Shay Locomotive passes

In the typical steam locomotive, there are two groups of rods, each connected to one or more cylinders located on either side of the locomotive. These rods convert the pistons' reciprocating (back and forth) motion into the driving wheels' rotary motion. Because the tractive effort (pulling capacity) of the locomotive is partly dependent on the number and diameter of driving wheels, engines with high tractive effort tend to have many connected driving wheels, making the wheelbase comparatively long and rigid. For example, some of the largest steam locomotives in Canada had rigid driving wheelbases of 22 feet (6.7 metres). Moreover, the majority of steam engines haul their fuel and water in separate tenders behind the engine. The tenders contribute to the overall length of a steam locomotive and to the dead weight the locomotives have to pull.

Canada Science and Technology Museum's Festival of Technology. Summer 2007. Courtesy Tom Alfoldi.

http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/index.cfm

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