蒸汽概述

蒸汽车靠蒸汽压力推动。蒸汽通常在大型机载加压锅炉中积聚，该锅炉装有水，由燃煤燃烧室加热。来自燃烧室的烟雾和热空气通过一组管道穿过锅炉，加热它们周围的水，然后通过锅炉另一端的排气管释放。

To run a steam engine, coal or oil are burned in a firebox . This heats up water in the boiler , eventually turning it into highly pressurized steam.

锅炉中积聚的蒸汽可以进入汽缸，活塞通过机械连接与轮子相连。这推动了车辆。在每个循环中，在一个方向推动活塞后，蒸汽通过排气管释放到外面。这会在燃烧室中产生真空吸力，将新鲜空气吸入其中，进一步助长火势。

水和煤有时由称为 tender 的二级装置运输。煤通过人工铲运到燃烧室，而水则通过称为喷射器的装置输送到锅炉。锅炉中必须始终保持足够的水量，否则可能导致灾难性故障。

Steam engines have complex mechanisms that need to be properly lubricated to function.

Since steam engines spew harmful particles to the atmosphere, they produce environment damage fees .

Firing up a steam engine from scratch is costly and can take a very long time. In Derail Valley, this startup process is sped up when the vehicle is stationary, simulating it being done in the most fuel efficient manner, until the boiler pressure reaches about 80% of its maximum capacity. The time scaling is there to drastically reduce waiting, but can be adjusted by a difficulty setting titled Steam Startup.