SR Steam ~ 50 years ago (from one year ago)

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Kevin Gilliam wrote:

Les Beckman wrote:

Great color photo of the event! Boy, sure wish the Southern had preserved the 6330! This is the first I have noticed the single air tank on top of the boiler of the Mike. It appears to "split" the sand dome. Is this right? Very unusual arrangement I think.

Les

Les,
It's a movable smoke deflector. Many engines on the CNO&TP had them. Designed to funnel the smoke back over and beyond the cab when going through the then-numerous tunnels.
Kevin

Kevin -

Thanks for the clarification. Smoke deflector makes sense. Still, it appears that the deflector "splits" the sand dome, confirmed by the photo of the 6330 sitting just before being scrapped. Optical illusion?

Les

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:06 pm

Actually, I believe that all of the assigned locomotives on the CNO&TP were fitted with a deflector of one type or another. These were blast deflectors and were designed to protect the lining of the tunnels from damage from the exhaust blast. The Southern also experimented with other means of protecting the enginemen from asphyxiation including a permanent exhaust pipe extended over the top of the cab and forms of self contained breathing apparatus. I have seen photographs of both in use, but as that was years ago, do not remember the source.