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Steam loco washing

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 12:05 PM

The wipers.

The spot cleaner.

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Los Angeles
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Posted by West Coast S on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 11:47 AM

UP at Cheyenne had a arch made of pipe that straddled the wash track to which nozels were plumbed at frequent intervals, a mixture of steam,water and degreaser delivered under high pressure and tempature got the job done. Locomotives were pushed through the arch by a shop switcher to a drying area where wipers commenced to clean cab glass/markers/headlight/number boards,cab interior and provide a final wipe down of the tender and boiler jacket.

Dave

SP the way it was in S scale
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  • From: United Kingdom
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Posted by bsteel4065 on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 9:54 AM

Hi Joe

Yes, diesels can go through a washer just like passenger cars.

I think I'll make a spout coming out of the ground with a hose and a lance attached for my steamers.

Thanks

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Staten Island NY
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Posted by joe323 on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 7:41 AM

I Googled this and it seems like steam is washed by hand as opposed to diesels which tend to be run though a loco wash.  The loco washes looks like a shower for locos. I am guessing that steam requires a more precise stream than a diesel to keep water out of where it doesn't belong. 

Joe Staten Island West 

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  • From: United Kingdom
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Posted by bsteel4065 on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 5:11 AM

Hi Dave

Yes I have that one. Have also just found this one... http://www.pinterest.com/pin/218706125629425466/

She holds a lance with a holding hoop in the middle and a valve at the other end to regulate the water / steam / suds flow. I assume that this just connects by hose to a outlet in the ground.

Thanks

Barry 

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 1:36 AM

A videotape of #611 in excursion service included washing the loco - with ordinary garden hoses, buckets, long-handled brushes (looked like street brooms) and LOTS of suds.

John Allen had a loco washer in his service area - a simple croquet hoop of thin tubing with holes drilled in the inside.  It would 'spray' the loco with cigarette smoke.  (He discontinued using it because the smoke messed up the area and the loco finishes.)  It might be worth trying with dry ice 'smoke' - wet, but non-carcogenic.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with dirty locomotives)

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  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
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Posted by cacole on Monday, September 1, 2014 6:58 PM

I don't recall exactly which video it is in, but I have one that shows a steam locomotive being washed using a high pressure steam hose, with the locomotive parked on a concrete pad area.  The hose is connected to the side of the locomotive as the steam source.

Another one I have is about Garratt locomotives in South Africa that have a steam hose permanently connected to the side of the engine, that crew members use periodically as they're stopped for servicing.

  • Member since
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  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Monday, September 1, 2014 10:34 AM

One of Jack Delano's most famous color photos from the steam era is the woman with a scarf on her head washing a massive C&NW class H 4-8-4.  I believe the hose she is using mixed high pressure steam and oil for the wash and the photo shows how the hose attached to the ground.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b2/Washing_loco.jpg

Dave Nelson

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Posted by bsteel4065 on Monday, September 1, 2014 7:38 AM

Hi

Yeah, did that before but only about 3 photos.

 

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Posted by peahrens on Monday, September 1, 2014 7:33 AM

I think there is som footage of loco cleaning in this video on the UP Cheyenne shops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1txJ6u2b3c

EDIT: Sorry, it's no longer there  A super 59 minute video but I haven't found it again.

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

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    June 2001
  • From: Anderson Indiana
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Posted by rogerhensley on Monday, September 1, 2014 6:59 AM

I just entered "washing steam locomotive" into google and received a number of photos.

Good hunting.

 

Roger Hensley
= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html =
= Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/

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  • From: United Kingdom
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Steam loco washing
Posted by bsteel4065 on Monday, September 1, 2014 4:25 AM

Hi

I've created a loco service area with a turntable, ash conveyor, water, sand etc etc..... and I would like to have a loco washing area. I can only find one photo on the internet. A lady steam hosing a loco (SP I think) in the 40's and that's about all. Does anyone know what equipment they used? Or have any links to photos of a steam loco washing area? Anything?

Thanks in advance.

Barry

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