PUTTING IN THE WATER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 8 March 1909, Page 2

PUTTING IN THE WATER

"We are waiting here to fill up tho boiler," exclaims someone ou nearly every train that runs. If the matter were given half a thought it would beseen that this course .would be impossible. When it is considered that in these engines there is a pressure of 1601bs to the square inch, it is easily seen that the process of filling the boiler with water is an impossibility. Not much water would force its way against such a pressure of steam. On each side of the boiler, as many people know, but obviously not all, are situated large tanks where the water is held first, and these are kept pretty full. From what has been said it would be, obviously, a very difficult thing to put fresh water into a boiler with a high pressure. Brains have come to the rescue. By a somewhat simple contrivance the power of the steam i- used against itself, and forces the water into the boiler against its own pressure. Theie is a specially fitted valve and steam conies round, forms a vacuum, and. as is known, water will always fill a vacuum. Then more steam gets behind the water and the boiler is tilled. Then again, it is necessary in filling the boiler to do so a little at a time, for it would materially decrease the volume, and consequently the pressure |of the steam, if too much fresh water rushed in. The other large dome on the 1 engine is nothing more or less than a sand box for putting sand on the rails when they arc slippery. It is well-known that sand is used in all cases of this^nature. A lever in the cab works the "instrument." The train is practically con. trolled by two levers. One is a lever to regulate the extent of steam put into the cylinder, and this moves the train or or alters the speed. On this run the or, dinary brakes are in use. When it is desired to stop the train the steam is cut off, and the brakes applied by the fireman. This means that the train cannot be pulled up nearly so quickly as if the Westinghouse brakes were applied. But this brake would not he workable on the Nohxm Hue,