The world of
steam engines
HISTORY
There’s a fire box on a steam engine locomotive. A fireman loads coal into the fire box and burns it. The coal burns at 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s really hot! A water tank sits next to the fire box. The heat from the coal causes the water to boil. As the water boils, it produces steam. The steam builds up in pressure and causes pistons to move. The pistons are attached to rods and the rods are attached to wheels. As the pistons move, the rods and wheels move and the train moves forward.a story and let your users know a little more about you.
HOW STEAM ENGINES MOVE
The first steam-powered machine was built in 1698 by the English military engineer Thomas Savery (c. 1650–1715). His invention, designed to pump water out of coal mines, was known as the Miner's Friend. The machine, which had no moving parts, consisted of a simple boiler—a steam chamber whose valves were located on the surface—and a pipe leading to the water in the mine below. Water was heated in the boiler chamber until its steam filled the chamber, forcing out any remaining water or air. The valves were then closed and cold water was sprayed over the chamber. This chilled and condensed the steam inside to form a vacuum. When the valves were reopened, the vacuum sucked up the water from the mine, and the process could then be repeated.ce for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you.
FACT
