Steam dummy
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A steam dummy or dummy engine, in the United States and Canada, was a steam locomotive enclosed in a wooden box structure made to resemble a passenger railroad car.[1] Steam dummies had some popularity in the first decades of railroading in the U.S., from the 1830s but passed from favor after the American Civil War.[dubious ]
Overview
It was thought that the more familiar appearance of a coach presented by a steam dummy, as compared to a conventional steam locomotive, would be less likely to frighten horses when these trains had to operate in city streets.[2][3] Later it was realized that it was actually the noise and motion of the operating gear of a steam engine that frightened horses, rather than the unfamiliar outlines of a steam engine.
Production
Baldwin Locomotive Works manufactured steam dummies or steam motors for many American tramways.[4] Baldwin exported to places such as Sydney, Australia - where they were known as 'steam tram motors' - and New Zealand, where two, both built in 1891, survive at museums today.
In the UK, the Great Western Railway equipped two engines each from the 2021 and 517 classes with coach bodywork between 1906 and 1911.[7][8]
See also
- Doodlebug
- Multiple unit
- Steam railmotor
- Tram engine
References
- ISBN 0-253-33949-9.
- ISBN 978-1-4671-1686-2.
- ISBN 978-1-62619-575-2.
- ^ Baldwin Locomotive Works Illustrated Catalogue of Locomotives, 2nd Ed., Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1881; pages 150-152, with photograph.
- ^ H. K. Porter Company Builders of Light Light Locomotives, 10th Ed., Pittsburgh, 1908; pages 102-105, with photos.
- ^ Light Locomotives, 6th Ed., H. K. Porter & Co., Pittsburgh, 1889; pages 32-33 (0-4-0) and 42-45 (0-4-2 and 2-4-2), 61-66 descriptive text, 94-95 empirical use data.
- ^ Darkin, Peter. "BRANCH LINES October 2019". svrlive. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ISBN 0906867398.