The Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of the Steam Locomotive Firebox

This never-before-published report on the fundamental principles of steam
locomotive fireboxes is a unique glimpse into the mind of modern steam
engineer Livio Dante Porta. The piece is an interesting look into the
design process and, at times, struggles encountered in the pursuit of
advanced steam locomotion. Porta wrote the paper at the time of preparing
and testing former Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 4-8-4 number 614 as part of
the ACE 3000 project. 

What Pressure for Old Locomotive Boilers?

This White Paper, was written by mechanical engineer L.D. Porta in 1999 and
addresses some of the misconceptions and concerns surrounding old steam
locomotive boilers. The paper addresses a bit the history of riveted
construction in bridges, including the famous Firth of Forth bridge. Apart
from being one of the most iconic railroad structures in the world, it is
also constructed of steel held together with millions of rivets, all of
which have stood the test of time since their installati...

Development of Modern Steam 4: Advanced Internal Boiler Water Treatment

A continual problem since the development of the first steam locomotive has
been treatment of the boiler water. Water contains impurities (minerals,
metals, etc.) which can lead to problems in boilers. This paper is aimed at
providing a background on the technology and an exemplary test case of the
application of an advanced boiler water treatment to the steam locomotive.
The application of that treatment to historic and first generation steam
locomotives is a crucial step in keeping histo...