What is the smoke that comes out of trains called?

Most steam locomotives emit both smoke and steam. The exhaust (used) steam from the cylinders is sent to the blastpipe in the smokebox. This creates a jet of steam going up the chimney that entrains the combustion gases that were generated in the firebox and passed through the tubes in the boiler to the smokebox.



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The white smoke produced is typically pure steam, which is ideal for a steam locomotive since the engine is not wasting any energy. Brown smoke typically arises from the smokestack when poor-quality fuel is used. These fuels may be low-grade coal or even wood.

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The steam generated in the boiler not only moves the locomotive, but is also used to operate other devices such as the whistle, the air compressor for the brakes, the pump for replenishing the water in the boiler and the passenger car heating system.

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Railroad officials said that with smoking banned, cars would be cleaner, cost less to maintain and have more seats available during rush hour. Railroad officials had advocated a ban based on concerns about health and overcrowding.

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Steam locomotives. The basic features that made George and Robert Stephenson's Rocket of 1829 successful—its multitube boiler and its system of exhausting the steam and creating a draft in its firebox—continued to be used in the steam locomotive to the end of its career.

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