RE: the CNW 4-4-0, if you enlarge the Shorpy hi-res file significantly, you will see that the line in question does not go over the roof, but rather it enters the cab through a dimple in the front edge of the cab roof (I know--strange). I am going to guess that it is a steam supply line. To what, I am less certain. It does connect to a line going forward to the smoke box, so I surmise that is is the blower. Another line teed off of the vertical line sports a valve and then goes backwards into the cab. Since there is a large diameter suction hose hanging off the back side of the cab roof, perhaps the line running back into the cab supplies an inspirator to draw water into the tender from a trackside stream or pond if there is not a water tank nearbty???

Your mileage may vary...

Mike

Could that be the air for the train? It's sort of cool as a tricked out updated American can be. The air line on the cow catcher is clearly an add on. It looks like an air or steam operated bell as well. But what is the cross thing on the dome in front of the whistle? Last question is what is the pipe with the valve sticking out of the roof of the RPO?

Bob

Well, I'm finally getting a chance to really look at this old photo, and several things stand out. They include pressed paper wheels on the lead truck, what looks like a swinging metal panel to cover the headlight when in a siding (kerosene headlights didn't dim with a switch like electric ones; other roads used a rolling canvas cover, like a window shade), the air-ringer bell, the gear-driven switch stands, the switch targets, the jug of what I assume is water on the tender, and the oil can on the ground, next to a switch stand. And check out the "fire escape" below the window of the hotel!

I'm not 100% positive, but the curving pipe leading over the cab, and the hose coming down behind it, might be part of an early steam heating system, which ran the hoses at a high level. That's definitely what's on the mail car right behind the locomotive, and if you look closely, you can also see the pipe connections on the rear of the tender. You can also see the connecting hose stored on hooks on the end of the mail car. The Milwaukee Road used the same system in this time period.

As to the extra plumbing on the dome, well, that has me stumped. Any guesses?

The locomotive is in beautiful condition, and the station behind it looks darn nice, too. Don't you wish you could just walk into that photo and say hello to the crew, and buy a ticket as well?

The extra plumbing on the steam dome may be for attaching a steam hose. Many locomotives had these either on the injector line with a tee, or on the steam dome. The main purpose was usually for winter operations when the steam hose would be used to thaw switches and remove snow and ice from the valve gear, particularly the link blocks on Stephenson arrangements.

Taylor

Close look at the pipe leaving the compressor shows it going into the smokebox. Must be the exhaust. The line going over the top of the cab shows that it originated from the exhaust side of the compressor. My guess is that it was used to keep the water in the tender from freezing in the Minnesota winter. As to the Tee in front of the dome, looks like one side goes to the fireman's side of the cab and the other into the engineer's side. Maybe no turret on the loco, so steam operated cab appliances were separately fed?

A beautiful photo, at any rate!

Wonderful pictures, thanks to all. Didn't know this engine existed. Thought there were only 6 surviving CN&W locomotives including the "Pioneer". Again thanks for the pics
and the topics as a whole.

Slightly off topic, what I noticed about the pictures besides the very cute CN&W locomotive was the coal smoke and stacks of industry, railroads and just about any large buildings in the urban pictures. I just restored an old kitchen wood/coal stove and fired with coal yesterday. The inside of my house smelled like a roundhouse and the crisp air outside smelled like someone had a locomotive fired up nearby. The smell of coal smoke invokes so many differernt memories. Sleeping in camp cars as a yout, steam locomotives simmering, warm radiant heat. Wonder if someone made some "coal incense" for those who are needing a little reminder of the past? I know many people who burn wood for heat or supplemental heat, but coal burners are rare. When you have been away from coal smoke a while, these memories come flying back, at least for me.

All the Nimbies of the world might just sit and spin with the thought of coal use, the EPA may think of ways to fine me or others, but my thoughts are, "Coal it is the way of the future", Ha! Corn was meant to eat or be used for cattle feed. Truthfully, I wouldn't not want to go back to such wide use of coal as in the urban pictures above. I lived in the northern Illinois area back when the smog was still serious problem and remember the pollution when it was quite serious. A time when our country still had heavy industry operating all over the place. We have made a lot of headway and cleaned up our enviromental act considerably since then, for that I am glad. But not sure our society is any better because of it? Getting to far out there, so time to stop.

Cheers, John.

Looky here. Same kind of plumbing!

I like the looks of that.

Number 252 was built 12/1899. I assume the following:

C&NW number 605 was built circa 1882-86 with a short smokebox, and then had the smokebox lengthened along with a revision to the stack and smoke screens.

Number 252 was originally built with the stack and the smokebox shown in the above photo. The two photos show the effect of incorporating the updated front end into the original design versus updating the front end as a rebuild to a locomotive that was originally built with a short smokebox.

John - Hopefully there is a plan by MofT to eventually restore C&NW 274 there in Missouri. She sure doesn't look very good these days. And yes, I realize that you can't do everything at once. At least she is under cover.

One other thing; I too enjoy the smell of coal smoke.

Les