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André Chapelon

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455:, with two high-pressure cylinders between the 2nd and 3rd coupled axles mounted behind four low-pressure cylinders. That unusual cylinder arrangement was required due to the loading gauge being too narrow to accommodate two low-pressure cylinders with the required volume to fully expand the low-pressure steam. There was also an additional level of "superheat" between the high- and low-pressure cylinders, allowing the loco to achieve a tractive effort of 83,700 pounds-force (372 kN)83700 lb. 22: 502:. They were highly advanced locomotives with many modern American appliances, as well as Chapelon's innovations. He was a great admirer of American industrial capacities and the resulting high quality of its engineering, even though his work tended to be ignored in the USA. One standard Gauge 4-4-2 was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad Numbered 2512 which gained a Nickname De Glehn. 444:, which was completed in August 1932. The success of that work led to eleven more rebuilds to locomotives numbered 4701-4712 (later 240 701 - 240 712). Those locomotives produced almost 40 indicated horsepower (ihp) continuous per metric ton locomotive weight, which probably still is a world record. 470:
241.101, which retained the 3-cylinder layout, changed it into a 3-cylinder compound system, and introduced more of Chapelon's improvements, including a triple Kylchap exhaust, double high-pressure valves and Willoteaux valves on the low-pressure cylinders. Completed in 1946, and with a continuous
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Efficiency was one of Chapelon's primary concerns in design. Some of his locomotives exceeded 12% efficiency, which for a steam locomotive was exceptional. With greater efficiency, Chapelon could achieve greater power in a smaller locomotive that burned less coal, rather than simply enlarging a
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Chapelon realised that in order to produce an efficient, powerful locomotive, every aspect of it had to be improved and dealt with scientifically. He studied locomotive behaviour at speed and the riding properties of the steel wheel on steel rail; his knowledge was put to use much later on the
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power output of 5500 ihp, the locomotive was rather more powerful than contemporary French electric locomotives, resulting in a hasty redesign of subsequent electric locos, increasing their power by another 1,000 horsepower (750 kW). However, the locomotive was scrapped in 1960.
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Despite his abilities and track record, he was never presented the opportunity to design a class of entirely-new locomotives that were produced in any numbers. He was continually stymied by railway management and politicians, and often his superbly performing locomotives were treated as
250:(PLM) as a probationer in the Rolling Stock and Motive Power section at Lyon-Mouche depot. However, foreseeing poor prospects, he left in 1924 and joined the Société Industrielle des Telephones, soon becoming as assistant manager. In 1925, he joined the 337:, with his system of compounding. His other major work included optimising the steam circuit, including improving the steam flow by widening steam passages and paths, improving the flow through valve gear, and improved exhaust systems such as his 262:
exhaust system. While his principles met with scepticism, No. 3566, the first locomotive rebuilt to Chapelon's design, was an outstanding success, and from 1929 to 1936 several other locomotives were rebuilt to Chapelon's designs.
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class is considered by some to be among Chapelon's best designs, and was the most thermally-efficient locomotive in the world at its time. According to some, it was equal in efficiency to early diesel locomotives of its time.
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immigrated to France from England in 1812, one of many who came to France in the 19th century to teach steel production methods. He achieved a distinction in mathematics and science, and served as an artillery officer during
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He tested his experimental designs thoroughly to understand how they actually behaved, using the most accurate and complete testing and sensing equipment available, such as high-speed
312:, trying to replicate the attributes of previous locomotives by rule of thumb, by guesswork, and from empirical theories and design rules that had rarely been given adequate testing. 511: 826: 831: 811: 413:
class 476.0 locomotive, the last compound locomotive of Czech origin. They consulted Chapelon during construction, and he visited Czechoslovakia.
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Before Chapelon, few engineers and designers tried to understand why a certain design worked better than another—they merely worked by
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3566, which was released from Tours works in November 1929. As a result of this, three further series of Pacifics were similarly modified.
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For an excellent biography, see Rogers, H. C. B., "Andre Chapelon 1892-1978 Le genie francais de la vapeur" (1992, CNRS Editions)(
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embarrassments by his superiors, because they showed up the poor performance of the officially-approved locomotives.
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Although many of Chapelon's contemporaries did not adopt his methods, a few did. One notable such designer was
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Chapelon had several designs of standardised locomotive on the drawing board, starting with his time at
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Chapelon published numerous works on steam locomotive design, although only his most famous work (
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in 1919, from which he graduated as Ingénieur des Arts et Manufactures in 1921. He joined the
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to their design, and he sought to apply up-to-date theories and knowledge in subjects such as
198: 190: 205:, and gas and fluid flow. Chapelon's work was an early example of what would later be called 527: 786: 562: 334: 309: 406: 379:, and others, and he was accorded the rare honour for a foreign railwayman of having a 202: 795: 395: 387: 757: 640: 498:
locomotives for GELSA (Groupement d'Exportation de Locomotives S.A.) for export to
302: 394:, who experimentally used Chapelon's Kylchap exhaust system on a small number of 779: 721: 706:. Vol. 32, no. 379. Shepperton: Ian Allan. December 1971. p. 543. 488: 462:
was perhaps the pinnacle of Chapelon's development of the steam locomotive. The
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and phase out steam. As a result, the frames were scrapped before completion.
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on 26 October 1892. According to family relatives, his great-grandfather
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The only locomotives Chapelon designed for use outside France were some
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This was followed by a more comprehensive rebuild of Pacific 4521 as a
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The first locomotive rebuilt to incorporate Chapelon's work was PO
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watched Chapelon's work, especially when construction commenced on
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Chapelon's work lived on in the work of his friend and protégé
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On 13 September 1971 Chapelon was made Vice-President of the
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In 1936, Chapelon began the rebuild of a PO 6000 class
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Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée
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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 634: 632: 630: 276:Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie Nationale 185:(26 October 1892 – 22 July 1978) was a French 8: 758:"André Chapelon's creations and innovations" 671: 669: 667: 665: 663: 661: 780:Works by or about André Chapelon (Worldcat) 601: 599: 597: 595: 119: 270:and awarded both the Plumey Prize of the 106:Learn how and when to remove this message 574: 254:(PO) and, along with Finnish Engineer 645:FRENCH COMPOUND LOCOMOTIVES' HOMEPAGE 7: 44:adding citations to reliable sources 827:French railway mechanical engineers 537:designs for less-demanding duties. 383:electric locomotive named for him. 405:Czech locomotive designers at the 221:André Xavier Chapelon was born in 14: 832:Locomotive builders and designers 305:photography to watch steam flow. 268:Chevalier of the Legion of Honour 392:London and North Eastern Railway 329:He was a major proponent of the 266:In 1934, Chapelon was appointed 252:Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans 20: 31:needs additional citations for 812:People from Loire (department) 1: 817:20th-century French engineers 287:Stephenson Locomotive Society 822:École Centrale Paris alumni 702:"André Chapelon honoured". 516:American Locomotive Company 423: 398:locomotives, including the 321:locomotive for more power. 848: 400:LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard 325:Compounding and steam flow 274:and the Gold Medal of the 621:"The Ultimate Steam Page" 558:Advanced steam technology 193:. A graduate engineer of 189:and designer of advanced 242:before returning to the 785:14 October 2012 at the 678:"Andre Xavier Chapelon" 296: 258:, jointly designed the 223:Saint-Paul-en-Cornillon 144:Saint-Paul-en-Cornillon 466:was a rebuild of Etat 424:Chapelon's locomotives 418:La locomotive a vapeur 366: 280:La locomotive à vapeur 718:"WorldCat Identities" 520:Schenectady, New York 381:British Rail Class 86 272:Académie des Sciences 524:compound locomotives 483:Exported locomotives 244:École centrale Paris 195:Ecole Centrale Paris 175:École Centrale Paris 40:improve this article 744:"Aster Hobby Japan" 354:high speed trains. 331:compound locomotive 187:mechanical engineer 724:on 14 October 2012 429:French locomotives 297:Chapelon's methods 563:fr:André Chapelon 373:Livio Dante Porta 367:Chapelon's legacy 289:in a ceremony in 211:Livio Dante Porta 199:scientific method 191:steam locomotives 180: 179: 116: 115: 108: 90: 839: 775:Chapelon's 4-8-4 762: 761: 754: 748: 747: 740: 734: 733: 731: 729: 720:. Archived from 714: 708: 707: 699: 693: 692: 690: 688: 676:Jones, Kevin P. 673: 656: 655: 653: 651: 641:"André Chapelon" 636: 625: 624: 617: 611: 610: 603: 590: 579: 528:simple expansion 518:(ALCO) works in 506:Proposed Designs 165: 139: 137: 120: 111: 104: 100: 97: 91: 89: 55:"André Chapelon" 48: 24: 16: 847: 846: 842: 841: 840: 838: 837: 836: 792: 791: 787:Wayback Machine 771: 766: 765: 756: 755: 751: 742: 741: 737: 727: 725: 716: 715: 711: 701: 700: 696: 686: 684: 675: 674: 659: 649: 647: 638: 637: 628: 619: 618: 614: 605: 604: 593: 580: 576: 571: 554: 508: 485: 431: 426: 390:of the British 369: 360: 347: 335:Alfred de Glehn 327: 318: 310:trial and error 299: 219: 217:Life and career 171:Alma mater 163: 154: 141: 140:26 October 1892 135: 133: 125: 112: 101: 95: 92: 49: 47: 37: 25: 12: 11: 5: 845: 843: 835: 834: 829: 824: 819: 814: 809: 804: 794: 793: 790: 789: 777: 770: 769:External links 767: 764: 763: 749: 735: 709: 694: 657: 626: 612: 591: 573: 572: 570: 567: 566: 565: 560: 553: 550: 507: 504: 484: 481: 430: 427: 425: 422: 368: 365: 359: 356: 346: 345:Wheel and rail 343: 326: 323: 317: 314: 298: 295: 218: 215: 203:thermodynamics 183:André Chapelon 178: 177: 172: 168: 167: 166:(aged 85) 160: 156: 155: 142: 131: 127: 126: 124:André Chapelon 123: 114: 113: 28: 26: 19: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 844: 833: 830: 828: 825: 823: 820: 818: 815: 813: 810: 808: 805: 803: 800: 799: 797: 788: 784: 781: 778: 776: 773: 772: 768: 759: 753: 750: 745: 739: 736: 723: 719: 713: 710: 705: 704:Railway World 698: 695: 683: 679: 672: 670: 668: 666: 664: 662: 658: 646: 642: 635: 633: 631: 627: 622: 616: 613: 608: 602: 600: 598: 596: 592: 588: 587:9782222047483 584: 578: 575: 568: 564: 561: 559: 556: 555: 551: 549: 547: 543: 538: 536: 532: 529: 525: 521: 517: 513: 505: 503: 501: 497: 493: 490: 482: 480: 477: 472: 469: 465: 461: 456: 454: 450: 445: 443: 438: 436: 428: 421: 419: 414: 412: 408: 403: 401: 397: 396:LNER Class A4 393: 389: 388:Nigel Gresley 384: 382: 378: 374: 364: 357: 355: 353: 344: 342: 340: 336: 332: 324: 322: 315: 313: 311: 306: 304: 294: 292: 288: 283: 281: 277: 273: 269: 264: 261: 257: 256:Kyösti Kylälä 253: 249: 245: 241: 236: 235:James Jackson 232: 228: 224: 216: 214: 212: 208: 204: 200: 196: 192: 188: 184: 176: 173: 169: 161: 157: 153: 149: 145: 132: 128: 121: 118: 110: 107: 99: 96:November 2009 88: 85: 81: 78: 74: 71: 67: 64: 60: 57: –  56: 52: 51:Find sources: 45: 41: 35: 34: 29:This article 27: 23: 18: 17: 752: 738: 726:. 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"André Chapelon"
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Saint-Paul-en-Cornillon
Loire
France
École Centrale Paris
mechanical engineer
steam locomotives
Ecole Centrale Paris
scientific method
thermodynamics
modern steam
Livio Dante Porta
Saint-Paul-en-Cornillon
Loire
France
James Jackson
World War I
École centrale Paris
Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée
Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans

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