Audel's Hoist Engines

[Casting Iron]

Not sure exactly where to put this info.
I don't see a "Historic Engine Information" section.

This is from an Audel's book I have.
I have a hoist engine on my list of engines I would like to build, but unfortunately my list is very long, and this design is very far down the list.

I case anyone is interested in the old engines; here is some info.

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[Casting Iron]

More hoist info.
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[Casting Iron]

More hoist info.
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[crueby]

Wonderful!  Love those old catalogs!

[Casting Iron]

Audel published a series of books on many topics, including steam engines, boiler operation, etc.

Many of the old steam books do the deep-dive into mathematics, and are rather sparse on photos/engravings.

Audel's was a math-light sort of series of books, and the emphasis was on some very good illustrations of engines and boilers, without much if any math.
In my opinion, one has to develop a visual representation of what is going on, before one can begin to understand the mathematics behind it.

Audel's series of books also was very wide in its coverage of things, touching on many different types of engines and boilers.

Some of the Audel's books are probably available online as free scans.
A quick check on the net indicates that most if not all of the scanning services have morphed into paid subscriptions.
Luckily I downloaded perhaps 200 (+) old open-source steam engine books back when folks were offering those for no charge.

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[Jasonb]

Apart from the last couple of engines what makes a Hoist engine different from the often modeled Donkey?

Or are they the same and just being used differently.

[Casting Iron]

I have not really run across the term "donkey" engine in the old books; not that I recall anyway.
I have seen them listed as "hoist" engines, and "derrick" engines.
I am guessing "donkey" is a slang term.

I have seen another slang term in an old book, for a small vertical hoist engine, but the term is not socially acceptable today.
Typically I think of a donkey engine as a non-compound engine that is relatively unsophisticated, and generally used for intermittent work where efficiency is not important.
I did see one compound engine in the Audels book that was a simple lift engine; I will have to dig that out.

I was hiking in the mountains of New Mexico a few years back, in a national park, and we were at about 11,000 ft.
We ran across the remains of an old steam engine.
I will dig those photos out too.
Since it was a protected National Park, we could not go back later and drag the pieces out.
There was a lot of mining in the Mountains of New Mexico in the early 1900's.

They were able to rescue the engine below.
Dragging heavy iron out over unpaved and uneven roads would be really tricky.

https://slvpost.com/journey-through-time-historic-steam-donkey-steam-powered-winch-finds-new-home/

[Casting Iron]

New Mexico engine found at about 11,000 ft elevation, in a National Park.
There was a gold rush in NM perhaps in the late 1800's/early 1900's, and so many mines and mining equipment still existing in these mountains.

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[Casting Iron]

The photo of the trail is not a trick photo.
The trail was very steep.
We topped out at 12,400 ft that day with a spectacular view of Colorado.

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[Casting Iron]

A Dake hoist.
This is on my list too.

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[Casting Iron]

This was a little oscillating twin compound that I would also like to build.
It was in an Audel's book.
So many engines.......so little time.

And a typical illustration (section) from an Audel's book.
Their illustrations were very good.

I would like to see someone make a translucent 3D model of this reversing valve.
I have never quite figured it out exactly.
I don't know where the steam and exhaust pipes are either.
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[Jasonb]

Most of those engines in your first post are double high not compounds so would that not place them in your Donkey catagory?

[Casting Iron]

I have never used the term "donkey" with regards to a steam engine, mainly because I am not sure what the definition is.

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[uuu]

Wiki is your friend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_donkey

Or this, of course:


Wilf

[Casting Iron]

Just when you think you have seen it all...........
I had to look twice at that photo.......like....what am I seeing.
Almost seemed like some sort of AI generated meme.

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