Re: PTC and steam locomotives
Author: Dr Zarkoff
Date: 04-22-2021 - 14:53
> What this might have to do with PTC on steam locomotives I have no idea. Just responding to prior post. PTC would seem to me to be difficult because of the direct mechanical connection to brakes and throttle and lack of MU (yes, I know, there is or was a box allowing the engineer to control the trailing diesel(s), but that's not good enough for PTC).
> The brakes could probably be finagled with a suitable computerized brake valve override, but closing the throttle would be another story. I'm sure it could be done, though, with enough engineering and tinkering.
One of the earliest descriptions of PTC, or a PTC-like system such as train stop, actually turning off the throttle dates to the Kinsman signal system (early 1890s). I've never found much mention of how widely it was adopted by RRs in the US.
First mention of applying the locomotive (and train) brakes is the Vogt ATS system of 1880. There is also the brake application apparatus used by the ATS and cab signal systems of the 1910-1930 era. Controlling trailing diesels is merely a matter of adding a PCS to the steam engine to turn off the signals from the black box to the trailing diesels.