Speed matching with multiple steam locomotives

Ed Walsh posted:

Saw an old photo  yesterday of a train that had 3 steam locomotives under full steam.    Got me to wondering how they managed to match speeds of the 3 locos ?    Being almost completely ignorant of steam locomotives and how they work I could only think that assuming all 3 locos were same make, model capacity, etc,

No, that doesn't matter at all. The maximum speed of the entire consist, would always be determined by the locomotive with the smallest drivers.

that they would manage boiler pressure consistently in the 3 locos.

That would be up to the Fireman and Engineer to work together in order to obtain the maximum performance out of THEIR locomotive.

 Haven't ventured a guess how the lead loco communicated to the trailing 2 loco crews.  

Back in the "days of steam" the engine crews KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING relative to their regular operating division/divisions, thus only whistle signals were necessary.

Thanks,

Ed

Here care are a couple of engine whistle signals that might apply to this post.

______       _________    2 long, release brakes, proceed .

0 0 0 0  call for signals....In other words what are we doing???

0   0      signals understood,

0 0 0   when train is standing   back. answer to back up signal.

This is the one I didn't know about off hand....     0 _____

when double heading ... air brakes have failed on leading engine and engineman on second engine must at once take control and stop train. The same signal to be given by the engineman on second engine as soon as he has control of the air brakes.

No radios back in the day.

Very interesting.  The part about running a steam engine that I find a bit hard to understand is, the engineer can’t really see the track ahead half the time can he.  I mean on a left leaning curve the engine is in the way.  I will guess the answer is again he knows his division like the back of his hand so knows when to speed up or slow down whether he can see the actual track or not.  And just has to assume all is clear ahead.  That I can understand, but it does seem a bit tricky, for lack of a better word.  Not to mention the engineer in a trailing engine.

William 1 posted:

Very interesting.  The part about running a steam engine that I find a bit hard to understand is, the engineer can’t really see the track ahead half the time can he.

Anything/object that's within, say 50 feet of the front coupler is surely going to get run over, so what's the point? The Engineer can see HIS SIDE just fine, and the Fireman can see HIS SIDE just fine.

 I mean on a left leaning curve the engine is in the way.

On the other hand, the Fireman can't much on a right hand curve. That's why there are two men in the cab.

 I will guess the answer is again he knows his division like the back of his hand so knows when to speed up or slow down whether he can see the actual track or not.

Correct.

 And just has to assume all is clear ahead.  

Nope. You do NOT "assume" anything. That's why the Engineer AND Fireman keep a sharp eye ahead, while the headend Brakeman on a freight train, keeps a sharp eye on the train behind.

That I can understand, but it does seem a bit tricky, for lack of a better word.  Not to mention the engineer in a trailing engine.

Both the Engineer AND Fireman always know where they are and what to do, even on second or third locomotives on a doubleheader.

Right, one set of eyes on both sides.  That makes sense.  It still takes some stones.  Dangerous business.

You have to stop thinking of a locomotive throttle as a SPEED control and think of it as a POWER control. It controls the POWER developed by the engine, but it has no direct control of speed. The throttle could be wide open at 5 mph hammering up a steep grade, or wide open at 80 mph hauling a passenger train. A locomotive throttle is a POWER controller, NOT a speed controller.

When multiple locomotives (steam or diesel) are working the same train, one may be pulling on the train a little harder than another, but there is no attempt needed to try and match their speeds. Obviously the engines are all going to move at the same speed because they are coupled together!