CHAPTER IV
FORGINGS, SPRINGS, ETC.
Forging and Smithing Departments.—Locomotive forgings include work done in three different departments, to which may be added a fourth, the spring shop. Strictly speaking, the forgings proper are large pieces such as crank and straight axles, connecting rods, etc., which are made under the steam hammers in the large forge. In many cases forged axles are purchased outside from the manufacturers.
A second department consists of the blacksmith’s shop, in which smaller parts of wrought iron or mild steel are made by welding. There is also the third or “stamping” department, in which a large number of parts, formerly made by the blacksmith, are now stamped to shape in dies under gravity or “drop” hammers.
All wrought iron and mild steel parts of a locomotive, such as axles, connecting and coupling rods, piston rods, the machinery or “motion,” and a large number of other details are made in one or other of these departments. The springs are made in the spring shop by the spring smiths, and their manufacture is an art requiring special knowledge. Frequently they are purchased outside.
