When Do Steam Locomotives Bark

[Andy873]

The phrase "bark" seems to be mentioned often with regards to steam engines. It's mentioned in one of Stuart Taylor's books covering East Lancashire, and in the lovely Titfield Thunderbolt film.

What causes an engine to bark?
Do we know where / when the phrase comes from / came in?
What does an engine barking actually sound like?

Thanks,
Andy.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I believe it refers to the sound from the chimney when working hard. Here’s a short video from YouTube showing four such examples.

 

[snowball]

I believe it refers to the sound from the chimney when working hard. Here’s a short video from YouTube showing four such examples.

If I were to liken that sound to anything made by a dog, I'd call it panting, not barking.

 

[Sun Chariot]

GWR's Churchward and Collett locomotives have - typically - had a gruff staccato exhaust. I have several Peter Handford audio CDs of steam 1955 to 1964. Those WR locos, where worked hard, really did give off a "barking" sound. It's not a noise I've heard emitted by other steam locos.

I had the chance to see 34067 "Tangmere" and 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" tackle the 1:30 of Folkestone Harbour's branch in 2009. The Bulleid's "harsh shushing" & the Riddles' "gunshot" noises (when both those locos were straining up rhe incline, working flat out), definitely sounds different to WR locos.

 

[M&NEJ]

GWR's Churchward and Collett locomotives have - typically - had a gruff staccato exhaust. I have several Peter Handford audio CDs of steam 1955 to 1964. Those WR locos, where worked hard, really did give off a "barking" sound. It's not a noise I've heard emitted by other steam locos.

I had the chance to see 34067 "Tangmere" and 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" tackle the 1:30 of Folkestone Harbour's branch in 2009. The Bulleid's "harsh shushing" & the Riddles' "gunshot" noises (when both those locos were straining up rhe incline, working flat out), definitely sounds different to WR locos.

Is the "bark" partly a function of the design of valves and steam passages, presumably as from Churchward & Collett as above; and is it also a function of the cut-off being used (for example full regulator but cut-off not too long, otherwise the exhaust beats tend to merge)?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Is the "bark" partly a function of the design of valves and steam passages, presumably as from Churchward & Collett as above; and is it also a function of the cut-off being used (for example full regulator but cut-off not too long, otherwise the exhaust beats tend to merge)?

At a guess, yes the steam passages and the consequential draughting play a big part

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

It’s debatable which GWR locos had the loudest ‘bark’ - in my opinion it’s between a single-chimney ‘Castle’ or a ’Manor’. Just because, here’s an example of both:

The first is 5029 Nunney Castle’s epic slog out of Weymouth on a return railtour in 2010

And then we have 7802 Bradley Manor’s final exploit over the Cambrian main line at Talerddig summit.

Its actually quite an interesting comparison, as the gradient from Upwey to Bincombe summit is 1:52, the gradient to Talerddig summit is 1:51 and both locos were on the same load of 8 Mk1 coaches. The Castle is considerably more powerful on paper but the smaller driving wheels of the Manor clearly give an advantage in raw power at low speed. The relative amount of ’bark’ is open for debate - I reckon 7802 was fully extended but 5029 probably wasn’t working entirely flat out.

 

[John Webb]

There is a major difference in the design of blast-pipe fitted to GWR/BR(W) locos compared to the majority of locos from other railways. They are fitted with a 'Jumper Ring' at the top of the blast-pipe. When the engine is working hard this ring lifts up to allow some of the exhausted steam to be released without increasing the blast up the chimney. This is to prevent an excessive draught being drawn through the fire and fire-box and thus the burning coals are less likely to be lifted off the firebars, which would cause problems.
Could this be the reason GWR locos have a different sound to others?
(See pages 44/45 of the BR "Handbook for Railway Steam Locomotive Enginemen" for diagrams and a bit more detail.)

 

[Andy873]

Thanks everyone for the explanations and those superb videos!

You can clearly hear the "bark" from those engines as they work hard to climb the banks.

For me, Stuart Taylor's book I'm reading is a little frustrating in that he describes riding my old branch from Rose Grove (Burnley) to Gt. Harwood junction (Blackburn) but misses out the ride in the other direction from Padiham back to Rose Grove up the 1.25 mile (1 in 40) Padiham bank.

From what you're all telling me (and from those videos) the ride up Padiham bank would have caused those locos to bark?

 

[Irascible]

From what you're all telling me (and from those videos) the ride up Padiham bank would have caused those locos to bark?

The amount & pressure of the exhaust steam caused by working the engine hard, yes, together with a certain design of blast pipe & smokebox which given they act as an echo chamber, affect the exact sound. Once you understand how a steam locomotive works it's a bit easier to visualise.