The operation of a steam locomotive

The operation of a steam locomotive. South Carolina Railroad Museum. , Steam locomotives, while now a thing of the past, are technological and engineering marvels. Steam locomotives not only shaped America during its early days, they have been incredibly influential throughout modern day pop culture. So how do they work?, Steam locomotives operate through the use of steam power. (Hence the name) Fuel for the fire is held in the tender. A locomotive's fuel can either be wood, coal, or oil. Foro this example, coal will be used as the locomotive's fuel. (Pictured above) Fuel is fed and burned in the firebox. The burning fuel heats the water in the Boiler, which creates the steam necessary to power the locomotive. The steam is essentially stored energy, and needs to be converted to usable energy. This is done through the use of pipes, the throttle, and the pistons. Steam is fed through the throttle and steam dome, through the dry pipe, and into the cylinder. The cylinder is the box that surrounds the piston and valve. What does the valve do? The valve redirects steam inside of the cylinder, creating pressure in front of and behind of the piston head, causing it to move back and forth on the connecting rods, turning the drive wheels.