Just what are those things?

George Kaplan · **Posted:** Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:37 pm

Look at the link photo. There appear to be some appliances that look like water stand-pipes with odd covers on one end and counterweights on the other.
The caption suggests they are "smoke collectors." Never heard of them.
Any enlightenment would be appreciated!

P.S. That locomotive is a T1, right?

Pennsy smoke collectors?

Matt Conrad · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2003 9:03 am

> Look at the link photo. There appear to be
> some appliances that look like water
> stand-pipes with odd covers on one end and
> counterweights on the other.
> The caption suggests they are "smoke
> collectors." Never heard of them.
> Any enlightenment would be appreciated!

> P.S. That locomotive is a T1, right?

Yes, that's the sexy but slippery T-1.

Those look like water standpipes to me. Never heard of a "smoke collector" and if they were, why aren't they collecting smoke from either of the engines spotted on the service tracks?

The South Carolina Railroad Museum
mconrad@compuzone.net

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2003 3:29 pm

I'm having trouble with links right now, but if this is the photo I'm thinking of, those things were supposed to be smoke collectors. I believe they were in Chicago, and connected by underground pipes to huge fans. Part of an early attempt at reducing air pollution.

> Look at the link photo. There appear to be
> some appliances that look like water
> stand-pipes with odd covers on one end and
> counterweights on the other.
> The caption suggests they are "smoke
> collectors." Never heard of them.
> Any enlightenment would be appreciated!

> P.S. That locomotive is a T1, right?

ryarger@rypn.org

Phil Mulligan · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2003 4:02 pm

They are what they claim to be: smoke collectors. They swing over the stack and draw the smoke away before it gets all over the place.

Chicago's PRR passenger enginehouse was/is close to downtown and this was a way to keep the smoke somewhat under control.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Howard P. · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2003 7:22 pm

> They are what they claim to be: smoke
> collectors. They swing over the stack and
> draw the smoke away before it gets all over
> the place.

> Chicago's PRR passenger enginehouse was/is
> close to downtown and this was a way to keep
> the smoke somewhat under control.

They tried 'em at Morris Park (Jamaica) on the LIRR.... Ziel's LIRR history "Steel Rails to the Sunrise" has a photo showing all the engines "strategically placed" so they are just clear of the smoke ducts!!

hpincus@mindspring.com

finderskeepers · **Posted:** Mon Aug 11, 2003 9:41 pm

So after the smoke was sucked underground..then what? It had to go somewhere right?