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Old 30th March 2019, 07:27
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Tom Alexander Canada Tom Alexander is offline
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Location: Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YM-Mundrabilla View Post
As an old Railwayman Landlubber can I ask a couple of (perhaps stupid) questions, of some of the engineers on SH, please?

Assuming a reciprocating steam engineroom:

How are the various speeds 'full', 'half' and 'slow' etc defined? Is it by RPM which presumably (?) gives a more or less set speed?

Am I correct in understanding that marine reciprocating steam engines do not have 'cut off' on the valve gear (as in a locomotive) but only ahead/astern? On this assumption is engine speed controlled only by the boiler steam throttle/regulator valve?

Again assuming, on the basis that there is no valve cut off, the lost efficiency is more or less made up by compounding?

I have some steam locomotive knowledge but know little (nothing actually!) about marine steam.

Any comments will be appreciated, please.

Regards
Geoff (YM)
Being a "deckie" who never sailed with reciprocating steam (only turbines & Doxfods) could any one answering the thread also elucidate on what happened to the steam/engine when stopped or in astern ?????
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