Opinion & Answer Part 19: Gear Power Locomotives

 

Welcome to another part of my Opinion & Answer series. On part 19 of my O&A we'll be taking a look at the three classified types of Geared Power Locomotives. Then on Sunday, we'll look at 4 examples of the geared power steam locomotives which will be based on the top 3 classes and a duplicate/clone version of one. 

For those who don't know what a Geared Power steam locomotive:

Geared Powered locomotive: A geared steam locomotive is a type of steam locomotive which uses gearing, usually reduction gearing, in the drivetrain, as opposed to the common directly driven design.

Geared Machinery:

This type of machinery should not be confused with the pinion that propels a rack locomotive along the racks between the rails. The geared steam locomotives that have been built haven been for conventional track, relying on the adhesion between wheels and rail

3 main category of Geared Power Locomotive

1. The Shay Locomotive
• The Shay locomotive features an offset boiler with a multiple-cylinder engine affixed to it on the opposite side, driving a longitudinal shaft geared to the axles via bevel gears
• The inventor is named Ephraim Shay
2. The Climate Locomotive 
•  A Climate locomotive is a type of geared steam locomotive in which the two steam cylinders are attached to a transmission located under the center of the boiler. This transmits power to driveshafts running to the front and rear trucks 
• Under the Climate locomotives are three sub-classes:
• Class A: These featured a steam engine unit with two vertical cylinders mounted in the center of the locomotive.
• Class B: Introduced in 1893, the climax class B was looking more like a conventional steam locomotive. It had cylinders either side of the boiler, permitting it to be longer and larger than possible with the Class A arrangement 
• Class C: A class C was a three-truck design, the additional powered truck being beneath a water-carrying tender articulated to the locomotive. This allowed the locomotive to operate for longer periods of time before needing to stop for water. All Class C locomotives had inclined cylinders. 
3. The Heisler Locomotive 
• The Heisler locomotive has a 'Vee-Twin' style steam engine, one cylinder each side of the boiler, affixed to a centrally located longitudinal driveshaft, again geared to the wheels.
• Named after Charlie L. Heisler 

Beside the 3 main locomotives categories, there were 10 other clones/duplicates of the three main geared power locomotives categories

In parts of the world (if not all) there are some that are preserved (on display not moving) or on dedicated tourist lines according to research on this topic. 

This concludes another part of my opinion & answer. Please join us next Friday for Part 20 where we talk about the important roles of shunters that worked in the yards and at the docks along with the pilots engine that worked at the station & railroad work sheds. 

Before you go, be sure to return back to the blog on Sunday Oct 9th 2022 where examples of these geared engines will be posted on my "Steam Train Posts Series"