The Mallet Concept
This then was what became understood as a "Mallet" locomotive: an articulated locomotive in which the rear set of driving wheels were fixed in the main frame of the locomotive; a Bissell truck carrying a second set of driving carrying wheels; and compounding in which the high pressure cylinders drove the axles on the main frame and the Bissell truck axles were driven by low pressure steam.
Mallet asserted that the advantages of his concept were:
- all the locomotive weight would be adhesive, yet there would be great flexibility of the locomotive as a vehicle;
- the difficulties with Meyer, Fairlie and other then existing articulated systems would be eliminated as the moving pipes would be carrying steam at only 40 to 55 lb pressure, and would be easier to keep steam-tight; and
- A simple type of very powerful locomotive would be created.
The large diameter pipe conveying the low pressure steam from the hp to the lp cylinders acted also as a receiver, forming a buffer for the gas flow.
Independent cut-offs for the high pressure and low pressure cylinders were advocated by Mallet, but driving standards were inadequate and he later used combined cut-off control.
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