How often does water have to be flushed from cylinders and system? At every full stop? Only before the first run of the day? When the train slows? How about a switcher that starts, rests, and stops? Is there one valve that does this?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Tommy posted:How often does water have to be flushed from cylinders and system? At every full stop? Only before the first run of the day? When the train slows? How about a switcher that starts, rests, and stops? Is there one valve that does this?
Assuming you are referring to steam locomotives, although diesel locomotive engines can also have water in the combustion chamber, creating a hydraulic lock. At any rate, usually starting out after sitting all night, or at least many hours, the cylinder cocks are opened and remain open until there is no more condensation exiting the cocks (an experienced crew can tell). Once the cylinders become really hot after running for quite some time, opening the cylinder cocks is generally not needed, after a brief stop, especially in warm weather. However, there is still no real harm done by opening the cylinder cocks after each and every stop, no matter how brief, in order to be extra cautious.
With stitching service, again once the cylinders get hot, lots of cylinder cock operation is generally not that necessary. That said, things would change dramatically in winter months, thus requiring far greater use of the cylinder cocks.
The Engineer has only one operating valve for control of the cylinder cocks, and even way back in the old days, i.e. the 1800s, the Engineer had one mechanical rod/lever that would open both cylinder cocks on each cylinder. In the "modern era", there were air operated cylinder cocks, and steam operated cylinder cocks, again, all being controlled by the Engine with one master valve.
Thanx for the clear answer.
