A

AAR: This Stands for the Association of American Railroads.

AIR BRAKE: Any air brake operated by compressed air or air pressure.  Other systems have used the creation of a vacuum to develop braking force.  The compressed air is supplied by an air compressor on a locomotive.

ANGLE COCK:  A valve placed in the brake pipe at each end of the car used to either allow the brake pipe pressure to flow from one car to another or to prevent the air pressure from escaping from the last car in the train.

AIR COMPRESSOR: See CROSS COMPOUND AIR COMPRESSOR

AIR RESERVOIR: A metal tank capable of retaining compressed air for future use.  There are two air reservoirs on 3420 for a total volume of  67,179 cubic inches.

ATOMIZER: A jet of steam used to break up the oil stream.

AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKE: An air brake system witch the braking system will apply in case of an accident.  On railroad equipment when there is a sudden drop in brake pipe pressure then air pressure flows from a reservoir to the brake cylinder.

AUTOMATIC BRAKE VALVE: A valve in the locomotive cab used to control brakes on both the locomotive and cars. WESTINGHOUSE H-6

AUTOMATIC COUPLER:  A device that can perform the coupling of two pieces of railroad equipment as the two cars come in contact with one another without the need for a trainman to position themselves in a dangerous position.

AXLE: A circular shaft of steel or iron that holds the wheels in place and takes the load from the piece of equipment that it is installed on.

B

BALLAST: Material used to hold the track in place.  This can be from many materials including local natural materials, coal cinders, crushed rock or even smelter slag.

BELL RINGER: An air operated device to automatically ring the bell without having to constantly pull the rope. 3420 was equipped with a  Viloco Bell Ringer, however it was removed while it was on display.

BLOW-BACK: A steam line connected into the oil line between the oil tank shut off and the oil control valve to allow the fireman to remove any blockage in the oil delivery line

BLOW DOWN: A system where water and sediment are removed from the bottom of the boiler.

BLOWER: A flow of steam up the locomotive’s stack to create an air flow or draft in the firebox.

BOILER: A device used to turn water to steam while under pressure.  The steam is then used to do tasks or work.

BOILER BACKHEAD: Backend of a locomotive boiler.

BOILER BARREL: The cylindrical part of the locomotive boiler containing the locomotive flues and tubes.

BOILER CHECK VALVES: A valve that allows the flow of water into the boiler and prevents the pressure in  boiler from flowing out of the boiler and back toward the boiler injector. 3420 is equipped with Nathan Reversable check valves.

 

BOILER FLUE: A duct for smoke or waste gases that has a superheater unit and reduces to a smaller diameter before attachment to the rear tube sheet at the front of the firebox.

BOILER PRESSURE: The pressure in the boiler above atmospheric pressure capable of performing work.   

BOILER SAFETY VALVE or SAFETY VALVE:  A spring loaded device designed to open at a predetermined pressure to allow steam to escape from the boiler and prevent over pressurization of the boiler.  Locomotive safety valves are unique in that they can operate several times without need for adjustment or replacement.3420 is currently equipped with two, three-inch Diameter  valves manufactured by the Crosby Manufacturing Company.

BOILER TUBE: A cylindrical pipe like feature designed to pass heat from the exhaust gases to the boiler water.

BRAKE WHEEL:  A device to manually apply the brakes on a piece of rolling stock.  This is used when an individual car is set out without a locomotive or other way of holding the car in place when motion is not desired.

 

BRAKEMAN: A railroad employee who assists the conductor with the many tasks needed to get a train safely over a railroad.  Prior to the automatic airbrake, the railroads would often assign several men to manually apply and release the brakes on cars giving the name to this position.

BRASS: An alloy of copper and zinc. Also used to describe a journal bearing.

BRICK WORK: Silicon brick lining the fire pan to protect the pan from the fire in the fire box.

BURNER: Part of the oil delivery to the firebox where oil is delivered to the firebox and broken up into droplets to be burned.

C

CAB HEIGHT:  The maximum height of the cab from the top of the rail.

CALL BOY:  A historical position of employment on the railroad where their primary duty is to find the next railroad crew that is to be on duty.

CAPACITY or CAPY: As applied to a freight car, the nominal load in pounds. In some rare cases it may give a measurement of gallons or cubic feet that the car is designed to carry.

CLASS: A group of equipment with similar features.

COMMON CARRIER: A person or company that transports goods and/or passengers on regular routes at set rates.

CONDUCTOR, RAILROAD: The railroad employee in charge of the safe operation of the train in his care ensuring that the safety rules and operating rules are followed.

CONDUCTOR’S LANTERN: A lantern with a large handle that can slide onto the arm to keep both hands free while accomplishing various tasks.

CONSOLIDATION: A specific steam locomotive wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, eight powered wheels, and no trailing wheels.

CROSSBUCKS: A sign used to indicate to automobile traffic that they are crossing a railroad at the same level as the tracks.  This X shaped sign has the words Railroad Crossing on them.

CROSS COMPOUND AIR PUMP or AIR COMPRESSOR: An air compressor that uses the steam twice to compress air in two stages to supply all air operated appliances.  These include air brakes and power reverse.

CROSSHEAD: A built up piece of metal that the pistons are attached to.

CROWNSHEET: The top of the firebox exposed to the direct heat and light of the fire in the fire box.

CYLINDER COCKS or AIR CYLINDER COCKS:  A valve located at the bottom of the locomotive cylinders used to drain the water from condense steam out of the cylinders to prevent damage.

CYLINDER DIAMETER or CYLINDER BORE: The longest straight-line measurement across a cylinder.

CYLINDER STROKE: The distance that a piston travels from one end of a cylinder to another before returning.

D

DAMPER: a metal cover over the air intakes to the fire pan to regulate the amount of air for combustion into the firebox.  May be adjusted manually by the fireman or automatically by the low pressure created in the firebox from the draft in the smokebox.

 

DISPATCHER: A person who directs movements of railroad equipment along mainlines or other tracks where movements need to be coordinated to ensure safety.

 

DISTANCE BETWEEN PULLING FACE AND CHAFING IRON: The distance between the back of the knuckle of the automatic coupler and the wearing face above the drawbar.

DRAW BAR: A bar for connecting a locomotive and tender.  Attached at each end with a pin. 3420 has one draw bar and two safety chains in case of a draw bar failure.

DRIVING WHEEL:  A wheel coupled to the main and/or side rod of a locomotive and used to transmit the power of the locomotive to the railroad rail.

DRIVING WHEEL CENTER: The center part of a locomotive driver similar to the wheel on an automobile with respect to having a removable tire attached.

DRIVING WHEEL DIAMETER:  A measurement of the driving wheel center and tire from one end to the other through the center of the wheel.  This is usually reported as the largest size that the wheel can be before wear causes a reduction in the tire thickness.

E

ENGINE TRUCK: A wheel (or wheels) on a locomotive used to help guide a locomotive thru curves and other track features.  34230 3420 has a Pilot type Swing Center lead truck. 

ENGINEER, LOCOMOTIVE: A Railroad employee who duties are the safe and efficient operation of the locomotive over the territory and proper train handling to minimize any slack action that may cause damage to cargo or passengers.

EQUALIZING BAR:  A bar that takes weight from a car or locomotive and spreads it to two support points.

EXTENDED WAGON TOP BOILER: A boiler design where there is an enlarged area for steam collection above the firebox.

F

FACTOR OF ADHESION: The factor of adhesion is the ratio between the weight on the drivers and the tractive effort. This factor is helpful in determining the ability of a locomotive to slip.

FIREBOX: The chamber of a boiler in which fuel is burned on a typical locomotive.  On fire-tube boilers which are typically used on steam locomotives, the firebox is surrounded by water on the top and sides.

FIREMAN, LOCOMOTIVE: A railroad employee whose duties include the operation of the locomotive boiler and assisting the locomotive engineer.

FIRE DOOR: A hinged cover over the opening of back head of the boiler. While large enough to permit workmen to enter the firebox, it is designed to be securely latched in the closed position when the locomotive is operated. Baffle type doors allow combustion air to enter thru the door and flat doors do not allow the air thru the door.  Air on flat door equipped locomotives comes from the Dampers on the locomotive.

FIRING VALVE:  A device for regulating the flow of oil to the burner.  Firing valve handle latches on the firing valve quadrant with many fine teeth to set with fine control the amount of oil to the burner. The positions go from completely closed to completely open.

FLASH WALL: A wall of fire brick wall in the in the back of the firebox which assists in vaporizing and igniting the oil.

FLEXABLE STAYBOLT: A staybolt is designed to accommodate a significant difference in expansion between a firebox and the outer sheet of a boiler. A flexable staybolt will often have a ball socket   

F.R.A.: A three letter anagram for the Federal Railroad Administration.  This part of the Department of Transportation which was formed in 1968 and oversees railroad safety today.

FOREIGN CAR: A car not belonging to the railroad that controls the movement of the car.

FUEL: When burned in the firebox creates heat that is used to boil water to create both steam and pressure in the boiler.  

FUSEABLE PLUG:  An object in the top of the crown sheet filled with a material that melts at a lower temperature than steel.  This is designed to melt and allow a control release of the pressure from the boiler into the firebox and reduce the possibility of a boiler explosion.

 

G

GENERATOR: An assembly that uses steam from the boiler to produce electricity.  3420 is equipped with a K2 Turbo Generator.

GOVERNOR: A device that controls the speed or output of an appliance. 

 

GRAB IRON: A rod or bar used by trainmen to board or hold onto the side of a railroad car.

GRADE LEVEL CROSSING: A place where a highway and railroad or two different railroads cross one another at the same level.

GRADE SEPERATED CROSSING: A place where a highway and railroad or two different railroads cross one another at different levels.

H

HAULING CAPACITY: Is a relation between the amount of force a locomotive creates and the amount of resistance encountered due to weather grades and other factors that affect a locomotives performance.

HEATER OIL LINE: Uses Steam from the Boiler to keep the oil at the correct temperature from the oil tank to the burner.

HEATER TANK: Uses steam from the boiler to heat the oil in the tank to the proper temperature.  Oil that is too cold will not flow evenly and oil that is to hot will separate making it difficult to control the fire.  Oil temp should be no hotter than 150 F for Bunker C oil. Steam heat may be applied directly by oil bubbler or indirectly by the steam coils in the tank.

HEATING SURFACE(S): The sum of the area exposed to the heat from the fire that can transfer the heat to the water in the effort to produce steam.

HOSTLER: A person who moves and performs basic servicing on a locomotive at a locomotive servicing facility.

HOT BOX: An overheated axle bearing on a car. 

HEADLIGHT: A sheet metal case with a reflector at the back and an incandescent lamp located at a proper distance from the reflector.  Headlights are located at the front of the engine and sometimes at the rear of the tender for illuminating the track. 3420 is equipped with 18-inch Round Case Pyle National Headlights on both the engine and tender.

Hydrostatic Lubricator:  A locomotive appliance that condenses steam from the boiler to create water.  The water is used as medium to carry valve oil to places that will require lubrication when operating at the temperatures the steam is created in the boiler.  Superheated steam can reach 650F. 3420 is equipped with  a Nathan Five Feed Hydrostatic Lubricator.

I

I.C.C.: An abbreviation for the Interstate Commerce Commission which was the first regulatory commission established in the U.S. where it oversaw common carriers.  It was decommissioned in 1995.

INDEPENDENT BRAKE VALVE: A brake valve in the cab where locomotive brakes can be operated independently of the automatic brake valve and is used when moving a light locomotive. WESTINGHOUSE S-6    

INJECTOR:  A device with no moving parts that takes water from the tender and mixes it with steam to impart enough velocity to overcome a check valve to put water into the boiler

J

JOHNSON BAR/POWER REVERSE:  A lever in a locomotive cab used to control the valve timing on a steam locomotive.  Used not only forward or reverse but the locomotive efficiency at speed. May be air assisted. 3420 is equipped with a Ragonet 9-inch.

JOURNAL: Bearing or machine element that constrains relative motion to only the desired motion and reduces friction between moving parts.

K

KNUCKLE: The rotating part of a coupler that allows to couplers to couple and uncouple.

L

LAGGING:  The insulation of the boiler, cylinders and other steam pipes to limit heat loss.  Originally made from wood now modern insulations are used.

LOCOMOTIVE: A powered rail vehicle used for pulling trains.

LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS: They are the power producing element of the Steam locomotive.  The steam usage by the cylinder is controlled by a valve or valves.

LOCOMOTIVE SANDERS:  A device attached to a sand box , operated by compressed air and controlled by a valve in the cab, for delivering sand in front of the driving wheels through the sand pipes. 3420 is equipped with Leach type sanders.

LUBRICANT:  A substance used to assist two surfaces in freely passing by one another.

LOCOMOTIVE AND TENDER WEIGHT FULLY LOADED:  The sum of the weights of the locomotive and tender’s weight when fully loaded.

M

MAIN ROD:  The rod between the crosshead and the main driving wheel.

MANHOLE: The openings in the oil and water tanks on a tender for filling these tanks and permitting entry for inspection and repairs

MANIFOLD: A way of dispensing steam for many uses at one control point such as the fireman’s manifold where the controlling valves for the Blower, atomizer, tank heater, and blow-back are connected to.

MARKER LAMP or CLASSIFICATION LAMP: A lamp used to help train crews determine the class of train that is passing.  Usually mounted on or near a locomotive’s smokebox to make viewing easier.

MASTER MECHANIC: The position of Master Mechanic means they were in charge of all repair and maintenance work for their assigned location.

MECHANICAL LUBRICATOR: A locomotive appliance that uses mechanical motion to force a lubricant to where it is needed.  3420 does not have a mechanical lubricator.

MEET: on single track territory, a meet occurs when two opposing trains pass one another at a siding or second track with a switch at each end to allow trains back onto the mainline. 

MOTIVE POWER: Another name for a locomotive or other power supply used to move railcars and or trains.

O

OIL MEASURING ROD: A graduated (marked in inches and or gallons) steel rod for measuring the amount of fuel oil in the tank.

OIL TANK VALVE:  A valve in the bottom of the oil tank for shutting off the flow of oil to the burner.  The valve is attached to a steel cable to facilitate its operation in the cab and on the ground.

P

PACKING: A material used to create a seal to prevent leakage of a gas or liquid.

PEEP HOLE: A circular hole in the fire door that allows the fireman to watch the condition of the fire and to sand the locomotive when removing soot from the firebox and boiler tubes.

PILOT: Part of the front of the locomotive where to help prevent objects from going under the locomotive.

PILOT WHEELS or LEAD TRUCK:  A truck assembly used to guide a locomotive into curves and diverging routes on switches.

PISTON: A metal disk made to fit into a cylinder and transmit the work created by the movement of a gas or liquid via a piston rod to hopefully accomplish a desired task.

PISTON RING SLOT:  This is the type of slot in the piston for a replaceable metal seal between the piston and the cylinder wall.  3420 has a Box Type slot on the piston.

PISTON ROD: The rod used to transmit the force from a piston toward the desired task.

PISTON ROD PACKING: Where the piston rod leaves the cylinder must be sealed.  This seal is called packing.  3420 has  P&M packing.

POWER REVERSE: See Johnson Bar/Power Reverse.

PRESSURE GAUGE: A device used to measure the pressure in a container or other structure.  Displayed in pounds per square inch or PSI on the gauge.

PUSH POLE: A pole used to move cars on an adjacent track from which the locomotive is occupying.  This is a very dangerous historical practice that is no longer allowed by rule.

PUSH POLE POCET: A circular pocket on freight cars near the corners of the car that enable a car to be pushed by a locomotive on an adjacent track.

R

RADIAL STAY BOILER: A boiler with staybolts that hold the crown sheet to the roof sheet of the boiler.  The staybolts are designed in such a way that the bolts take a limited and determined amount of stress.

RESTRICTED SPEED: When required to move and restricted speed, movement must be made at a speed that allows stopping within half the range of vision short of; train, engine, railroad car, men or equipment fouling the track, stop signal, or Derail or switch line improperly.  When a train or engine is required to move at restricted speed, the crew must keep a lookout for broken rail and not expect exceed 20 mph. Comply with these requirements until the leading wheels reach a point where movement and restricted speed is no longer required.

RIGID WHEEL BASE: When multiple wheels are in a line and do not flex around a curve.

RIVET: A fastening device with a cylindrical shaft and a preformed head at one end.  The other end is formed after heating to a white-hot condition and hammered until a second head is formed.

ROAD FOREMAN of ENGINES: A railroad official in charge of the engine crews (engineers, firemen) operating in a division or subdivision of a railroad.

ROD: Threaded metal bar which along with nuts can hold objects together.

ROLLING STOCK:  A term used to describe railroad cars, locomotive and other pieces of equipment capable of rolling on railroad track.

ROUNDHOUSE: A building used by railroads for servicing locomotives.  Usually in a building constructed along the outer edge of a turntable in a circular type pattern.

RULLING GRADE:  How much the slope of a hill rises determines how much a locomotive can carry.  This is commonly expressed in percent in the US.

RUNNING BOARD: A narrow walkway along the locomotive to give the enginemen access to the front of the locomotive.

RUNNING GEAR: A general term used to describe the combined function of the wheels, rods, springs, frames, rods driving boxes crossheads and other components that help with the creation of motion.

S

SAFETY CHAIN:  A chain or chains used to prevent a total separation of two parts in the event of a failure or derailment.

SAFETY VALVE: See BOILER SAFETY VALVE.

SAND SCOOP: A cylindrical object used to carry sand from the tool box to the peep hole to clean the fire box and tubes of the boiler.  The sand is carried by the draft of the locomotive when it is working hard.

SANDERS:  See LOCOMOTIVE SANDERS

SCRAP: Discard or remove from use. Maybe recycled for metal value or reused on other locomotives depending on the situation.

SENORITY: A system of ranking individuals by the date of hire for the position performed. 

SIDE SHEET: Sides of the fire box exposed to the direct light and heat of the fire.

SHOO FLY: A temporary section of track that is hurriedly constructed around a derailment or other recently created obstacle either natural or manmade.  This type of track work typically involves a minimum amount of grading and ballasting.

SMOKEBOX:  The chamber in front of the boiler that allows a vacuum to be formed to aid in the formation of the draft for the firebox.

SOOT: Carbon deposits caused by incomplete combustion that covers and then insulates the firebox and tubes.  If a lot of soot is produced it comes out of the stack as a black cloud.

SPOT FIRE: A light fire in the firebox adjusted to keep the locomotive hot without allowing the boiler safety valves to work or small enough that the fire becomes extinguished.

SPRING: A elastic metal that is used to limit the effects of shocks as a locomotive or car travels down the track.

STACK HEIGHT: The height from the top of the rail to the top of the locomotive stack.

STAYBOLT: A bolt thru both the inner and outer sheets of the firebox.  The attachment of the bolt can be accomplished by welding or by threading and hammering the ends.  Seal welding may also take place.

STEP BOX:  A portable step for use between the bottom passenger step and a low passenger station platform.

STUD: Another name for a rod.

SUPERHEATER: A device to convert steam from the boiler in a saturated state or at or near the temperature to re-condense into water at a given pressure to one where the steam is well above this temperature. SCHMIT TYPE A

SUPERINTENDENT:  A person who manages, or oversees an organization or enterprise.  They may direct the work of others.

SWITCH: A mechanical device that enables a piece of railroad rolling stock or trains

T

TENDER HEIGHT: The maximum height of the tender as measured from the top of the rail.

TENDER LENGTH BETWEEN PULLING FACE AND CHAFING IRON: The distance between the back of the knuckle of the  automatic coupler and the metal wearing plate above the draw bar.

TENDER WEIGHT: The weight of the tender when loaded.

THREAD: A wedge shape that under tension will slide past a similar wedge shape to interlock two pieces.

THROTTLE:  A lever used to regulate the power to the locomotive.  On a steam locomotive this is accomplished by regulating the amount of steam allowed to flow past the valve. RUSHTON DOUBLE SEAT BALANCED VALVE

TIMETABLE, EMPLOYEE: A document that that gives more specific instructions for train operations over a railroad division and specific tracks.

TIRE: A metal ring that is heat shrunk on the driving wheel center.

TOWER: The work place of the operator of a railway grade crossing, junction, yard or other location to operate the different routes at the site.

TRACTIVE EFFORT: Tractive effort is a measure in pounds force of a steam locomotive that a steam locomotive can exert on the rail.

TRAIN:  A locomotive with or without cars, displaying markers.

TRAIN ORDER: A way of controlling or dispatching trains from a central Dispatcher.  A complicated system that included the passing up of individual instructions known as train orders.  These orders were on flimsy onion skin paper.

TRAINMASTER: A railroad official in charge of the train crews (conductors, brakemen) operating in a division or subdivision of a railroad.

TUBE SHEET: A plate of metal used to hold up the boiler tubes and separate the fire and exhaust gases from the water.  The rear tube sheet is the front of the fire box and the front tube sheet is in the smoke box.

TOTAL LOCOMOTIVE WEIGHT:  The total weight of the locomotive on all of the wheels in operating condition.

V

VALVE GEAR: The mechanical motion that control the valve timing to control the admission and exhaust of steam. STEPHENSON

W

WATER GLASS OR WATER GAGE: A device to observe the water height in the locomotive boiler.  A glass is held by a metal frame and designed to be in communication with the boiler above and below the glass via fittings into the boiler.  The glass should be set in the range that the water steam interface or level is expected in the boiler.  3420 is equipped with two Klinger 8 5/8-inch Reflex Glasses.

WAYBILL: A document prepared by the railroad describing the shipment of goods.  This could be used for full cars or less than full car or container load.  Waybills usually contain details of the shipment, route, weights and charges of the car or package.

WAYCAR: The term used by the A. T. & S. F. for cabooses.

WEIGHT ON DRIVERS: This is the weight of the locomotive carried on the  locomotive drivers.  This number is important for a variety of reasons including pay.

WHEEL BASE: The horizontal distance between the first and last wheels of a piece of rolling stock or locomotive and tender.

WELD: To join together two separate pieces by heating to the point of localized melting and then the separate pieces are joined together as the newly formed liquid forms a pool that is allowed to cool.

WYTHE WHEEL ARRANGEMENT: A system of classifying locomotive suggested by F. M. Whyte, and based upon the wheel arrangements, grouping each set of truck and coupled driving wheels by driving by number beginning at the pilot or head end of the engine. Under the Wythe Classification system  3420 is a “2-8-0” or  two leading wheels. eight driving wheels. and no trailing wheels.     

X

X-RAY: For metals it is a non-destructive way to help determine whether or not there are defect in the metal.

Y

YARD: A location with a number of railroad tracks used to store, sort, load, unload and perform other railroad activities with railroad equipment.