Wendell,
‘fireless’ locomotives were commonly used in situations where the chance of a spark causing an explosion was high. Common usage would be a coal mine where buildup of methane or coal dust could result in an explosion. Apart from compressed air, another source of propulsion was to top the locomotive boiler up with steam, from a stationary source and then it would travel into the mine or factory. ‘Fireless’ type locomotives were relatively common in industry.
Tim-
Thanks for data and category “fireless” – I will use it as a heading. Interesting aspect of the hobby!
Tim Brien said:Don't forget flour mills, too.
Wendell, 'fireless' locomotives were commonly used in situations where the chance of a spark causing an explosion was high. Common usage would be a coal mine where buildup of methane or coal dust could result in an explosion. Apart from compressed air, another source of propulsion was to top the locomotive boiler up with steam, from a stationary source and then it would travel into the mine or factory. 'Fireless' type locomotives were relatively common in industry.
tac
www.ovgrs.org
Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration Fund
tac Foley said:
Don't forget flour mills, too.tac
www.ovgrs.org
Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration Fund
Yes. I learned at a very young age the explosive power of flour, and sugar, when cleaning up at a grocery store that used an incinerator to dispose of cardboard. Got fired on Christmas Eve for sweeping the mixture into the fire in great explosive clouds. Looking back, the firing was worth it
On the ET&WNCRR there was a large Rayon factory, I think. Anyway in Elizabethtown, TN, there is a restored and displayed fireless steam engine displayed near the Chamber of Commerce, not far from the Doe Run Gorge. Unique engine, nicely restored. I thought I had a picture, but haven’t found it, yet.
Here is a fireless loco used by Duke Power and now at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. Ralph
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/Salisbury_Spencer350Med.jpg)
Here’s one that’s been cosmetically restored …
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=60914
That loco is now in a mall in Westbrook, CT.
Here’s a bunch of other fireless tanks and compressed air locos …
Hi All,
I have posted photos and information about air locomotives and 7/8’s models on my website http://www.narrowgaugechaos.com that might be of interest.
The page with air locomotive information is http://www.narrowgaugechaos.com/RPC/RPC.html
Marty J
Would a “fireless steamer” have a pressure relief valve to show when it is at maximum safe pressure? Or did they just rely on the gauges? Anyone have knowledge of these? I’m guessing there would also be a drain to drain out the condensation after it cooled, much like an air compressor.
Ric Golding said:Looking at the picture Ralph posted, it appears to have a pressure release on the dome. I imagine the blow-down piping is also present to de-pressurize & remove condensate.
Would a "fireless steamer" have a pressure relief valve to show when it is at maximum safe pressure? Or did they just rely on the gauges? Anyone have knowledge of these? I'm guessing there would also be a drain to drain out the condensation after it cooled, much like an air compressor.
My thoughts also, Jon. I was fishing to see if anyone had some on hand knowledge. I guess they can make the tanks as big as can be tolerated because there is such an abundance of weight, since your not carrying fuel, water and the fire box in which to generate steam.
NARCO was the name of the company that had the fireless steamer in Elizabethtown, TN. It was a big enough factory that it had its own station on the timetable.
There was some discussion of this when the “mall engine” was being rebuilt in the VRR shops …
Typically, these were filled from trackside boilers… like the kind that powered a large factory, etc. The “blowdown valve” is actually a fill valve, but, being at the bottom of the boiler, would serve as a drain as well. Once connected to the factory boiler, and up to pressure, most of what filled the “thermos bottle” located where the boiler would normally be was superheated water… around 380 degrees F … once disconnected, when the Fireless’ engineer opened the throttle valve, the drop in pressure caused the water to flash to steam … which then did the work in the cylinders to move the locomotive. A well insulated fireless could go for several hours without refilling, depending on the workload.
Try this… photos, diagrams, and stuff from the advertisements and manual: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/porter/porter-pd.html
Matthew (OV)
Ahhhhhhhh!! Those were the days when publicists could get away with this quote;
“New, unskilled labor ever women - can operate it after a few brie instructions.”
I assume ever was meant be even?
TonyWalsham said:
Ahhhhhhhh!! Those were the days when publicists could get away with this quote;“New, unskilled labor ever women - can operate it after a few brie instructions.”
I assume ever was meant be even?
In the same way that “Brie” is actually “Brief”… I’m guessing, given the attitude, that there was no Brie available at the training sessions.
I love Brie.
Only I am on a reduce cheese diet now. 
Marty Johnston said:Hey Marty! Thanks for chiming in! I've viewed your wonderfully inspiring site many times!
Hi All, I have posted photos and information about air locomotives and 7/8's models on my website http://www.narrowgaugechaos.com that might be of interest. The page with air locomotive information is http://www.narrowgaugechaos.com/RPC/RPC.html Marty J
cale
Any 7/8ths full layout pictorials in Garden Railways over the last two years? I don’t recall seeing a full pictorial - granted my interest was not high so I may have missed one. I would like seeing some comparisons of 7/8 “critter” locos or other against an LGB Mogul or other very easily compared loco product. i presume the ore dumps can be modified off the Bachman ore cars making them higher (?).
Wendell
Wendell Hanks said:
Any 7/8ths full layout pictorials in Garden Railways over the last two years? I don't recall seeing a full pictorial - granted my interest was not high so I may have missed one. I would like seeing some comparisons of 7/8 "critter" locos or other against an LGB Mogul or other very easily compared loco product. i presume the ore dumps can be modified off the Bachman ore cars making them higher (?).Wendell
Wendell…again, this is just what I’ve found while digging and then placing inside the head for future use:
GR Mag featured the Plum loco build (as mentioned earlier in post).
The last issue or so featured a Brass 1:20.3 switcher that was inspired by a feature story of 7/8 in 2000 (I believe).
That is all I can recall, in my last 5 yrs of subscribing. No wait, Jeff (Steam Guy) had some photos of some Slate Cars built up in 7/8 last year…
I too would love to see a critter beside a Mogul, or a figure comparo. I’d guess if you really wanted to use the Bmann dumps you could, though they’d be a little spindly compared to the other more robust offerings, like the HLW tippers, LGB Tippers and 2 Axle Shorty Gons. I was told that the Sesame Street Trains from years ago would work…well the Gons that came with set were compatible, if not rough…but a start none the less.
Sidestreet has plans from Phill Creer
(http://www.sidestreetbannerworks.com/railways/Planspix/pix/36plymouth.jpg)
Plan #36 http://www.sidestreetbannerworks.com/railways/plans.html http://www.sidestreetbannerworks.com/gifs/plans.pdf More useful/less links: http://bts.au.com/7eighths/pdfs/manufacturers.pdf
(http://www.sidestreetbannerworks.com/pictures67/Lead.jpg)
http://www.sidestreetbannerworks.com/locos/loco67.html IF this link don’t get you, you’re already dead: http://www.zelmeroz.com/album_model/basics/28_netherdale.pdf this is pretty! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_jJNcxx_6o[/youtube] that is 7/8 http://www.panyo.com/dh2002/ops/12.htm another: http://www.panyo.com/dh2002/ops/11.htm both from: http://www.panyo.com/dh2002/ops.htm http://www.amalgamatedconserves.org.uk/ http://carendt.com/seveneighths/
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4485804249_06fc2d89b9.jpg)
http://foggybottomrr.blogspot.com/ Gives a pretty good perspective on how large these things are? 2 itches, one scratch: http://grw.trains.com/~/media/import/images/5/f/5/waterline_overall.ashx?bc=ffffff&mw=250 http://grw.trains.com/en/sitecore/content/Home/Product%20and%20Hobby%20News/Product%20Reviews/2008/02/Waterline%20Inc%20live-steam%200-4-0T%20locomotive.aspx Merry Christmas
Cale-
The steamer video (Arielle at Stavers) is really attention getting. The large cab, I am guessing, is what makes it 7/8ths – plus the rolling stock. It can really pull.
Thanks for all of the sites. I’m very interested in starting on my own loco – after the new year and a house repair.
Marry Christmas.
Wendell