The Front-End Limit As discussed on the Grate Limit page, the grate limit occurs when any increase in the rate of fuel delivery produces no increase in evaporation. In other words it represents the maximum rate of heat emission that a firebox can deliver beyond which point any additional fuel added to the firebox produces […]
Books and Publishers Books and Printed Reference Material Brief reviews of the following books can be found on this website through the links provided: 1998: Wardale D., The Red Devil and Other Tales from the Age of Steam, published by the author, Inverness, ISBN 0-9529998-0-3, reprinted 1999 2006: Porta L.D., Advanced Steam Locomotive Development – […]
The Red Devil and Other Tales from the Age of Steam by David Wardale The Red Devil and Other Tales of the Age of Steam by David Wardale has deservedly become a “classic” since its first publication in 1998. The book was originally published by Wardale himself, who produced a total of 2600 copies, 1000 […]
Valve Gear and Valve Events This page covers (very briefly) a number of topics related to valves. These come under the following headings: Valve types Valve gear Valve ports Valve events Predicting valve events Reuleaux Diagram Valve travel Lap and Lead Lead Lap Purpose of steam lap Purpose of exhaust lap Attention is also drawn […]
Tractive Effort “Tractive effort” (TE) is the force applied by a locomotive for moving itself and a train. Tractive effort or tractive force is measured in kilo-Newtons (kN) or pounds force (lbf) where 1 kN = 228.4 lbf. As with “power” there are different methods of measuring tractive effort: Drawbar tractive effort – the force applied by […]
Wardales’ Summary of Fundamental Design Calculations These notes are copied from a letter written by David Wardale to Chris Newman dated 22nd November 2004, notifying the completion of the 5AT Fundamental Design Calculations. In undertaking this work, I have had an ‘agenda’ (to use a current term) in addition to providing the foundation for the 5AT. […]
Wall Effects and Condensation Wall Effects: The term “wall effects”refers to the changes in steam temperature caused by temperature differentials between the steam and the walls of the cylinder, its end covers and the steam passages connecting to it. When high temperature, high pressure steam enters the cylinder, it comes into contact with the relatively […]
Web Sites Offering Information on Modern Steam The following lists websites containing useful content relating to “modern steam”: Wikipedia page on 5AT Locomotive titled” “5AT Advanced Technology Steam Locomotive“ Wikipedia page on Modern Steam titled “Advanced Steam Technology“ Chapelon website: http://www.chapelon.net/ Ing. Livio Dante Porta: http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/ldp/ldp.htm Extensive information on modern steam subjects covering all the […]
Increased Steam Pressure and Temperature Page Under Development This page is still “under development”. Please contact Chris Newman at webmaster@5at.co.uk if you would like to help by contributing text to this or any other page.
SAR Class 19D 2-8-4 No 2644 South African Railways Class 19D 2-8-4 No 2644 was Wardale’s first locomotive modification incorporating a limited number of “Porta features”. It became a test-bed for trying out ideas that would later be incorporated into Class 26 4-8-4 No 3450 The Red Devil. The redesign and modification work was undertaken […]
SAR Class 26 No 3450 – The Red Devil “The Red Devil” is the iconic nick-name that was given to SAR Class 25NC No 3450 after David Wardale rebuilt it to become the sole member of Class 26 in 1981. Wanting the locomotive to create an impression with the general public and in strict contravention […]
Porta’s Papers A large number of paper covering a whole spectrum of topics about Modern Steam were written by Ing L.D. Porta, however most remain in hand-written manuscript form. The few that have been published include “Porta L.D., Advanced Steam Locomotive Development – Three Technical Papers” published by Camden Miniature Steam. The papers included in […]