While looking for some photo's on Denver Public Library's site for some proto D&RGW Pacifics, I came across this What are the three domes? Does it have two sand domes and one steam dome or the other way around? Why would a locomotive have two steam domes? One for each set of cylinders? Sorry for the dumb question but maybe someone can shine a light on my ignorance (better bring a big light ) Eric
I would say two sand domes. Many times switchers had two sand domes because they needed lots of sand for their constant starting while moving cars around. I know many ATSF Mikados had extra sand domes added later in their life. I suppose a passenger engine like a Pacific might have needed extra sand if it was used in hilly country and made a lot of station stops resulting in a lot of starts.
Yup! I agree. Our Mike has one sand dome for the front of the drivers located on the front of the boiler and a sand dome for the rear of the drivers located at the rear of the boiler. In between the sand domes is the steam dome. The photograph shows the first two domes to be for sand, (you can see the feed pipes: on the front dome it goes straight down and on the second dome the pipe angles down toward the rear of the rear driver.) The dome closest to the cab is the steam dome as determined by the whistle mounted on it. And Eric, we don't have any "dumb questions" on Trainboard!
Eric, 'round these parts thars no secha thing as a "dumb question" (actually the only dumb question is the one that never gets asked... ). The guys are right, of course, two sand domes. This probably was a mountain loco...built to negotiate those steep grades above Denver. I am wondering if anyone knows the history of this particular engine? Looks likew maybe an USRA spec build out?? John
Add my name to the 2 sand domes & 1 steam dome. That is a passenger engine operating in mountain territory. Need a lot of sand. Also agreed that the only dumb question is the one unasked. That was one of my first rules when I would have a student. ie Dont hesitate to ask a question no matter how stupid or foolish it might sound to you. CT
Answers are the only things that can be DUMB. The best example would have been if I had tried to answer your question, but I try to keep my Dumbness to myself...I'm learning, I'm learning...:embarassed: BTW, I never realized that the whistle was almost always on the steam dome, Thanks Bill.
The D&RGW 4-6-2's were known as the P44 class. They had 67" drivers, Walschaert's valve gear 108" X 84" firebox, 76" diameter boiler, cylinders are 12' diam upper, and 28" lower. 17 tons of coal, 9,000 gals of water. The responses on the domes have been correct. Two sand, one steam, with a turret and generator next in line going toward the cab. The shot here is before it was outfitted with a smoke deflector. Built by Baldwin 1913, they only had five, 801-805. Grande steam photos are nice, and that's all we have to remeber them. Paul H. Liddiard
While it's true that there are no dumb questions, there certainly are inquisitive idiots, I know, because I'm one of them.
Boy, you guys are quick. Every time I see STEAM in the title I jump to it. Colorado 50, as others have pointed out, there are no dumb questions. Please ask some more before we forget all the wonderful facts about steam locomotives! :teeth:
Thanks, Paul L! That's correct, the 800-class engines were used to haul passenger trains on the old D&RGW. I cannot find a refernce that may link these engines to a roster. I am thinking they may have been D&SL engines before the 1947 D&RGW absorbtion.
No, they were bought new by the D&RG. 801 first number was 1001. Here it is in 1917 already with two sand domes and a strange instument housing above the cyliner. This class of engine was delivered new in 1913 with only one sand dome. Sister engine in 1915.
Maybe only one sand dome, but space for a second except for that funny looking contraption where it will go. BTW, the steam dome and aft sand dome on 1006 are in the same place as they are on 1001/801. What is that contraption on 1006 between the stack and the sand dome?
Wow, thanks to everyone who responded. Hemi, the history of these engines can be found at the D&RGW Historical website. http://www.drgw.org/data/steam/roster/drgw08.htm Just scroll down to the 800 series. It seems these locos lasted quite awhile on the system. The last one was dimantled in 1953. I've also been looking at the headlight location throught the years. From what I can tell, based on the photos, the headlight moved from the top of the boiler to the center of the smokebox door in about 1937. D&RGW also painted the smokebox silver on some of them too. Again, thank to everybody, Eric
I have a book, Rio Grande Steam Finale by Lloyd E. Stanger published in 1999. This book lists the 1000 series 4-6-2's as 2-8-0s. However, Rio Grande Steam Locomotives Standard Gage By Donald J. Heimburger has a 1923 auditors report in the back which lists 1000-1006 as oo-OOO-o passanger types. This latter book also shows a photo of the 1003 from a builder's photo from 1913 (Baldwin). I can't seem to locate right off hand the change to the 800's but I know that they were off the roster by 1953, when they were scrapped. As for modeling in HO the IHC (attached) could be a starting point. You'd have to add a sand dome to this one. The Athearn is a light Pacific, and would not make a good stand-in for a Grande unit. In N scale you could start with a model power unit...but they all need a lot of detailing... Paul H. Liddiard P.S. Eric: I like your tag line!! LOL
Paul, Yeah the IHC would be a good starting point if I were in HO. However, I'm in N and the MP is really my only choice. I'm already making some plans to detail it but the problem I'm facing is the cast metal boiler. How does one remove those details. I'm thinking my only option right now is a Dremel then fill with JB Weld. Sand and fill again until I get a smooth boiler. Oh yeah, Rio Grande changed the classification of their locos in 1923-24. That is when the numbers changed to the 800 series. Eric
