Mining and compressed air locomotives 1908

Rick A May 7, 2021

  1. Rick A

    Rick A TrainBoard Member

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    The 1908 edition of COMPRESSED AIR journal ran a few articles about underground mining and the use of locomotive engines, coal mine vacuum cleaners, and other machines run off of compressed air. Different.


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  2. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    This is a Heisler Fireless (compressed air) engine stuffed and mounted next to the Hattiesburg, MS station.
    It was used at the Hercules Powder facility south of town.

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Are you sure? More than a few fireless engines ran on steam from a stationary boiler.
     
  4. Rick A

    Rick A TrainBoard Member

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    This shovel was also run on compressed air. compressed air 0407   1908.jpg
     
  5. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    You're correct. I added "compressed air" before reading the description.

    From the description:

    This locomotive was built by Heisler Locomotive Works as Hercules Powder Company #35 and served the Hattiesburg plant from 1946 until 1958, when replaced by a diesel unit. The Heisler is a "fireless" steam locomotive and was charged with steam from the plant boilers thus allowing extra safety when operating in a flammable environment.
     
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  6. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Compressed steam was easier and cheaper to make than compressed air with the technology of the day.

    But in a mine, all that steam can make the air too humid to breathe, and leave the shaft a perpetual mudhole.
     

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