A website on past and present steam locomotive developments in technology..new projects. A fascinating read.The News section is particularly fascinating. Videos of new steam are there as well.
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It is a great site, and I'm glad they support the Coalition for Sustainable Rail, too.
I'm not completely convinced steam really is the way to go in the 21st century, but I am glad people are trying.
It struck me that the vast majority of developing improvements to steam are being done elsewhere as this country is home to some of the best examples of trying to go to the next level with late era steam technology like the Niagara, T1, Jawn Henry, etc. LD Porta is a hero of mine. When he passed away Ross Rowland was deeply affected...Lempor exhaust, gas producing fireboxes for re-combustion..improved insulation, better cylinder designs ( SAR class 26 )...all fascinating to me. Im glad you enjoyed it. The Cuban experiment with burning biomass was brilliant..and it worked. Porta looked over the engine two years later..no problems. If they had listened to Porta instead of trying to design by committee to make The ACE all things to all users..I think the concept would have spurred more developments. ( sigh)
Bruce.
Committees usually mess things up, as in that case.
Levio Porta was one very innovative, gifted engineer. He just never seemed to be in the right place at the right time to have his ideas really get traction. A shame, as he had some dang good ones. I have one of his publications I downloaded form the Coalition website. cool stuff.
Originally Posted by Lee Willis:
Committees usually mess things up, as in that case.
Levio Porta was one very innovative, gifted engineer. He just never seemed to be in the right place at the right time to have his ideas really get traction. A shame, as he had some dang good ones. I have one of his publications I downloaded form the Coalition website. cool stuff.
Wardale seems to be the last man standing..maybe Nigel Day.."The Red Devil and Other Tales from The Age of Steam" by Wardale is a must read...As a retired project engineer the project charting of modifying a SAR Class 25 blew my mind. The incremental base line testing of CO 614 and it's less than perfect condition certainly got ACE off to a crappy start..The misery of the weather and trying to keep the test instrumentation wiring operational reminded me that retirement from projects has its pluses.
BTW..look forward to your new book. Have you looked into Louise Brook's life?
Wow..I have a DVD of 'Pandora's Box' and it's subject matter for it's day is astonishing.
bruce
