Fireless Locos

Hi All

I have added a small collection of Fireless locomotives
2 photos of fireless locomotives at Huncoat Colliery 1st photo taken on 17/2/1966 2nd photo on 16/10/1967 by Tony Gillett
http://little-locos.photos.gb.net/p67807464.html
http://little-locos.photos.gb.net/p67807462.html
Fireless Loco at Caldew Jct Carlisle November 1967 by Tony Gillett
http://little-locos.photos.gb.net/p67807463.html
I got this info from Wikipedia on fireless locos :-
A fireless steam locomotive is similar to a conventional steam locomotive, but has a reservoir, known as a steam accumulator, instead of a boiler. This reservoir is partly filled with water and charged with steam from a stationary boiler. The locomotive can then work on the stored steam until the pressure has dropped to a minimum level, after which it must be recharged.

Neil

 

Hi Neil,

There are not so many fireless loco's left in working condition. The Stoom Stichting Nederland in Rotterdam (Dutch Steam Foundation) has a working example build in 1913 by Orenstein & Koppel in Berlin. The engine, an 0-4-0 No. 6326, worked most of it's live in Zwijndrecht (Holland). First preserved by a heritage line in Goes (Zeeland), but later sold to a man who gave it a home in Rotterdam.

The engine needed a fully rebuild. After it entered service in 1981, the engine was mostly used for steam events at the society's MPD. In 1989 the engine was a guest at the celebrations of 150 years Dutch railways in Utrecht and worked together with No. 3440 'City of Truro'.

After 15 years of running, a second rebuild was required. The boiler was replaced by a brand new one and a lot of attention was given to the motion, bearings, valves and pistons. Since then the engine worked another 14 years. They now consider to take the engine out of traffic to give it a full mechanical overhaul.

On YouTube:
Fireless O&K 0-4-0 No. 6326

Regards,
Vincent
Volunteer with the Dutch Steam Society engineering department