Module 1: Steam Trains (Locomotives)

History Before Steam Engines Were Invented.

In the 1600’s before steam engines were even invented mankind could only achieve three types of power sources. These three power sources were wind, water and animal. 

Wind Power

Back in 1600’s wind was a very good source of power and was also free, therefore having it harnessed was not a big deal since it was free and also this doesn’t need big machines. The problems back in the 1600’s was that wind power was not dependable due to the fact that they cannot be used anyplace only on tremendously leveled or any landscape that is flat. Having this wind power source can be obstructed if there were to be tress or even hills. This is why in the 1600’s the attempts to have wagons powered by wind were proven to be a failure which resulted in them being stuck behind a hill since no wind was powering the wagon.

(Source: Brief History of Steam Engine Power. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://johno.myiglou.com/SteamHistory.htm)

Animal Power

Back in the 1600’s people often used wagons as a form of transportation which therefore uses animals as a source of power take them from one place to another. Such animals used back in the 1600’s were that of ox, horse or even mules. These wagons are often pulled by just one or several or even in pairs. The problem that was faced back in the 1600’s were that power produced by animals did not scale up which only works on dry lands.

(Source: Brief History of Steam Engine Power. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://johno.myiglou.com/SteamHistory.htm)

Water Power

Unlike animals and wind power the most capable source of power was pre steam power water which would often run down hill. When compared with animal and wind power water was the most reliable. Comparing water against animal there were able to be scaled and against wind water was never dry. But the only disadvantage to this water steam power was that water usually run down hills or down mountains. So in the 1600’s if they required harnessing, this would mean that people had to relocate.

(Source: Brief History of Steam Engine Power. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://johno.myiglou.com/SteamHistory.htm)

Development of Steam Engines 1650 - 1715

In 1698, a man named Thomas Savery an English engineer in the military invented the first ever crude steam engine. His invention was base upon a pressure cooker invented in 1679 by a man called Denis Papin. Thomas Savery worked tirelessly figuring how to solve a problem which was pumping corals out of coal mines. The machine which he invented contains a vessel which is closed filled with water where under pressure steam was introduced. Thomas invention would have water force upward and therefore eventually leaving the mine shaft, with a sprinkler containing cold water is being used this would have the steam condensed, therefore creating a sort of vacuum that would suck massive amount of water through means of a valve out of its mine shaft.   

(Source: About.com Inventors. By Mary Bellis. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm)

As years passed by 1663 – 1729 a man called Thomas Newcomen who was an English blacksmith invented an atmospheric steam engine. This atmospheric steam engine was more of an upgrade or an improvement to the pervious crude steam engine Thomas Savery invented. The invention of this new engine works through means of forced pressure from the atmosphere. Through Thomas Newcomen’s new engine design, the intensity of pressure from the newly designed engine is therefore not limited once pressure is produced from the steam.

(Source: About.com Inventors. By Mary Bellis. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm)

In the following year, John Calley along with Thomas Newcomen constructed their very own engine above a water filler shaft mine and therefore would operate through means of pumping water out of the mine shaft. This was the very first engine predecessor that of a Watt engine and by far the worlds interesting creation ever built in terms of technology in 1700’s. 1736 – 1819 as the passing years drove by a man named James Watt who was an inventor and also a mechanical engineer from Scotland made massive improvements to the steam engine invented by Thomas Savery. In the year 1736 James was given the duty to repairing an engine built by Thomas Newconmen which therefore was believed to have not been functioning well. The only thing that James Watt’s changed was introducing a condenser which was separated and connected a sort of cylinder through means if a valve. With Watt’s new design, a condenser was built so that when the cylinder of the engine is extremely hot the condenser would cool the cylinder. With James Watt’s new design and improvement to the steam engine, it then became about to be the most prevailing design ever made for modern day steam engines and therefore this brought about the beginning of the industrial revolution.    

(Source: About.com Inventors. By Mary Bellis. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm)

Social Impact on Steam Engines

Through to the 19^th century such inventors like James Watt a mechanical engineer has created and also advanced the old steam engines. With steam engines now days become more and more efficient. A person named Richard Trevithick was the first man to design steam locomotives in the 19^th century. This followed on and the very first locomotive steam railways were developed early in the 19^th century in England, therefore Industrial Revolution began. With the amount of steam trains increasing, it also brought about advantages. Transportation of goods and also raw materials were being transported through canal networks. Since locomotives were developed the use of the canal networks were not reliable which means they were often slow. With the new locomotive system goods and raw materials were being transported at a faster paste and they also had the ability to carry massive loads which in turn increased exports in the United Kingdom.  

(Source: Helium. By Matthew Adams. Retrieved: 28^th August, 2012. http://www.helium.com/items/1788084-the-economic-impact-of-the-steam-train)

19^th Century Heritage of New Zealand Steam Railways

Sir Julius Vogel, born on 8^th April 1879 was known to be the father of New Zealand railways. Julius Vogel was the 8^th Premier of New Zealand and was remembered for the issuing bond so that railways in New Zealand could be constructed and also public work. Till this very day Julius Vogel is still the only practicing Jewish prime minister ever in New Zealand history. The earliest colonists between Britain and New Zealand was brought from Britain where they had the first experience of locomotives, therefore through Britain’s experience New Zealand had accepted this new technology. Here in New Zealand in 1863, Canterbury and the Southland’s was where New Zealand’s first ever locomotive was brought in therefore this started railway constructions in 1866 and also in Auckland. Having railways constructed the most important rail link between Lyttelton and Christchurch which in 1867 was completed that opened up a one and half mile tunnel all the way through to the hills that off Banks Peninsula. As time passed, new locomotives were being built in New Zealand and also in foreign countries. Although newly designed and developed locomotives appeared, continuation of the well known steam engine was still being improved. 

(Source: History.co.nz. Retrieved: 28^th August, 2012. http://www.techhistory.co.nz/19thcentury/Steam.htm)

Present and Future of Railway Transportation

Till this very day railway locomotive transportations has been proven to be very efficient and also very profitable. Transporting people to and from places is often an infrastructure of every country.

Now days or in or words the 21^st century, there are electric locomotives being developed through means of electricity by overhead lines which has a sort of on board energy source to power the train. The reason why this was developed was to reduce smoke and therefore take advantage of motors that had electricity that produce high efficiency through motors. Very few countries in the world operate high speed trains, which are known as maglev trains. With the newly developed maglev system, they often float on top a guide way that often uses magnets to substitute the old train railways. There are two different types of maglev trains that were developed.

A Video of Modern Day High Speed Trains.

·        Electromagnetic Suspension

·        Electrodynamics Suspension

Locomotives such as electromagnetic and electrodynamics suspension were the very first introduced over a century. Shanghai, China had the very first maglev train tested back in 2002. With the success of this newly developed locomotive it was later introduced to the public in December 2003. With the train traveling at a speed of 267mph it took less than 10 minutes to cover a massive 19 mile. Other countries are now beginning to plan their very own maglev trains; however Shanghai still remains as the first and only maglev line operating. With plans in the U.S on maglev transportation, it was excessive. However plans of resolving this is still under way.    

(Source: How Stuff Works? By Kevin Bonsor. Retrieved: 28^th August, 2012. http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/maglev-train3.htm)

Conclusion

To conclude in this assignment there has been a massive change in terms development to locomotives around the world. Through this assignment I learnt that back in the past it was not always easy as to not having technology in our everyday life. Railways now days has advanced to newer levels in terms of design and with new designs for railways comes newly developed trains to better once daily life. Now days with the help of modern day trains operating and better railways in almost every developed country it have proven to be a huge advantage. Transportation wise has increased and having mentioned about the maglev trains this is yet to be the most successful locomotive high speed train system in the world. From my understanding, I believe that locomotives such as the high speed maglev trains will be improved meaning someday someone like James Watts will reinvent something similar to this modern type system and therefore will be a whole new invention in future.  

Reference

(Source: How Stuff Works? By Kevin Bonsor. Retrieved: 28^th August, 2012. http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/maglev-train3.htm)

(Source: History.co.nz. Retrieved: 28^th August, 2012. http://www.techhistory.co.nz/19thcentury/Steam.htm)

(Source: Helium. By Matthew Adams. Retrieved: 28^th August, 2012. http://www.helium.com/items/1788084-the-economic-impact-of-the-steam-train)

(Source: About.com Inventors. By Mary Bellis. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm)

(Source: Brief History of Steam Engine Power. Retrieved: 23^rd August, 2012. http://johno.myiglou.com/SteamHistory.htm)