Reprinted with permission of Leland Hawes, Features, Editor,
Tampa Tribune. Submitted by William L. Hetzer, 2309 West Comanche,
Tampa, Florida 33603
Robert Most collects steam engines.
Not scale models, but real coal burning, fire-breathing, 87-ton,
1880 style steam engines. He has three of them which are being
renovated and readied to ride the rails once again.
‘The total purpose of my interest is to save and restore the
steam engines so that one day, they can be enjoyed by the public,
young and old alike,’ the Tampa insurance man said.
‘MY INTEREST is not in trains. Trains, per se, do not
interest me. The steam is what holds my interest.
‘The steam locomotive is, in my opinion, the most
fascinating piece of machinery ever invented. It is a fascinating
invention and holds more universal interest than anything else ever
built.
‘It has a degree of nostalgia and fascination when operated.
And to see the people’s expressions when it’s being
operated it’s just fantastic.’
BUT MOST SAID the steam engine’s demise was not really
necessary. Rather, he said, it was the result of a new invention,
the diesel locomotive, and a fantastic amount of promotion by its
builders which took the steam engines off the rails.
‘During the 40s, there was a massive promotion of diesel
engines. They went all out with portfolios, pictures, facts and
figures and that’s what did most to drive the steam engine off
the tracks.
‘There are many factors that went into it. Diesel engines
have advantages over steam. Likewise, steam has advantages over
diesels, too.’
HE SAID the diesel engine can be operated with fewer men, with
more needed for the steam engine. But the steam engine is a simpler
machine, with fewer problem areas.
‘They say in a diesel it takes a week to find the problem
and five minutes to fix it. With a steam engine, it takes five
minutes to find the problem and a week to fix it.’
Unfortunately the steam engine lost the challenge from the
diesel, ‘one reason being the steam engine builders never
promoted their product.
‘THE STEAM ENGINE was around since the 1800s. Its
manufacturers never saw it being challenged.
‘But you can’t have both operating at the same time,
there are no likenesses between them. There are different fuel
requirements and supplies and different maintenance needs.
Corporations couldn’t afford both.’
But Most maintains the steam engine’s usefulness is far
superior to anything built ‘in the olden days.’
‘This steam engine was built in 1905. It can still do an
honest day’s work at an acceptable rate,’ he said, pointing
to a picture of one of his engines.
‘NAME ME a product built in 1905 that can still do that. A
plane? A car? A sewing machine? Nothing. There’s absolutely
nothing. This 69-year old machine can still do a good day’s
work.
‘The steam engine built this country, too. It brought New
York within four days of California when before that, the quickest
was three months.’
But, ‘as the steam engine is today, it will never be
commercially operated again. There are only two corporations
General Electric and General Motors that build diesel engines.
Conversion costs would be astronomical.
‘It’s funny. People look at a steam engine and think
it’s so complex. Actually, it’s the height of
simplicity.’
Most explained that heat from the coal-fueled fire’s heat is
sent through pipes in the engine’s boiler. The pipes are
surrounded with water which heats up and creates steam which is
sent down to cylinders on each side of the engine.
‘The pressure from the steam pushes the piston back and
forth and that, in turn, turns the wheels. It’s as simple as
that.
‘The steam engine is nothing more than a big tea kettle on
wheels using principles that man has known about for
centuries.’
