Question - why graphite smoke boxes and red roofs?

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:37 am

Les Beckman wrote:

Termite7 wrote:

Southern Railroad had red-painted tender bunkers when the locomotive was equipped with a stoker...this was information intended for the crew on coaling towers.

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T7 -

Well I'm stumped by this little bit of information. What difference would it make to the crew on a coaling tower as to whether the locomotive had a stoker or not?

Les

Speaking as a former "manual fuel injection unit" in my younger & skinnier days, grade of coal. A fireman with a #2 scoop is much more forgiving about what he can move into a firebox than a screw conveyor. Stokers work best with a clean, 2"-4" "nut" coal. Firemen can move pretty much anything from large dust to 10 inch chunks.