Steam Loco Power Where does it come from?

[trainmania100]

Having (very) briefly read this topic:

Steam engines powered by battery

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04/steam-locomotives-in-netherlands-to-be-converted-to-battery-power.html Hi guys So, not entirely sure where to chuck this, but this is certainly surprising news Do we think this might actually work?

www.railforums.co.uk

and saw the suggestions of batteries on steam locos being in the UK being dismissed, I pondered the question :

With tornado now having a footplate computer for ERTMS plus the usual stuff like TPWS, AWS, I wondered - where does the loco get all of this power from to run the equipment ?
Does it have a battery installed for aux power like the safety systems, lights etc?

It makes sense for a generator in a coach to supply power when working a train, does power come from the support coach? Or a steam powered generator? Or a generator in the tender?

 

[DelW]

Interesting question, to which I don't know the answer. Traditionally British locos used oil lamps on the smokebox door or bufferbeam and in the cab, so I doubt if many/any had electric generators. I imagine Tornado's electronics will be a sealed portable box with its own rechargeable battery topped up overnight.

I've seen steam locos in the US with electric lighting, that had a steam powered generator mounted on top of the boiler or firebox. It's recognisable as a little machine with a steady wisp of steam exhaust coming from it.

 

[jamieP]

Having (very) briefly read this topic:

Steam engines powered by battery

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04/steam-locomotives-in-netherlands-to-be-converted-to-battery-power.html Hi guys So, not entirely sure where to chuck this, but this is certainly surprising news Do we think this might actually work?

www.railforums.co.uk

and saw the suggestions of batteries on steam locos being in the UK being dismissed, I pondered the question :

With tornado now having a footplate computer for ERTMS plus the usual stuff like TPWS, AWS, I wondered - where does the loco get all of this power from to run the equipment ?
Does it have a battery installed for aux power like the safety systems, lights etc?

It makes sense for a generator in a coach to supply power when working a train, does power come from the support coach? Or a steam powered generator? Or a generator in the tender?

Tornado has a steam powered generator and IIRC an axle on the tender is connected to a alternator.

"In addition to the above, Tornado has a sophisticated electrical system, deriving power from a Stones turbo-generator, batteries and a tender mounted alternator."

2008 | 2007 | 2002 | 2000 | The Building of Tornado | The Build | About Tornado | Tornado | A1 Locomotives

 

[hexagon789]

Having (very) briefly read this topic:

Steam engines powered by battery

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04/steam-locomotives-in-netherlands-to-be-converted-to-battery-power.html Hi guys So, not entirely sure where to chuck this, but this is certainly surprising news Do we think this might actually work?

www.railforums.co.uk

and saw the suggestions of batteries on steam locos being in the UK being dismissed, I pondered the question :

With tornado now having a footplate computer for ERTMS plus the usual stuff like TPWS, AWS, I wondered - where does the loco get all of this power from to run the equipment ?
Does it have a battery installed for aux power like the safety systems, lights etc?

It makes sense for a generator in a coach to supply power when working a train, does power come from the support coach? Or a steam powered generator? Or a generator in the tender?

Steam generator and an axle-driven alternator. The latter not unlike the means of providing carriage lighting in older vehicles.

 

[Snow1964]

Steam locos with electric generators are not new, I believe all the Southern Railway Bullied Pacific's had them, and they had electric lights. They had 6 electric lights with 20w bulbs (and 6 on the tender for tender first running). Actually there was a 7th light on tender that illuminated the coupling.

The steam generators were by Josiah Stones of Deptford, they used a small steam turbine to drive a dynamo supplying electricity to 24v system. I understand it was located under the floor of drivers position.

 

[MarkyT]

Tornado has a steam powered generator and IIRC an axle on the tender is connected to a alternator.

"In addition to the above, Tornado has a sophisticated electrical system, deriving power from a Stones turbo-generator, batteries and a tender mounted alternator."

2008 | 2007 | 2002 | 2000 | The Building of Tornado | The Build | About Tornado | Tornado | A1 Locomotives

Among other electrical upgrades, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has added a second turbogenerator on Tornado for resilience and capacity in the ETCS project.

Interesting question, to which I don't know the answer. Traditionally British locos used oil lamps on the smokebox door or bufferbeam and in the cab, so I doubt if many/any had electric generators. I imagine Tornado's electronics will be a sealed portable box with its own rechargeable battery topped up overnight.

One of the early design jobs my Dad was given on joining the loco drawing office at Doncaster after his apprenticeship was a wiring schematic for electric lighting on the Thompson B1 class being built at the time during WW2. The system was originally powered by an axle-linked alternator but this wasn't a success and the design was changed to use the Stones steam generator mounted on the running plate, a feature also incorporated in the original Peppercorn A1s. It was the first time Dad had seen the idea implemented on a steam loco.

I've seen steam locos in the US with electric lighting, that had a steam powered generator mounted on top of the boiler or firebox. It's recognisable as a little machine with a steady wisp of steam exhaust coming from it.

Likely a small turbo generator like the ones on Tornado.

The steam generators were by Josiah Stones of Deptford, they used a small steam turbine to drive a dynamo supplying electricity to 24v system. I understand it was located under the floor of drivers position.

With a steam generator, you wouldn't need a battery just for supplying lighting. With sufficient steam, the turbogenerators can run when stationary, unlike an axle-driven dynamo in traditional coach lighting.

 

[Bill57p9]

Tornado is fully lit to modern standards with things like lit gauges. Then again, it is a modern locomotive.

 

[RT4038]

Among other electrical upgrades, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has added a second turbogenerator on Tornado for resilience and capacity in the ETCS project.

One of the early design jobs my Dad was given on joining the loco drawing office at Doncaster after his apprenticeship was a wiring schematic for electric lighting on the Thompson B1 class being built at the time during WW2. The system was originally powered by an axle-linked alternator but this wasn't a success and the design was changed to use the Stones steam generator mounted on the running plate, a feature also incorporated in the original Peppercorn A1s. It was the first time Dad had seen the idea implemented on a steam loco.

Likely a small turbo generator like the ones on Tornado.

With a steam generator, you wouldn't need a battery just for supplying lighting. With sufficient steam, the turbogenerators can run when stationary, unlike an axle-driven dynamo in traditional coach lighting.

The 62000 K1 type steam locos had them too.

 

[MarkyT]

The 62000 K1 type steam locos had them too.

That makes sense as they were also designed and ordered in the Thompson/Peppercorn era, even if they didn't start construction at North British until the early BR period, in 1949.