Sanding Arrangement - DM&IR 2-8-8-4s

[feltonhill]

 DM&IR appears to have used sanders ahead of the lead truck on both classes of its 2-8-8-4s and some of the ex-B&LE 2-10-4s. I noticed that this arrangement was also used on Missabe's 2-8-8-2's as well.

In reference to the M3s and M4s, forward sanders were provided on the pony truck, driving axles 2, 3, 6 & 7. Rear sanding was provided on driving axles 3 and 7.  There is also a sand box located on the pilot beams of the 2-8-8-4s in addition to two sand domes on the boiler. Although I'm not sure, it seems like this may be a unique arrangement.  I've seen speculation that it kept sand dust away from the crosshead guides, but I'm not satisfied this is the correct answer.  Does anyone know why Missabe used this arrangement?

[twhite]

Felton: 

Actually, this arrangement wasn't really unique to the Missabe.  Rio Grande used deck-mounted sandboxes on its 3400 series compound 2-8-8-2's, some of the 3600 simple 2-8-8-2's, and most of their 3700 4-6-6-4's.  The sand forward of the cylinders also helped to provide additional weight for the front set of drivers. 

The Missabe M3/4's were based on the 1931 Western Pacific 251 series 2-8-8-2's, which utilized deck-mounted sandboxes to help with weight and adhesion for the long 1% continuous grade up California's Feather River Canyon.  The sand pipes--as I understand it--went directly under the front set of cylinders forward of the first set of driving wheels. 

Hope this helps.

Tom

[feltonhill]

 Hi Tom,

Thanks for the info.

[twhite]

Felton: 

You're more than welcome.  IMO, those Missabe M/3-4 Yellowstones were just about the handsomest articulateds ever built.  During the winters of WWII, they spent almost as much time 'off-road' as they did on the DM&IR.  Great Northern, Northern Pacific and especially Rio Grande leased them for additional power.  Eight of them were assigned to the Rio Grande on both the Moffat and Tennessee Pass lines during the winters of WWII, and the Rio Grande reported that they were the best locomotives that the engineers had ever run.  There is a rumor that several also spent some time on the Western Pacific between Salt Lake and Elko, NV, though there doesn't seem to be any photographic evidence of that, so I can't be certain. 

Rumor has it that Rio Grande actually wanted duplicates of the Missabe locos, but the design was 'frozen' by the War Board, and the Rio Grande had to accept 'un-frozen' UP-clone Challengers, instead.  They were not successful on the Rio Grande, and the railroad sold them as quickly as they could to the Clinchfield.   

So the 18 built by Baldwin for the Missabe road remain the only examples of one of the most smooth-running and powerful articulateds ever built. 

Tom