Trains LIVE — Geared locomotives

Trains LIVE — Geared locomotives — 5-31-2023 — Think of a steam locomotive. Right now, the majority of you have a mental picture of a locomotive with driving wheels connected by rods to the pistons. The pistons move back and forth as steam expands in the cylinders. The rods move, turning the driving wheels. Power is transferred from the steam to the wheels and the locomotive pulls the train along the track. Our steam locomotive will encounter moderate grades, let’s say up to 2% or even 3%. The curves are not too bad, generally under 10 degrees. Our image is fairly accurate for most standard-gauge, mainline railroads. Let’s change the equation — steep grades — over 3% — sharp curves — well over 10 degrees — and track that is temporary at best. This could be a rough logging or mining railroad. We need a different type of steam locomotive. This is Train LIVE — geared locomotives.

The Climax, Heisler, and Shay steam locomotives are not the standard reciprocating variety. Their cylinders and pistons are mounted vertically or at an angle. The rods, which are far shorter than a reciprocating locomotive, connect to a drive shaft. This shaft delivers power to the axles through a gear assembly. The driving wheels, if you can call them that compared to a reciprocating steam locomotive, are mounted in trucks, which swivel under the engine. Such differences yield a sure-footed locomotive able to climb steep grades and negotiate tight curves, like those found around logging and mining operations.

Today, we talk with Trains.com video producer Kevin Gilliam about geared locomotives. Kevin is currently working on the next video in our DVD series: Great American Steam Locomotives: Logging and Geared Locomotives. Kevin discusses some of the video footage that has been captured for this presentation and talks about the locomotives we’ll see in the final cut.

This is Trains LIVE — Geared locomotives.

Trains LIVE is a regular video segment, recorded live and unscripted from Kalmbach Media. The series began in July 2022.

Trains LIVE features Bob Lettenberger, Trains associate editor, Kalmbach Media staff, and guests talking about railroads and trains in a casual, behind the scenes format. On Trains LIVE we will ask the questions you would like to ask and take you into places not normally open to the public. Trains LIVE also takes you on the road to museums, trackside locations and other railroad-related venues. It is unscripted and presented every other Wednesday at 2 p.m. Central time.

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