Re: Locomotive Steam Characteristics

Looking back through the older (and some newer) literature on the subject and the primary focus was on the condition of the fire on the grate (make sure it covers the grate evenly with no holes, not too thick (unless equipped for GPCC), get rid of clinkers and so on) and on the front end or blast pipe/stack configuration. Much recent literature has focused on the newer designs for blast pipes to maximize the flow of gasses. There is even a recent doctoral dissertation on this that has been published under the title "The Fire Burns Much Better...."
The sophistication of some of the physics is impressive.
Bill Hobbs