[modeleng] Re: Locomotive Crankpin Turning

Hi Ron,

Few notes about general North American steam practice (not specific to N&W)

4-8-0's were quite common  as were 4-8-2 and 4-8-4. Big powerful engines for
heavy trains both freight and passenger service and often long distances.

Turntables were very common, one in most every shop having more than about 4
stalls in the roundhouse.

Firehole bottom edge usually 1-2 feet off cab floor, but cab floor usually 1
or more feet above grate

Cab front faces usually 3-4 feet from backhead. more on older vintage engine
(like the photo). The engine in the photo would probably have a hot cab. It
was likely built 1895-1910 era, and maybe 1500-1800 hp at the drawbar. After
that engines and power output started getting much larger, until 1940's at
the peak of steam development. A 4-8-0 from the 1940's would have a larger
dia boiler all the way to the cab roof, much larger firebox over the frames,
to the full width of the engine, all the accessories like superheat and
feedwater heater, and make close to 4000 hp at the drawbar.

Stoker called fireman in N.A.

Cheers Jeff Dayman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Head" <ron.head@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 3:36 PM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: Locomotive Crankpin Turning


> Hi Charles
>
> Thanks for sharing the link with us.  I've heard of portable machines
being
> used to skim crankpins here in the UK, but I've never seen one in use.  I
> would imagine it's a day's work just to set the machine up, followed by
> perhaps an hour to skim the crankpin!  Getting the four cutters set to the
> same depth of cut must be the devil's own job.  I understand there were
> similar machines that could skim the cranks of a marine engine in situ.
>
> The loco featured in the write-up looks interesting.  Can you tell us a
> little about it?  It looks to be a 4-8-0 wheel arrangement which is most
> unusual.
>
> Two things struck me about it, from the broadside photo.  First, the cab
is
> set well forward, such that the engineer seems to be sitting alongside the
> firebox, surely a hot seat for him!  Why is the cab set forward, was it to
> reduce the overall length to fit on a turntable?  I thought turntables
were
> rare in the US, turning wyes being more common.  Secondly, the stoker
seems
> to be busy with a fire iron, but his position would suggest that the
> firehole is set very low down, in fact just above the foundation ring,
> leaving no depth of firebed.  Anyone care to comment?
>
> Regards
> Ron
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Charles & Dorothy Brumbelow" <cbrumbelow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 11:24 PM
> Subject: [modeleng] Locomotive Crankpin Turning
>
>
> > Here is a site with some interesting pictures showing the use of a
> > portable
> > machine to turn damaged locomotive crankpins.  Enjoy!  Charles
> >
> > http://www.practicalmachinist.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/11/2815.html
> >
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