Footplate
Encyclopedia
The footplate of a steam locomotive
is a large metal plate that rests on top of the frames
and is normally covered with wooden floorboards. It is usually the full width of the locomotive and extends from the front of the cab to the rear of cab or coal bunker just above the buffer beam. The boiler
, the cab
, and other superstructure elements are in turn mounted on the footplate. The footplate does extrend beyond the front of the cab on some locomotives, but is then usually referd to as the "running board/plate" The footplate is where the Driver and Fireman stand in the cab to operate the locomotive, giving rise to the expression of working on the footplate for being in the cab of a steam locomotive. The part of the footplate ahead of the cab is referred to by different titles, from different teachings.
The "reader" of this article should be aware that all steam locomotives are different and all railways are different, so there are different designs and teachings respectivelly. Therefore terminology will vary across different establishments.
locomotive construction, is often (but not universally) seen in continental Europe
an locomotives, and practically never on locomotives constructed in the United States
. American practice mounted the locomotive's boiler and cab directly on the frame. The walkways and running boards seen on American locomotives that sometimes give an appearance of a footplate are attached to the boiler or the pilot
and are not structural elements. The absence of a footplate on American locomotives is one thing that makes them look "not quite right" to those accustomed to the British look.
s are beneath the footplate, and steam pipes pass through holes to them. The reversing gear control for the valve gear
also passes through, and in some locomotives part of the valve motion also extends through the footplate. On British Railways Standard Locomotives the running plate was high enough to clear the wheels. On earlier British locomotives the tops of the wheels usually projected through slots in the running plate and were covered by "splashers" which are analogous to mudguards on a road vehicle.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
is a large metal plate that rests on top of the frames
Locomotive frame
A locomotive frame is the structure that forms the backbone of the railway locomotive, giving it strength and supporting the superstructure elements such as a cab, boiler or bodywork. The vast majority of locomotives have had a frame structure of some kind...
and is normally covered with wooden floorboards. It is usually the full width of the locomotive and extends from the front of the cab to the rear of cab or coal bunker just above the buffer beam. The boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
, the cab
Cab
The word cab has a number of meanings, most of which are abbreviations:In transport:* Cabriolet, a horse-drawn carriage* Taxicab* Cabin * Cab , the driving compartment of a locomotive...
, and other superstructure elements are in turn mounted on the footplate. The footplate does extrend beyond the front of the cab on some locomotives, but is then usually referd to as the "running board/plate" The footplate is where the Driver and Fireman stand in the cab to operate the locomotive, giving rise to the expression of working on the footplate for being in the cab of a steam locomotive. The part of the footplate ahead of the cab is referred to by different titles, from different teachings.
The "reader" of this article should be aware that all steam locomotives are different and all railways are different, so there are different designs and teachings respectivelly. Therefore terminology will vary across different establishments.
National variations
The presence of a footplate is almost universal in BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
locomotive construction, is often (but not universally) seen in continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an locomotives, and practically never on locomotives constructed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. American practice mounted the locomotive's boiler and cab directly on the frame. The walkways and running boards seen on American locomotives that sometimes give an appearance of a footplate are attached to the boiler or the pilot
Pilot (locomotive)
In railroading, the pilot is the device mounted at the front of a locomotive to deflect obstacles from the track that might otherwise derail the train. In some countries it is also called cowcatcher or cattle catcher....
and are not structural elements. The absence of a footplate on American locomotives is one thing that makes them look "not quite right" to those accustomed to the British look.
Details
The footplate has openings cut in it for various purposes. The firebox always extends beneath the footplate. The cylinderCylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
s are beneath the footplate, and steam pipes pass through holes to them. The reversing gear control for the valve gear
Valve gear
The valve gear of a steam engine is the mechanism that operates the inlet and exhaust valves to admit steam into the cylinder and allow exhaust steam to escape, respectively, at the correct points in the cycle...
also passes through, and in some locomotives part of the valve motion also extends through the footplate. On British Railways Standard Locomotives the running plate was high enough to clear the wheels. On earlier British locomotives the tops of the wheels usually projected through slots in the running plate and were covered by "splashers" which are analogous to mudguards on a road vehicle.