Locomotive Engine Running and Management

by Angus Sinclair

Engineers interested in finding an approximation of the work done in taking a fast train over a railroad, can make a close estimate by studying out the figures given below by Professor Dudley. The table shows the performance of an ordinary locomotive upon a train composed of three eight-wheel and six twelve-wheel cars; weight 250 tons; working-weight of engine and tender, 126,000 pounds; cylinders of engine, 17 by 24 inches; diameter of drivers, 72 inches; weight on drivers, 48,000 pounds; blowing-pressure on boiler, 135 pounds.

In starting the train, the locomotive would record a tension of 11,000 to 12,000 pounds for one or two hundred feet of distance. After hooking up, the tension would decrease to about 2,800 or 3,000 pounds; and, with this pull, the speed of 50 miles an hour was attained in the fifth mile. As the speed increases, the resistance of the air against the locomotive becomes greater, and more of its own power is required to move itself. In starting a train, the working adhesion of the steel-tired drivers on dry steel rails is about 33 per cent of the weight upon them, and reduces as the speed increases.

Tabulation of Part of a Trip of the Dynagraph Car on a Fast Express Train.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Numbers of Miles.	Time in Minutes and Seconds per Mile.	Speed in Miles per Hour.	Velocity of the Wind in Miles per Hour.	Approximate Grades.	Foot-Pounds of Work shown by Dynametrical Curve per Mile.	Foot-Pounds of Work per Minute expressed in Horse-Power.	Approximate calculated Foot-Pounds of Work required to move the Locomotive in Horse-Power.	Sum of Columns 7 and 8.
1	2 54	20.68		Level	24,116,233	252
2	1 34	38.31	6.0	Down 5 ft 3 in	20,035,253	369	221	590
3	1 22	43.90	4.0	Down 5 ft 3 in	17,763,214	398	292	690
4	1 16	47.34	3.0	Level	15,904,273	383	418	791
5	1 11	50.70	4.5	Level	14,871,528	382	406	788
6	1 13	49.31	6.0	Up 13 feet	15,284,616	383	406	789
7	1 11	50.70	6.0	Down 18 feet	14,458,430	369	426	795
8	1 08	52.89	5.0	Down 13 feet	13,219,136	354	451	805
9	1 07	53.70	5.0	Down 8 feet	11,566,744	319	483	802
10	1 09	52.10	5.0	Down 5 feet	11,773,293	310	441	751
11	1 08	52.89	4.2	Level	11,773,293	316	447	763
12	1 09	52.10	5.2	Down 8 feet	12,806,038	337	456	793
13	1 10	51.43	6.0	Level	12,392,940	324	443	767
14	1 10	51.43	4.5	Level	12,806,038	339	426	765
15	1 10	51.43	4.0	Level	13,425,685	351	420	771
16	1 10	51.43	3.5	Level	13,299,136	345	415	760
17	1 08	52.89	3.0	Level	13,838,783	371	443	814
18	1 08	52.89	5.0	Down 6 feet	13,219,136	354	464	818
19	1 08	52.89	3.0	Down 2 feet	13,219,136	354	443	797
20	1 11	50.70	3.5	Up 10 feet	14,838,783	379	406	785
21	1 13	49.31	3.0	Up 10 feet	14,458,430	362	384	746
22	1 08	52.89	3.1	Level	12,392,940	332	443	775
23	1 07	53.70	3.1	Down 10 feet	12,186,391	333	462	797

The following calculations have been made, to indicate the trains that various locomotives ought to pull.

Weights of Train which Locomotives can haul at a Speed of 20 Miles an Hour under Ordinary Conditions, in Tons of 2,000 Pounds (not including the Weight of Engine and Tender).

	Type of Locomotive.
	Type “A.”	Type “B.”	Type “C.”
On straight track:
Level	1,096	1,664	2,226
Grade 20 feet per mile	547	840½	1,128
” 40 ” ”	350	545	734
” 60 ” ”	249	390½	522
” 80 ” ”	188	302	410
” 100 ” ”	148	242	330
On 5-degree curves:
Level	921	1,401½	1,876
Grade 20 feet per mile	464	716	962
” 40 ” ”	310	485	654
” 60 ” ”	227	360½	488
” 80 ” ”	173	279½	380
” 100 ” ”	137	225½	308
On 10-degree curves:
Level	662	1,013	1,358
Grade 20 feet per mile	401	621½	836
” 40 ” ”	278	477	590
” 60 ” ”	207	330½	448
” 80 ” ”	160	260	354
” 100 ” ”	128	212	290

Under the most favorable conditions, loads about fifty per cent greater than those given above may be hauled.

The calculations are for three types of engine, designated in the column titles as Type “A,” Type “B,” and Type “C;” these being as follows:—

Type A.—American locomotive, with four driving-wheels, and 12,000 pounds weight on each wheel, the total weight of engine being 36 tons.