How a Steam Locomotive Works

Unavailable for some time, this book proved to be an instant success when first published, explaining as it did, in a simple and comprehensible way the complex engineering behind a steam locomotive. The subject is explained through a series of easily understandable diagrams which show the function of the components in step-by-step sequences. The clear diagrams and explanations require no prior technical or engineering knowledge. Photographs, both historic and contemporary, illustrate the text. This expanded edition is the ideal introduction to the subject both for older steam enthusiasts, as there are few who understand every aspect of the steam locomotive in its entirety, a subject which encompasses many engineering specialisms including structures, dynamics, thermodynamics and fluid flows, and heritage railway volunteers and fans who love this most dramatic and inspiring form of traction but may not be up to speed with how it actually operates.