I have noticed that it was a common practice in early American Locomotive construction for a locomotive to have two steam domes. The General as built had this feature. What is the basis for this? Why were they later abandoned in favor of just one?<br>

are you sure this isn't the sand dome that your looking at?<br>

Yes, I am sure. I have seen drawings and photos of early steam locomotives with two steam domes, plus the sand dome. It usually has the whistle mounted on top of it. The pop valves would be mounted on the rear dome.<br>



wilkidm@hera.wku.edu

I had thought the throttle was in the front dome in the 1840-50 era boilers with 2 steam domes and the steam source for the pops and fittings (what few there were) on the rear. Seems I saw an old drawing of that setup in an old book somewhere. Wish I knew more about these ancient things. <p>Strasburg is replicating LYON - was she built with 2 steam domes, and if so, how was the original set up and how is the replica being built?<p>Dave<br>



lathro19@idt.net

I was wondering too about the use of the two steam domes. I noticed that quite a few switchers had them. I check the picture of a 1914 Baldwin 0-6-0 to see if it had two steam domes. I thought it did at first but it looks like 1 steam dome and 2 sand domes. That makes me wonder if what I was seeing on the other switchers were extra sand domes. Were the two sand domes used mostly for switchers?<br>



x98salmonson@wmich.edu

Here's the 0-6-0 I was referring to. If I'm not mistaken those are two sand domes with the steam obviously in the middle.<br>




x98salmonson@wmich.edu

Correct, two sand domes. see the where the sander pipes connected at the base on both domes?<br>

Arcade & Attica alco/cooke 2-8-0 #18 also has two sand domes. Both have obvious sand lines, one for foreward operation, one for reverse.<br>



mrwowak@yahoo.com