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| Cinders and Smokeboxes https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3983 |
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| Author: | Jason Whiteley [ Tue Sep 17, 2002 10:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Cinders and Smokeboxes |
Hi All, I've often read about smokeboxes in the older engines in the UK needing to be cleared of ashes at the end of each day and other, newer, engines being equipped with "self-cleaning" smokeboxes. I've never heard of ash accumulation being a problem here in North America though. How are smokeboxes different that some stay relatively ash free and other don't? Also, I seem to recall reading several months ago in one of the English railway magazines, about a special screen installed in the smokebox of one of the LMS Pacifics (I think Princess Elizabeth) to break up cinders coming through the flues, reducing the lineside fire hazard. Does anyone know anything about the results? Thanks. |
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| Author: | David Ackerman [ Wed Sep 18, 2002 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Cinders and Smokeboxes |
I'm undoubtedly not the best qualified person on this list to respond, but I just bought a really neat book talking about this stuff, and I never have known when to keep my mouth shut. The 1930 edition of the ARA master mechanic's Locomotive_and_Railroad_Cyclopedia would make it appear that most, if not all, coal burning locomotives had some sort of spark arestor arrangement. Usualy in the form of a baffle and screen in the smokebox designed to redirect exhaust gases down and forward, presumably robbing them of momentum, so that the particulates they were carrying would settle, and then throough a screen into a chamber where the exhaust nozle from the cylinders vented and from which the smokextack issued. The screen would prevent any large embers, and by this we presumably mean small coals, not your cinder in the eye grade stuff, from passing out of the smokebox and starting lineside fires. And we can all see what a problem that issue has raised of late. It would seem big, well, I almost hate to say particles, as I'm envisioning gravel sized stuff, were a substantial problem, as the railroads apparently began employing guard plates to protect the elbows on superheater elements, and opening up flues or firetubes that had become plugged was a routine maitanace item suggested in the book. As to self cleaning smokeboxes, and U.S. locomotives, the book describes self cleaning smokeboxes, and I would have to guess that not all U.S. steamers had, or even have them. As to cleaning ash, I can to a limited extent speak to that. 1522, which does not have any of the baffles or spark arrestors previously desribed, thanks to being an oil burner, does accumlate enough soot in her firebox that periodic cleaning has been necessary enough that this relative newbie has seen it, and even participated in it. (There was still a full five galon bucket of junk, and this off an oil burner, and me having gotten there rather after the party had already started.) I'm forced to assume that ours is not a "self cleaning" smokebox. (I'll have to look at my plans and compare, but if it is, I feel sorry for the guys without 'em.) And in any case, I've certainly seen plenty of pictures of sweaty dirty shop crew members shoveling stuff out of the smoke box from days of yore. We just might have a self claening model, as we don't have to do this every day, and I think that at one time, you did it about as often as cleaning out the ash pan. Sincerely, David Ackerman david_ackerman@yahoo.com |
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