Valve Gear

[Brakeman Hal]

I like to watch steam locomotives in action when they have Walschearts valve gear, with the eccentric rod taken from a 90 degree crank on one of the drivers.

The locos with simple valve gear just show the main rod connecting the drivers and nothing else; it's not as interesting to watch.

Hal

 

[Selector]

Are you by any chance referring to 'inside frame' valve gear? The outside frame valve gears are many, not just Walschaerts (with an 's'). There's Young, Southern, Stephenson, Pilliod (Baker), Gooch, and several others. And I agree with you that approximately half the charm of a steam locomotive lies in its outside frame valve gear of any description.