Re: Use of reverse lever as 'Jake Brake' . . .

Mark Huber described the process in his post, but the engine has to have a drifting throttle to do this. C&TS locos are equipped with drifting throttles, which admit non superheated steam to the cylinders when drifting down hill light engine. An engine using a drifting throttle makes a sort of thudding sound. The engineer has to alternate between using the drifting throttle and the engine brakes, as the cylinders will overheat after awhile. The drifting throttle is somewhat analogous to the Le Chatelier water brake.

The old time use of the Johnson Bar to stop a loco wouldn't be effective on long down grades.

Michael Allen