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?
Attachment:
BB AaaaB&LE621.jpg [ 93.38 KiB | Viewed 4549 times ]
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| What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35978 |
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| Author: | David H. Hamley [ Mon Dec 16, 2013 12:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? |
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? Attachment: BB AaaaB&LE621.jpg [ 93.38 KiB | Viewed 4549 times ] |
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| Author: | softwerkslex [ Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? |
Guessing: maybe an attempt to burn dust coal? Arrangement for catching cinders? |
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| Author: | Tavor [ Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? |
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... 
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| Author: | Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? |
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 |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? |
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 |
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| Author: | G. W. Laepple [ Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? |
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. |
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| Author: | David H. Hamley [ Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What is this gizmo on B&LE 621? |
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.) |
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