Steam locomotives were developed in the early part of the 19th Century,
initially by Trevithick, and then most successfully by George
Stephenson, whose engine Locomotion inaugurated the famous Stockton and
Darlington Railway in 1825. For the next 150 years, steam locomotives
were further developed and refined, until the advent of new electrical
technology superseded them. Although British Railways operated its last
main-line steam locomotives in 1968, there is still immense interest in
the large numbers of locomotives that have been privately preserved, and
which run on heritage railways and in various parts of the world. This
book describes the anatomy and physiology of the steam train, to enable
all train enthusiasts to understand the workings of the various types of
engines in use. It covers the design of the engine, the process of
converting fuel into mechanical tractive effort to haul passenger and
freight trains, and the function and design of the various components of
the engine. The authors also outline the reasons behind the safe and
efficient operation and maintenance of steam locomotives. Although the
steam locomotive originated in the UK, there were parallel lines of
development in North America and in various other European countries,
many of which introduced their own individual features. These are dealt
with in the book, which will appeal to railway enthusiasts throughout
the world.
