How efficient are steam engines?

Steam engines were the world’s first true form of mass transportation, and while they have been replaced by newer technologies in much of the world, they still captivate adults and children everywhere. How efficient are steam engines compared to their diesel and electric counterparts? Are they still in use today?

There are many. There are many types of locomotive engines in use around the world today, and they operate in different ways. Each of these engines also has its own inherent set of advantages and disadvantages.

  • Steam engines Get their traction from steam engines. These engines start with a boiler system, which uses burning coal, wood or oil to heat water until it becomes steam. The steam then pushes on the pistons in the engine, and the movement of the pistons causes the wheels to turn.
  • Electric engine There are those that draw their power from electricity, and there are two different types. Some electric trains rely on overhead pickups. Connection is made to an overhead electrical wire, which transmits power to the engine. Others use a third rail, which conducts power like an overhead pickup, but is instead located underneath the locomotive.
  • Diesel engine Use a diesel combustion engine for power – like you might find in a semi-truck or school bus. These engines are still in use around the world today because they are practical, they produce less pollution, and they are easy to maintain.
  • The slug engine They are sometimes called drones, and while they don’t provide electricity themselves, they are connected to diesel-electric engines to provide better braking and more traction for a safer ride. Slug Is motors, but they are driven by the “mother” or main locomotive.
    • Gas electric engine They are quite rare in the world today, but they still exist. Electric generators or alternators that drive the motors are powered by gas turbines. When the oil crisis hit in the 1970s, these trains were put on the back burner due to the volume of gas needed to power them.
  • Hybrid engine are one of the more common types of locomotives today. They use a fuel-powered power source and an electric engine, but they also have a rechargeable “battery” on board, much like today’s hybrid cars and trucks. Battery power is used uniquely. It captures the kinetic energy of the train and converts it into braking power.
  • Fuel cell electric engine Among these are the latest technologies, and they convert hydrogen into energy through fuel cells. They were introduced in Canada in 2002, and only a few places use them today.
  • Steam diesel hybrid engine There are still some in places like Russia and the UK, but they are no longer on track. They were originally designed to use diesel or boilers to move their pistons, but the cost of fuel oil was so high that the idea was scrapped.

In the 1950s when the world was just discovering the true potential of nuclear power, an atomic electric locomotive was proposed. Because of its potential risk and cost (it would require a 200-meter reactor and 1.5-meter-thick lead coating), the idea was scrapped.

The invention of the steam engine was a turning point in human history. For the first time, it was possible to transport large quantities of goods, animals and even people in a way that was fast, cheap and reliable for the time. In fact, the steam engine paved the way for the rail system that eventually led to the Industrial Revolution and the technology we all use today.

Big river
Bill Hopper

The first steam engine was introduced to the world in the 1770s by a Scottish inventor named James Watt. He patented his invention so that no one else could profit from his idea, but Watt never saw his invention put into practice. It wasn’t until 30 years later when the patent expired that inventors had the chance to really bring steam speed to life. The first fully functional steam engine was introduced by Richard Treuthick, and was the most efficient prototype in existence at the time.

It is important to note that before this, no one believed that it was possible to use a steam engine for any kind of real industrial use. It just won’t be powerful enough. However, Trevithick proved them all wrong and showed just one mine owner that it could be done by pulling a 10-ton load over a 10-mile journey. Although Trevithick’s steam engine was ultimately unsuccessful, his ideas and determination inspired innovation around the world.

The first successful steam engine is attributed to Matthew Murray. In 1804, he built the world’s first fully functional steam engine. In 1812, Murray’s Salamanca locomotive with its twin cylinders became public. The inventor of the first steam engine for public transport was George Stephenson, who is best known for inventing “locomotion” in 1825. He operated the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England for many years. Shortly after, Stephenson designed and successfully built “The Rocket,” which featured a revolutionary pressurized boiler that allowed it to reach a top speed of 45 miles per hour while carrying 30 people. Engines like the “rocket” were the first to spread, and by the mid-1800s, they were all over England.

Steam locomotives are no longer used for mass transportation, but many have been preserved and/or restored as tourist attractions. Only in America, there are Dozens of locations Where people can ride a steam train for a nostalgic feel. As of the time of writing, two steam locomotives are still in operation today. Union Pacific Nos. 844 and 4014.

Steam engines
Jeff Hampton

Believe it or not, steam locomotives weren’t completely phased out in the United States until the 1960s, and they were replaced by diesel or electric locomotives. Both of these options were more efficient (and thus cost-effective) than their steam counterparts.

How efficient are steam engines? They are not useful at all. Only 5% of the potential energy produced by the boiler of a steam engine is translated to the wheels in the form of actual driving power. This means that 95% of the energy produced by burning coal, wood or oil is wasted. By contrast, a diesel engine is 45% efficient – ​​significantly more than its steam counterparts – and today’s modern electric engines are 95% more efficient, making them the most efficient engines in existence.

In the early days of steam speed, there was plenty of fuel to get around. Coal, wood and oil were everywhere. By the 1960s, it was a different story. A growing population demanded more housing – and more electricity and heating for that housing – which cost more. Costs were already rising. Diesel engine Railways were introduced in 1934. That year, the “Zephyr” made its maiden voyage from Denver, Colorado to Chicago, Illinois. The technology was still experimental, and since the economy was just beginning to recover from the Depression, there wasn’t enough money to put into it. The success of this single journey set the stage for a new era of rail to come.

FEF North
Roger Pota

Ultimately, the demand to reduce transportation costs overcame the reluctance to invest in new technologies. The designers of the diesel engine promised that their new technology would be cheaper to use, it would be faster, and it would be able to travel further without stopping to refill oil and water for the boiler.

It is also helpful to note that maintaining the steam engine was also a difficult and expensive endeavor. Federal law at the time required monthly maintenance, including cleaning the cisterns — a huge undertaking. In addition, the engines required almost constant major overhauls to keep them running. Steam engines were available only 35 percent of the time because of the need for constant maintenance, but diesel engines were available 95 percent of the time because their maintenance requirements were minimal.

Like cars and trucks, the pulling power of a locomotive can be measured in horsepower. Steam locomotives are long gone, and most of today’s powerful freight trains are diesel-powered. They are fast, efficient, and relatively easy to maintain, making them the best option available for transporting large quantities of goods over long distances. Modern engines have a wide range of horsepower. Some boast about 1,000, but others may have as many as 18,000. Modern engines have horsepower ratings of 10,000 or more, and the same is true for today’s new electric engines.

Locomotive Driver
Jonathan Lee

Steam engines on the other hand are a different story. The largest steam engine ever built is Union Pacific No. 4014, which is still in operation today in Wyoming. It was designed purely for the purpose of carrying large objects without the need for additional engines to support it. The weight of this huge engine is 600 tons (Only locomotive!) and is 132 feet long. It boasts 6,290 horsepower, can hit a top speed of 70 miles per hour, and can go about 100 miles before needing service.

When it comes to sheer power and horsepower, a diesel engine is a better choice than a steam engine. First and foremost, starting power is an important consideration. A diesel combustion engine can provide full driving power immediately, while a steam engine has to work up to full power and takes a long time to accelerate. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two in terms of power is that diesel engines can be tuned to carry particularly heavy loads. This is not only true of steam engines. Only one can be attached to a load at a time, and the size of that load will ultimately determine the locomotive’s rate of acceleration.

The world’s most powerful steam engine is a hotly contested topic, but most would agree that the winner is the C&O “Allegheny.” This locomotive was built for the Lima Locomotive Works and ran almost exclusively on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. It boasted a plain design with a 2-6-6-6 wheel arrangement, and in terms of raw horsepower and tractive power, it was quite possibly the most powerful steam engine ever built. It was also one of the heaviest. When loaded with her tender of 25 tons of coal and 25,000 gallons of water, she weighed about two million pounds. without His possessions

Locomotive 4014
Jonathan Lee

It was built for the purpose of hauling many tons of West Virginia coal between West Virginia and Virginia, and while it was designed to have high speeds for its time, it was not actually used at that speed. Didn’t intend to. “Allegheny” was as much about bragging rights as it was about functionality. Amazingly, when the new Lima design was tested, it produced nearly 7500 horsepower and over 110,000 pounds of thrust – even more than Union Pacific No. 4014! It could haul 5000 tons of coal at an absolutely astonishing 45 mph, and was rated to carry twice that amount – up to 10,000 tons!

Despite its impressive power, the locomotive was as inefficient as the others. C&O originally purchased 60 of these large machines, but they were Only 15 years of service before the last one was derailed. 58 engines were scrapped, leaving only two behind. One of them – No. 1601 and the other “Allegheny” by Lima workers – is located in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Steam engines were introduced around 500 years ago, and since then, they have captured the hearts of people around the world. Although only one continues to operate on the freight line, there are dozens that can be seen in museums or even taken a ride along the historic railroad. Although they were the most inefficient engines, they forever changed America for the better.