Selection of Papers by L.D. Porta – Volume 5

Exhaust Systems and Other Aspects of
Steam Locomotive Design, Performance and Operation

The Argentinean engineer Livio Dante Porta (1922 – 2003) remains an unsung hero in the long history of steam locomotive development. Following in the footsteps of Chapelon, he rebuilt numerous locomotives in Argentina and elsewhere, and designed several revolutionary locomotives, both large and small. Like Chapelon, none of his designs were built and most of his rebuilds have been lost to the scrap market. He has however left a rich legacy in the form of over two hundred technical papers covering a wide range of subjects and written in at least three languages, the majority in English. A few of his papers were published in conference proceedings; some were typed, but the majority were left as handwritten manuscripts. Many were written for specific purposes such as “Application of the Gas Producer Combustion System to the 141R” and “On the Hudson-Orrok Heat Transfer Equation” which were written to guide David Wardale in his South African and/or his China endeavours. Others would have been written for the purpose of guiding present and future engineers and designers towards the further development of steam locomotive engineering.

This fifth volume subtitled “Exhaust Systems and Other Aspects of Steam Locomotive Design, Performance and Operation”, includes 21 papers as follows:

Modern Steam Concepts

  • Fundamental Principles of Steam Locomotive Modernization                                   1998
  • Steam Locomotive development in Argentina (Manchester paper)                           1969
  • Progress on Steam Loco Technology carried out in Argentina since 1969                1976
  • Modernization of ex-Baldwin 2-6-2T locos – Emerald tourist railway Australia       1995
  • The Case of a Better American Steam Locomotive                                                     c.1977

Locomotive Exhausts

  • The Exhaust of Locomotives (covering both Kylpor and Lempor)                              1957
  • Addendum – Notes and Clarifications by David Fryer and Martin Johnson             2025
  • Lempor Theory                                                                                                                     1974
  • Calculations for a Lempor Ejector for a 2-10-0 locomotive                                          1974

Compound Locomotives

  • A New Conception of the Compound Locomotive                                                         1976
  • The Steam Cycle in the case of a 3-cyl compound 2-10-0                                      undated

Articulated Locomotives

  • Some Notes on the Design of Mallet Locomotives                                                       1977
  • Notes on the Design of Garratt Locomotives                                                                 1977
  • Some notes on Large Steam Pipe Connections in separable locomotives             1978
  • Some Loose Notes on the Separable Locomotive                                                         1978
  • A system for coupling Mallet engine units and other Articulated Locomotives   1977

Miscellaneous Topics

  • A Mechanical Anti-Slipping Device for Steam, Electric or Diesel Locomotives        1977
  • Cario – an Advanced Axlebox Scheme for 21st Century Steam Locomotives             2000
  • Steam Locomotive: Running with Closed Regulator                                                     1977
  • The Fischer Knuckle Pin in Advanced Steam Locomotive Engineering                     1986
  • Notes on the Optimum Value of Lead in Steam                                                             1977
  • On the Performance of the British Standard Class 8 No 71000                                   1977

A brief description of each of the 21 papers can be downloaded here.

 

The book fills 340 A4 pages including numerous monochrome and a few colour images.  It also includes an index.

Book price: £27.00 (less 20% discount to ASTT members) plus postage.

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