D&RGW K-28 COAL FIRED MANUAL
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The pressure should, by now, be approaching 70 pounds, and you can place the locomotive in forward gear, turn
the blower down to a light level , but not totally off, open the throttle and proceed to pull out.
Let the locomotive run about 100 to 150 feet, then stop it to check the firebox. If needed, add enough coal to
bring the level up even with the bottom of the door.
Also, now is the time to shut off the cylinder drain cocks, but leave the blower on at a very light level. Be sure to
also check the water level on the gauge. If the water level is low, that is, at or below the red line, add water using
the tender pump or Goodall valve. This can happen because the usage of the blower while building steam pres
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sure was not made back up, and the short run did not give the axle pump time to fill much. Double check that the
lubricator is open about 1/8 to 1/4 turn and the bypass is closed, shut off the blower and you are ready to open
the throttle and begin running in earnest.
You will need to keep an eye on the water gauge as the axle pump will begin to bring the level up towards the top
nut. Because the level of the fire in the firebox is constantly changing states, from blanketed with fresh coal to
a roaring fire, it is not practical to try to set the pump bypass to exactly compensate for consumption. When the
level approaches the top nut of the gauge, open the bypass, when it approaches the red line close the bypass.
You do not need to stop the engine to open or close the bypass, it is easily manipulated on the fly.
After another 300 or so feet of travel, stop the locomotive, crack the blower on, and check the firebox. How often
you need to add coal will depend on several factors. How hard the engine is working, the quality of the coal you
are using and how much coal you added the time before. I have found that firing on a more regular basis works
best. When you let the fire drop too low, the heavier blanket of new coal does not have sufficient heat available to
readily begin combustion, and pressure will fall. This can sometimes be avoided by running with the blower, but
regular and even firing works best
By now your locomotive should be completely converted over from the startup charcoal and you can begin a
regular rhythm of stoking, checking the water gauge, and occasionally adding water to the tender, Keep an eye
on the pressure gauge also. Proper pressure is dependent upon two things, the amount of coal burning in the fire
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box, and how vigorous it is burning. The amount of coal is controlled by stoking, and the level of combustion by
the amount of draft.
These need to be kept in balance for how hard the locomotive is working.
The harder it
is working the better the draft. If the safety is continuously popping off you can cool things down a bit by opening
the firebox door for a short period, say 150 feet or so. If you run your locomotive slow with a light load you might
need to crack the blower slightly while it is running.
With the coal I use, the Dr. Klinkers from Cole’s, mentioned elsewhere, I have found the best stoking rhythm is
one or two shovels every 5 to 8 minutes or so. This is always a good time for checking the water level, if the water
gauge is close to the red line, closing the bypass will usually pick it up in 300 to 400 feet. Water consumption is
related to the level of combustion in the firebox and the rate of steam consumption. If the engine is working hard
consumption goes up, but it also goes up with blower usage and when the safety is popping off. These can all
effect how fast the level of water goes up and down in the gauge. Also keep in mind the speed of the locomotive
on the track. The axle pump runs at axle speed, which means the faster you run the more you pump, but steam
consumption is not linear with speed. For any given load, there is an optimal speed for best efficiency. Too slow,
or too fast and you will use more water. By experimentation, you will find the optimal speed to run. The prototype
locomotive seems to run best at the speed of a gentle walk.
As your experience increases, you will fall into a rhythm that is natural for you, your engine, the speed you run it
and the load it pulls. You need to be always aware of what is taking place. The needs of the engine must come
first. If you let yourself become distracted, combustion can drop off, water can get low, the tender can run dry and
you can find yourself up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Enjoy your run, but stay on top of it too.
