runaway cars are possible.

Also, note that this engine has a double set of pistons and valve gear. One set is for the flanged wheels, the other set for the gear-wheels that engage the rack.

Finally, this engine is destined to go to the nilgiri mountain railway, a very beautiful railroad, where steam power is the only practical way to get the trains up the steepest sections. it's also a place where a lot of very good quality tea comes from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id16rp0Vla8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D8b_...eature=related

Another awesome railway is the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Built by the British in the mid 1800's, the "toy train" is also a mountain railway, uses the original 2 foot gauge locos.

Helping the loco by sanding the rails..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL1W4EJ0cNs&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwnmaB4OaIo&NR=1

[Schtauffer]

Re: They're Still Building New Steam Locomotives in India

The exterior portion of the engine will be given a coat of polyurethane painting to give it an aesthetic look.

Wow... I sense an ESL author, here. :P