Rocket design

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

The rocket, currently on display at MOSI has cylinders at about 5 degrees from parallel to the ground and yet in most illustrations they look to be nearer to 45 degrees, can anyobe shed light on why this is?

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Hmm, a mystery. Must be rocket science…

You are quite right – also see this video of a replica, obviously connected with MOSI.

[Pete WhiteParticipant @petewhite15172]

Got this wrong, from the title thought you were planning on building one. lol

Anyway couldn't help with that or the real question.

Did like the video of the replica though.

Pete

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Fizzy if you do a google search on "Stephenson's Rocket, history" you should find a Wikipedia page about the Rocket. Part way down is a heading "modifications". According to "The Engineer" publication at that time, 12 months after the Rainhill trials Rocket had been modified so much that it looked like a different locomotive – with near horizontal cylinders.

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

Thanks – just found same info on mosi – The remains of Rocket we see today on display at the Science and Industry Museum look different from the locomotive seen at the Rainhill Trials, partly because of the dull patina of its finish compared to its bright yellow paintwork when it was first made. A larger smokebox has been fitted to its front end, and its cylinders have been lowered from the upper part of the boiler down to a near horizontal position.

Doesnt say why though.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Possibly because they would be nearer the frame and stiffer?

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

From what I can find out, the angle of the cylinders was 35*, later reduced to 8*( the preserved one in the London Science Museum has the cylinders in the 8* position. Another site quotes the angle a 45*, and later nearly horizontal.

Probably these engines in their day exceeded what we call "rocket science".

Ian S C

[WearyParticipant @weary]

The angle of the cylinders was reduced to reduce the propensity of steeply angled cylinders to lift and lower the driven wheel with each thrust. The development of 'Rocket', the 'Northumbrian' class were built with the cylinders at the lower angle.

The Science museum produced a technical booklet about 'Rocket' some years ago which went into forensic detail over the remains as they are currently and showed that in its' short working life the loco underwent significant changes. Technological development of the steam locomotive was moving at such a pace that it was outmoded almost immediately upon entering service.

Regards,

Phil

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

Im actually off to see the preserved Rocket this afternoon in Manchester. I built a 7.25 gauge Invicta and experienced the problem of axle movement first hand. Tight suspension cured the problem. So if one were to build a replica in 7.25 gauge either inclination would be accurate?

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