The Steam Engine, Vol. 1 of 2: Its Invention and Progressive Improvement, an Investigation of Its Principles, and Its Application to Navigation, Manufactures, and Railways (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Thomas Tredgold

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0364133201 ISBN 13: 9780364133200

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

From early ideas to iron and steam on land and sea, this volume traces the steam engine’s rise and all its practical uses.

The book offers a comprehensive look at the steam engine’s history, the science of steam and vapors, and the many ways steam power transformed navigation, manufacturing, and railways. It explains how engines are designed, how they convert heat into motion, and how different engine types work—from noncondensing to condensing, high‑pressure to practical, safely managed systems. Rich with plates and practical explanations, it blends theory with real‑world examples and measurements.

Readers will discover how engineers analyzed heat, fuel, safety, and efficiency; how inventions like high‑pressure engines and locomotives evolved; and how modern practice applies these principles to building, operating, and maintaining steam machinery. The volume also illustrates several notable engines and the technology behind their operation, with detailed descriptions of components and processes.

• An accessible history of the steam engine’s progressive improvement from its earliest forms to more advanced designs
• Foundational discussions of steam, vapour, combustion, and the science behind power generation
• Practical guidance on engine construction, operation, and efficiency, with illustrated explanations
• Profiles of key locomotives and marine engines, plus how they shaped ships, railways, and industry

Ideal for readers interested in engineering history, maritime technology, and the development of rail transport.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0364133201
• ISBN 13: 9780364133200
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 773