Eugene Wrote:
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> There were several other differences as well.
>
> Already mentioned:
>
> ..Walschaert Valve Gear - As far as I know used on
> every Willie. Lima only used it on a handful of
> Shays, usually using Stephenson.
> ..Turned valve chests
> ..Cylinders mounted farther forward - I don't
> think this had to do with the valve motion, I
> think the Willie builders just decided it was a
> good idea.
> ..Inclined truck springs - Gave a better ride.
>
>
> Other differences:
>
> ..Piston valves instead of slide valves on
> superheated engines - Shays used slide valves
> until the introduction of the Pacific Coast
> models, which copied many of the Willamette
> changes. Only 2 superheated Willies were built
> with slides and they were quickly retrofitted with
> pistons, if I recall right.
> ..Improved crosshead guide and crankshaft support
> ..Welded boilers - I have been told that
> Willamette made very tight boilers that were all
> or mostly welded.

Eugene, while you brought up some valid points, I'll ask where you got the
name "Willie" for Willamette. I used to know a few people who ran & fired these
machines (most are dead now) and not one ever used this moniker. As long as it's
acknowledged that it's a railfan handle, I can put up with that.
I believe Old Rivets is correct about welded boilers...the seams are riveted.
IIRC, Feather River had one of the Superheated machines initially equipped with slide valves.
The large surface area coupled with high degree of Superheat made it hard to adequetely
lube valve and cylinders. Even with piston valves, that's why you see both valves and
cylinders getting oil feeds and in a few cases, a single lube line to the steam delivery line
too.
I just checked my book by Gertz & Hauff...it was c/n 8 and 9 that were built as Superheated
engines with slide valves (Booth Kelly and Feather River). Both were converted later.