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Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive (Railroads Past and Present) | 
 enlarge | Author: J. Parker Lamb
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $44.95
Buy New: $28.41
You Save: $16.54 (37%)
New (15) Used (8) from $28.41
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 202481
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 197
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.8
ISBN: 0253342198
Dewey Decimal Number: 625.2610973
EAN: 9780253342195
ASIN: 0253342198
Publication Date: June 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Good high-level overview December 18, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The advertising says that this book, written by an engineer, gives an engineering perspective of the evolution of the American steam locomotive. While there were moments in which the author provided some background (such as providing a very rudimentary explanation of steam tables), I was disappointed to find that it was more a history of the development of the steam locomotive through the various types of locomotives and what they brought to the table. But, I had been hoping for a more in-depth discussion of the engineering facets of the various theories and devices employed to pull the most work out of the steam.
The beginning of the book was promising. The author gave a nice background of basic steam engine priciples and the application of steam engines to locomotion. Unfortunately, as the book progressed, it became evermore a recitation of the evolution through the various types of locomotives. To be fair, he did spend some time explaining, for example, how the development of the bigger firebox affected the ability of the locomotive to provide sustained power, but even that discussion could have provided more.
I would really have liked to see more detailed discussions of such things as the thermodynamic effect of feedwater heaters, the differences between feedwater pumps vs. injectors, the differences between fire tube and water tube boilers (he did mention some differences, but I would have liked to have seen more depth), to name a few.
Overall, it's a good read and nicely informative. I would recommend it to a non-engineer who has limited knowledge of steam locomotives, their basic principles and their devices. For myself, I was looking for something with more meat.
Outstanding Reference November 9, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book provides a very comprehensive overview of the development of steam locomotives. Some readers may find it too technical, but for anyone interested in really understanding steam power, this is the book to get.
 Well illustrated and easily understood book June 13, 2007
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
If you've been curious about how steam locomotives developed in North America the way they did, and why they disappeared, then this is a nice book to start with. It explains why the thermodynamic efficiency of a steam locomotive can only be about 18% with superheating and a 300 psi boiler pressure. However, in actual practice, the thermal efficiency is around 6%. Compared to the 30% thermal efficiency of the internal combustion (e.g. diesel) engine, the steam locomotives have a long way to go. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, such considerations meant that steam as we knew it was doomed.
However, in this day and age, the ability to burn alternative fuels besides oil may allow the steam locomotive to make a reappearance in a more modern guise.
J. Parker Lamb does not get this far in his analysis, as it looks primarily backwards from the earliest of steam locomotives in North America to the last ones of the 1950s and 1960s. The reasons for their evolution are well explained and lavishly illustrated. It's a very good book from that perspective. The quantity of physics and math equations are kept to a minimum - perhaps a little too few for those with a more technical inclination. However, it should be understood that this is a book for the general public, and not mechanical engineers.
Lamb concludes that steam's low thermodynamic efficiency along with the diesel's ability to be used modularly - i.e. several locomotives controlled by one engineer - gave the the diesel the overwhelming advantage. That was indeed true when the diesel took over 40-50 years ago. But if you read Porta or Wardale's work, you will realize that steam locomotive evolution is far from over. Modern techniques such as the Lempor exhaust, and the gas producer combustion system can more than double the typical steam locomotive's efficiency, and prevent a lot of the fuel from going unburned up through the stack by a very strong draft. I still hope for the return of mainline steam, but Lamb doesn't hold out that hope - my only disappointment with the book.
I bought this book with the Oxford book "How steam locomotives really work", which is a more detailed technical text that is also excellent. Both are recommended highly if you care anything about the steam locomotive and want to add to your knowledge.
Engineering Perspective on Steam Locomotives January 23, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This well illustrated book describes the basic engineering and thermodynamic principles by which a steam locomotive works without getting into a lot of obscure technical detail. It takes the reader through the types of technical improvements made over about 100 years to fit American railroading needs which were quite different from European conditions. It also describes the basic reasons why the steam locomotive lost its primacy to the diesel locomotive. It is done in an easily readable style with good uses of the illustrations to support the text.
Excellent historical/engineering perspective. September 15, 2005
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
This book is primarily for steam train buffs, but also shows the progression of steam power to electric and diesel in the U.S. Written from an engineering perspective, it is both interesting and informative. The photos alone are worth having this book in your collection.
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