Assembly Instructions
Steam Roller D375, D376, D377 & Traction Engine D415, D416, D417
The Functioning of the Original Steam Engine
The driver of the steam engine or stoker shovels the coal through the stocking door into the boiler. The
coal is being burnt.
The boiler/firing chamber is supplied with fresh air via the air supply from underneath. The combustion air
which is heated to high temperatures moves from the boiler through the steam tubes of the boiler (water
tank) into the combustion chamber and from there to the chimney. This is how the steam pressure which
accumulates in the enclosed boiler is transferred in the cylinder into motional energy. The exhaust steam
(condensation) is led via the exhaust into the chimney. The evaporated water is replaced by fresh water
from the cold water tank. The motion of the piston rod is transferred by means of the crankshaft and the
gear wheels onto the large rear wheels. Every steam engine has, as opposed to a steam locomotive, a
large flywheel.
The flywheel is needed in order to overcome the dead center of the piston in the cylinder and serves also
as energy storage to absorb load surges. In contrast to the steam engine the steam locomotive has two or
more cylinders whereby the offset piston arrangement overcomes the dead center and for that reason a
flywheel is not required.
The WILESCO-steam engines/traction engines work on the same principal as the old originals. However,
instead of burning coal or coke a dry fuel tablet is used to heat the boiler.
Text & illustrations: Wilesco Wilhelm Schröder GmbH & Co., Germany
