[Steam-engine] Question please

[James Hansen]

It also accommodates mounting the gauge glass vertically in a safe spot, 
out of harm's way.  The only place to mount a glass so it is situated 
vertically on a traction engine is at the back, where all the wood 
chucking is going on.  Since this is where the people are, breaking the 
gauge glass really sucks.  It's easier to read vertical glass than one 
that is sloped.
Having a water column on the side of the boiler and more forward gives 
the operator a better view of the water depth over the crown sheet at 
the front of the sheet, which if the engine front is high, sees less 
water than at the back.  On a long heavy engine, it's easy to have the 
front wheels higher. (rears sink more, etc)
-James


James Mackessy wrote:
> The water column provides a degree of isolation from turbulence inside the
> boiler
> and provides a place to mount trycocks, gage glass and low water alarms
> without
> having to bore all these holes in the boiler shell itself.  This also allows
> the boiler shell
> to be covered inside the brickwork mounting and smokebox in the case of
> horizontal
> return tube boilers, still providing a way to check water levels.
> Best Regards;
> Jim Mackessy
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Strobel" <Richard_Strobel7 at msn.com>
> To: "Steam-engine mailing list" <steam-engine at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 2:06 PM
> Subject: [Steam-engine] Question please
> 
> 
>> Howdy all;
>>   Occastionally I run across a "Water Column."  Other than being a mount
> for
>> the Glass gauge, what is it's other purpose in life?
>>
>>
>>    TIA
>>  RickinMt.
>>
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