Cleaned up the smoke box and steam dome yesterday and today. The smoke box had an angle iron frame bolted to the inside of the rolled plate. This frame had 1/4” wire mesh affixed, assuming it was an internal spark arrestor. So took this out to make room to pull and replace the exhaust plumbing.
Also, still bolted in place, are two vertical sheet metal plates, extending downwards from the height of the spark arrestor frame. no idea why that is mounted in the smoke box. It appears to be some kind of arch, to swirl the exhaust gasses maybe??
If anybody knows what these devices are supposed to do, much appreciate a heads up.
Here’s a pic of what they look like.
Interestingly, the loco has no petticoat extending downwards from the stack. Iam a bit surprised at this. Al Campbell was a Master Railroad mechanic and shop foreman on the New York Elevated Railway when he designed and built this engine in 1903-1904. He must have felt the loco didn’t need a petticoat or any kind of Venturi to vent the smokebox. Still, a bit surprising, as other aspects of the loco are iconic steam locomotive design.
Then moved on to freeing up the throttle assembly and inspecting the steam port and valve in the steam dome. Broke off one of the two bolts holding the steam port casting to the side of the steam dome. Dumb and dumber. Should have put a bit of heat onto the bolt to loosen it up, but didn’t. So now two steps to the rear, and prolly three days lost time worrying the broken stud out of the hole and replacing with a new bolt.
But anyway, take a look at this construction! This is a top view of the steam dome- with massive, heavy round headed rivets holding the dome plate inside the vertical hot worked round dome assembly. NO tubing here! It’s all rolled steel, two pieces riveted together! Same as the boiler AND the smoke box.
The studs are set into the rolled 1” square bar. Each stud between two adjacent rivets.
Amazing construction. I have new respect for old school craftsmanship.
Glenn