Dictionary

raise steam en · VERB

Meanings

1. To build up a useful head (pressure level) of steam in a steam-engined vehicle's boiler.
   • Engines with heavy snow ploughs are ordered to raise steam to a state of readiness, and freight trains may be cancelled or permissive loadings halved. This latter feature is of vital importance when it is borne in mind that trains are often snowed in through coming to rest between stations because of loss of tractive power. 1960 January 14, M. Harbottle, “Maintaining Services after Heavy Snowfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 10:
   • […] the fireman has to divide his time between getting up into the bunker to throw more turfs into the cab, and getting down on his hands and knees to get it into the firebox, and even then a reserve supply of turf must be carried on a truck behind the engine, and stops must be made on each steep ascent to raise more steam. 1945 January and February, “Notes and News: Locomotive Firing with Turf”, in Railway Magazine, page 46:

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