Another question: how were steam locomotives made/manufactured in the mid 1800s?

Railroadforums.com is a free online Railroad Discussion Forum and Railroad Photo Gallery for railroaders, railfans, model railroaders and anyone else who is interested in railroads. We cover a wide variety of topics, including freight trains, passenger and commuter railroads, rail news and information, tourist railroads, railway museums and railroad history.

DonChalant

New Member
Hi everyone! Still working on my story, and I've run into another issue I need some schoolin' about.

In a nutshell: how were big steam locomotives made in the mid 1800s? Did they make big molds and pour in the molten iron/steel? Or were they "hammered" into shape?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide!

Don
 
The three major manufacturers of steam locos in the US were the Baldwin Locomotive Works ("Baldwin" or "BLW"), the American Locomotive Company ("ALCO"), and Lima-Hamilton ("Lima"). Some smaller manufacturers may also have existed in the mid 1800's that later went out of business or merged with the big three.

For starters, I suggest you do online searches of the three major manufactures to look for sources of information, such as books, that may help you. I doubt a search of You Tube will turn up any videos for the time period you want, but videos of more modern steam locomotive manufacturing may be of help.

PS: Remember your friends here at Railroadforums.Com when you rake in the big buck$ after your screenplay is made into a major box office $ma$h hit.
 
Last edited:
I mean i'm not a big nerd with 1800's steamers but they made them basically the same they just added more detail and some of the smaller things were different.
 




RailroadForums.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

RailroadBookstore.com - An online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. Railroad pictorials, railroad history, steam locomotives, passenger trains, modern railroading. Hundreds of titles available, most at discount prices! We also have a video and children's book section.

ModelRailroadBookstore.com - An online model railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used books. Layout design, track plans, scenery and structure building, wiring, DCC, Tinplate, Toy Trains, Price Guides and more.

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top