Fringian Early Steam Locomotive

Early Steam Locomotive
Tech Level	TL–3
Mass	3 Tons + 2 Tons
Cost	{{{cost}}}
Mode	Wheels / Rails
Type
Speed	45 kph
Cargo	2m³
Crew	2
Passengers	-
Armament	none

The Early Steam Locomotive is a Railroad Vehicle. It requires a railroad network of the correct gauge to operate.

Description / Specifications

A very basic steam-powered locomotive – it operates as a locomotive-tender combination. The vehicle is very much a novelty, representing the white-hot cutting edge of advanced technology for its technological level.

Locomotive

The locomotive can tow a variety of loads, typically using light wagons. It generally operates along short custom-built lengths of track.

Hull / Suspension

A generally cylindrical hull mounted on a rigid chassis, and constructed from iron, steel, brass and wood.

• Length: 4.7m (control platform length 1.5m), Width: 2.3m, Height: 3.8m including smokestack.
• Overall Volume: approximately 42m³ (3 dTons).
• Unloaded Weight: 9,800 kg.

The overall volume measures the vehicles maximum dimensions and includes track clearance and the width of the transmission system (side-mounted external pistons). The contained volume of the hull is substantially lower.

The vehicle is fitted with very large driving wheels set onto an axle, and connected to the boiler by pistons and rods.

• The vehicle is designed to operate on rail networks. The standard gauge (the distance between the inner faces of the two rails) for railroad networks within the Distant Fringe is generally 1.5m and most examples of the locomotive are built to match that standard.

Power / Transmission

A high pressure boiler, generating steam by burning combustible fuel to heat stored water. The steam powers pistons connected to the drive wheels. The vehicle carries a supply of water in an onboard tank. Cold-starting the locomotive can take many hours and requires hundreds of liters of water to be boiled until operating pressure is reached. Hand-made boilers are known for their propensity to catastrophically explode.

• Many of the mechanical components, belts, rods and connectors are externally mounted and their action may present a physical danger.
• The locomotive constantly vents large quantities of smoke, soot and steam. It is noisy and spits grease and hot water.

Performance

• Cruise Speed: 25 kph, Top Speed: 45 kph.
• Range: 120 km at Cruise Speed, 70 km at Top Speed.

The locomotive tows a train of open wagons or other similar loads. Locomotives and wagons have a manually operated coupling system consisting of hooks and chains. The braking system consists of physically pushing a large lever against a wheel to cause friction.

• Maximum towing weight is approximately 19,500 kg (equivalent to 3x fully loaded light wagons) in addition to the loaded weight of the tender. Greater loads may be moved but this places stresses on the locomotive that may cause a catastrophic loss of control.

Crew / Cargo

An open control platform towards the rear of the hull contains two crew positions. The driver's position is equipped with rudimentary mechanical controls and gauges that provide information such as internal pressure and forward velocity. The second crewmember ensures that a steady supply of fuel is provided to the boiler.

Internal cargo storage: 2m³ (largely given over to tools and maintenance equipment – the tool boxes also double as crew seats). Maximum load: restricted by volume only.

Equipment

Headlights and running lights, and a bell. Locomotives may be fitted with animal fenders and spark arresters

Tender

A wagon that is permanently hitched to the locomotive and carries its solid fuel and a reserve of water. Floor plates bridge the gap between the locomotive and the tender.

Hull / Suspension

A box-shaped hull mounted on a chassis and made of iron, brass and wood. Length: 3.9m, Width: 2.2m, Height: 3.2m. Unloaded Weight: 1,700 kg.

• External Volume: approximately 27.4m³ (2 dTons).

Note that the external volume measures the vehicles maximum dimensions and includes track clearance. The contained volume of the hull is slightly lower.

The tender is fitted with wheels set onto axles.

• The vehicle is designed to operate on rail networks.

Power

The tender has no internal power source.

Performance

Tenders are unpowered. They are moved by being attached to a railroad locomotive. They carry a supply of solid fuel and an additional reserve of water for the locomotive's boiler.

• Tenders and locomotives have a manually operated coupling system consisting of hooks and chains. The braking system consists of physically pushing a large lever against a wheel to cause friction.

Cargo

The cargo area of the tender is an open-fronted open-topped box with a volume of 21.m³ (1.5 dTons) used to store solid fuel. A large barrel stores a reserve of water, which must be transferred to the locomotive's tanks through the use of a bucket. Maximum load: 2,700 kg.

Equipment

Running lights.

History / Background

A very basic surface transport vehicle designed for very small-scale logistical operations. It is designed to tow small wagons over limited distances.

Although the vehicle is manufactured at very low tech levels and uses the most basic of materials the design has been perfected over millennia and all of the engineering aspects are well-known and thoroughly understood. The locomotive, though lovingly hand-built, is horribly inefficient and unreliable, if not outright dangerous. If a breakdown does occur it can generally be repaired with simple tools and brute force.

See also: Vehicles of the Distant Fringe

References & Contributors / Sources

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This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science