A. Piston rod packing is usually soft metallic rings located inside of a
gland at the back end of cylinder and around the rod. Cylinder packing
rings are usually cast iron, placed around the piston head and bearing
against the walls of the cylinder.
45. Q. How are metallic packing rings on piston rods and valve stems
held in place? What provisions are made for the uneven movements of the
rod?
A. The packing rings fit into a vibrating cup or cone located inside the
gland, being held therein by means of a spring as well as by the steam
pressure. Provision is made for uneven movement of the rod by making the
inside of the gland larger than the vibrating cup and using a ball-joint
ring between the vibrating cup and gland.
46. Q. While running under steam and there is a failure of part of the
locomotive which does not seem to prevent running at full speed, how
would you proceed?
A. Keep the locomotive running if in your judgment it is safe. Try to
ascertain what the injury is and be prepared at the next stop to do such
work as the case demands, being careful to make the stop at such a place
that the work can be done without interfering with the movements of main
line trains.
47. Q. If one side of a locomotive is disabled, what would you do in a
general way to make it possible to use steam on the other side?
A. Disconnect enough parts to allow for the turning of the wheels and
for reversing of the opposite side without moving the valve on the
disabled side.
48. Q. In case a locomotive in your care became disabled on the road,
what would you do?
A. First see that the train is protected. Next examine the locomotive
and see what is necessary to do to move it and if possible the train. If
unable to make repairs at once to bring the engine and train forward,
would advise exact condition of engine and ask for help. In the meantime
endeavor to move the train so as to give other trains the use of the
main line.
49. Q. Suppose a wash-out plug blew out or a blow-off cock broke off or
would not close, what should be done?
A. Kill the fire, get the train on a side track, if possible, and if
unable to make repairs get the engine in condition to be towed in. In
all cases with a disabled engine allow the train to drift to a siding,
when possible, and stop between the switches so as to allow other trains
to pass through siding.
50. Q. Can a locomotive boiler without steam pressure be filled by being
towed by another engine? If towed, how filled?
A. Yes. Close all openings where air could enter the boiler. All relief
valves, cylinder cocks, gauge cocks, the whistle valve and air pump
steam valve should be closed. Place the reverse lever in full gear in
the direction the engine is to be towed with water supply valve and
injector throttle open. Use engine oil through auxiliary oil cups to oil
valves and pistons. The movement of the pistons in the cylinders will
pump the air out of the boiler and atmospheric pressure on water in the
tank will force water into boiler when the engine is towed.
51. Q. What should be done if grates should be burned out or broken
while on the road?
A. Pull the fire off the broken or burned grates, cover that section
with any pieces of iron at hand (fish-plates or angle-bars are very
good), then level up the fire, clean ash-pan and proceed with full
train.
52. Q. What precaution should be taken to prevent locomotive throwing
fire?
A. The netting and smoke-arch should be kept in good condition; cinder
slide and hand hole plates securely fastened, ash-pan clean and slide
dampers for dumping ashes closed. Care should be exercised in working
the engine, especially in the vicinity of stations or places where fire
is liable to catch. Avoid working the engine hard so as to prevent
throwing cinders.