What is this gizmo on B&LE 621?

David H. Hamley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:07 pm **Posts:** 705

A friend sent me this photo asking what kind of contraption is this mounted on Bessemer 2-10-4 621. I have no clue. Do you?

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BB AaaaB&LE621.jpg [ 93.38 KiB | Viewed 4547 times ]

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:20 pm

Guessing: maybe an attempt to burn dust coal? Arrangement for catching cinders?

Tavor · **Joined:** Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:32 pm **Posts:** 200

I would guess maybe an extra large sand box for the Conneaut Grade.
I managed to find another picture of one, but I'm still at a loss for what it is...

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:40 pm

I've seen this photo before. Let's note that it may be a mistake to assume it's B&LE: the B&LE sold eighteen of their 2-10-4s to the DM&IR in 1951, where they were used until 1961. The 621 is also one of ten of these built by Alco instead of Baldwin.

That said, until Internet searches and my access to a library on Wednesday confirm or show otherwise, I believe this is an experimental application of a cyclonic cinder scrubber, used to remove at least some of the cinders from the exhaust. There were a couple patents for such devices in the 1930s:

http://www.google.com/patents/US1995745

http://www.google.com/patents/US1990726

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6468

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

the B&LE sold eighteen of their 2-10-4s to the DM&IR in 1951, where they were used until 1961. The 621 is also one of ten of these built by Alco instead of Baldwin.

For the record, B&LE #621 became Duluth Missabe & Iron Range #700, the lowest numbered of the 18 2-10-4's that went north.

Les

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

I recall reading somewhere that during one assault on the grade coming out of Albion, the exhaust blast was so strong it blew part of this rig off into the adjacent field.

David H. Hamley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:07 pm **Posts:** 705

Both photos appear to show it numbered and lettered for B&LE, thus I'd tend to discount any DM&IR involvement. Also, the heavy grade on B&LE was out of Conneaut Harbor, not Albion. (My favorite shots at that same location in the diesel era showed a pair of B&LE's ex-DM&IR RSD15s leading and a pair of leased C&O AS616's pushing about 90 loads of ore pellets.)

What is this gizmo on B&LE 621?

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