Re: engine braking on steam locomotives

Fear not, John, I have exhausted my wisdom on electric and transmission retarders. You're right about the Jake brake and the exhaust brake. I have heard from several sources, however, that the exhaust brake can break crankshafts if improperly used.

I probably have even less right-seat time than you in locomotives. It is my general impression from lots of time in the left seat, however, that engineers shy away from any sort of compression braking on steamers, at least on the oil-burning variety. They certainly avoid it on coal burners, out of fear of drawing cinders into the valves and cylinders. When I was doing a little bit of engineer training at the CRRM on the #346, I was instructed to put the Johnson bar in the forward position while descend our short down grades. I assume this must be standard practice, but I was too busy learning to handle the train and independent brakes to ask intelligent questions (anybody can make a train go, but not everybody can make it stop!). The engineers among us can probably expound on this subject far better than I can--help me out, guys! Of "drifting valves" and "water brakes", I know very little. I believe water brakes were discussed at some length a little while back on this forum. In one way or another you want to introduce a little steam into the cylinders and valves while drifting, just to insure continued lubrication of those components.

How's that for bringing us back "on topic"?

Mike