Chapter XIII: Accidents to the Valve-Motion 143

Running Worn-out Engines.--Care and Energy defy Defeat.--
Watching the Exhaust.--The Attentive Ear detects
Deterioration of Valves.--Locating the Four Exhaust
Sounds.--Identifying Defects by Sound of the Steam.--
Accidents Prevented by attending to the Note of Warning
from the Exhaust.--Neglecting a Warning.--How an
Eccentric-strap Punched a Hole in a Fire-box.--Interest
in the Valve-motion among Engineers.--Trouble with the
Valve-motion.--A Wrong Conclusion.--Locating Defects of
the Valve-motion.--Position of Eccentrics.--Method of
Setting Slipped Eccentrics.--Slipped Eccentric-rods.--
Detecting the Cause of a Lame Exhaust.--What to do when
Eccentrics, Straps, or Rods Break.--Different Ways of
securing the Cross-head.--Broken Tumbling-shaft.--
Broken Valve-stem, or Valve-yoke.--When a Rocker-shaft
or Lower Rocker-arm Breaks.--Miscellaneous Accidents to
Valve-motion.--Broken Steam-chest Cover.--Steam-pipe
Bursted.--Testing the Valves.

CHAPTER XIV.

ACCIDENTS TO CYLINDERS AND STEAM CONNECTIONS 162

Importance of the Piston in the Train of Mechanism.--Causes
that lead to Broken Cylinder-heads.--Broken Cylinder-heads
often Preventable.--When a Main Rod breaks.--Crank-pin
broken.--Throttle disconnected.--Oiling the Valves when
the Throttle is Disconnected.--What causes a Disconnected
Throttle.--Bursting a Dry Pipe.--Other Throttle
Accidents.--Pounding of the Working-parts.--Some Causes
of Pounding.--Locating a Mysterious Pound.

CHAPTER XV.

OFF THE TRACK.--ACCIDENTS TO RUNNING-GEAR 172

Getting Ditched.--Dealing with Sudden Emergencies.--
Stopping a Freight Train in Case of Danger.--Saving the
Heating Surfaces.--Getting the Engine on the Track.--
Understanding the Running-gear.--Broken Driving-spring.--
Equalizer Broken.--Accidents to Trucks.--Broken Frame.--
Broken Driving Axles, Wheels, and Tires.

CHAPTER XVI.

CONNECTING-RODS, SIDE RODS, AND WEDGES 182

Care of Locomotive Rods.--Functions of Connecting-rods.--
Effects of Bad Fitting.--Striking Points and Clearance.--
Watching Rods on the Road.--Side Rods.--Adjustment of
Side Rods.--Keying Side Rods.--Difficulty in locating
Defects.--Pounding in Driving-boxes and Wedges.--
Importance of having Wedges properly Fitted.--Influence of
Half-round Brasses.--Position of Boxes while setting up
Wedges.--Necessity for keeping Boxes and Wedges Clean.--
Temperature of the Box to be considered.--Small Disorders
that cause Rough Riding.