Abstract
The future of the steam locomotive has been a topic for frequent discussion, particularly since the electrification of the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad through the city of Baltimore in 1895.
Little attention was given to improving its efficiency until the tunnel, bridge and track-clearance and weight limitations and the rising costs for fuel and labor made it necessary to find means to increase capacity and economy, since which time the compound, Mallet articulated, and superheated-steam types of locomotives have been generally adopted, although the working steam pressures, due to the continuation of the existing locomotive type of boiler, have remained relatively low, with a few extreme cases of from 225 to 250 lb.
In this paper the author discusses at length the scientific factors that have been considered in the design and development of a new, high-powered freight locomotive for the purpose of substantially increasing the average thermal efficiency, as well as the maximum and sustained drawbar pull and horsepower per unit of weight, all of which are now limited by the capacity of the generally adopted boiler superheater.
