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Engaging a Prototype Steam Locomotive Booster Engine Prototype railroading Steam Loco
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MRH Author and Moderator 2,500 posts Geoff Bunza geoffb MRH Author and Moderator 2,500 posts
Geoff Bunza geoffb

Hi,

Can someone explain the actual use of a steam loco, equipped with a booster engine (typically in the trailing truck or in the lead tender truck)? Were there separate controls for the booster? When was the booster engaged? Did the associated driven wheels often slip or drag relative to the drivers? Was the booster cut out when not needed? When/if cut out were the booster wheels free rolling?

If you have a reference dealing with booster operation or you know the answers, both would be appreciated.

Have fun! 
Best regards,
Geoff Bunza

Geoff Bunza's Blog Index: https://mrhmag.com/blog/geoff-bunza
More Scale Model Animation videos at: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrGeoffB
Home page: http://www.scalemodelanimation.com
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earlyrail Regular poster 243 posts
earlyrail

Try this link

This is a good sample of how they worked by someone that acutally used one

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,907623

 

Howard Garner
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jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,978 posts
jeffshultz

4449 has a booster

Listening in on a conversation that Doyle McCormick was leading, apparently the booster has been used only once in running - and it was a thirsty beast, drinking a lot of water as steam.

It was, however, completely rebuilt in the latest rebuild of the 4449. So if they ever decide they'll need it again...

orange70.jpg
Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
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CandOfan Prolific poster 1,532 posts
CandOfan

it's a booster and not a double header

Generally speaking steam locomotives cannot use all the steam that they can produce at low or starting speeds. Boosters therefore are used at these critical times when there is sufficient steam to feed them without having to redesign the steam producing part of the locomotive. Of course it is also possible to load an engine down sufficiently to run out of steam, booster or not.

The famous Triplexes were, in some regards, the ultimate booster experiments. They all routinely ran out of steam pulling trains that they could start.

I suspect that the 4449 doesn't use the booster often since it, like most other steam locomotives in the 21st century, is not often loaded down to near capacity.

Modeling the C&O in Virginia in 1943, 1927 and 1918
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Geoff Bunza geoffb MRH Author and Moderator 2,500 posts
Geoff Bunza geoffb

@Howard Great Link!

Hi Howard,

Thanks for that link. It covers most all of my questions.

Thanks Jeff and C&OFan for the color commentary.

Have fun! 
Best regards,
Geoff Bunza

Geoff Bunza's Blog Index: https://mrhmag.com/blog/geoff-bunza
More Scale Model Animation videos at: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrGeoffB
Home page: http://www.scalemodelanimation.com
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