Excerpt from Locomotive Operation: A Technical and Practical Analysis The object of this work is to give a complete and systematic discussion of the theory and practice of locomotive operation. By this is meant the work or results accomplished by a loco motive in motion, together with the effect upon itself and the track, and the amount of fuel and water needed to perform such work, rather than an exclusive treatise upon the mere manipulation of the machine, though the latter naturally forms a part of the study in connection with the proper manner of procuring certain results. The order in which the different conditions are taken up is somewhat at variance with the usual custom. Inertia is first considered, as this property is inherent in all bodies having motion of a variable character. The Action of the Steam is next examined in detail, as to its power of producing rotation and strains in the various members of the mechanism. Resistance naturally follows, as it must be overcome by the action of the steam. This leads us to Slipping and Braking, which are the logical outcome of the previous studies. These prepare us for an examination of the Hauling Power at slow speeds, but in order to consider high speeds, the steam capacity of the boiler must be determined, which is first under taken. As the principal business of the locomotive is to haul trains, this is the most important chapter of the treatise, and it is placed in this part of the work, so that the various factors by which it is governed might be studied in an elementary man ner before the complication necessary for a complete under standing of it is encountered. After this follow determinations of the water and fuel consumption under different conditions, and their economical use. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.