Booster engine

As a booster, a small two-cylinder steam engine was called in the U.S. railway system, the rear wheel axle or the first axle of the towing Enders drive of steam locomotives.

This steam engine was (miles per hour, about 24 km / h), can be switched with a clutch and latched at speeds of about 30 mph ( 45 km / h) automatically from at low speeds the vehicle below 15 mph.

They were attached to the purpose to drive particularly heavy trains easier or to drive at very low speeds. The performance gain was about 300 hp corresponding to about 224 kW, the traction gain about 50 kN (equivalent to about 5 tons).

Border booster included with connecting rods coupled to the bogie wheels, but limited the maximum speed of the locomotive. Therefore, they were rare and attached primarily to shunting.

Particularly widespread was the use of boosters at the New York Central Railroad, but otherwise rare.

• Motor vehicle ( United States)