Elesco feedwater heater question

[Morpar]

I recently got a Bowser Challenger kit and I would like to add an external Elesco feedwater heater on the smokebox front. Is this appropriate for when this locomotive type was first built? I have been looking for photos of large locos from this era with an Elesco hanging off the front to no avail. Can anyone come to my rescue, please? Thanks in advance.

[nfmisso]

I am not aware of any Challengers with Elesco FW, most (all?) had Worthington SA. The Elesco applications that I am aware of are in the 1920's: Southern PS4, T&P 600 series 2-10-4........

[Anonymous]

If you want to be strictly prototypical, an external Elesco would be too old for this version of the Challenger; it's based on the 1942 design built by ALCo. Kalmbach's "Steam Loco Cyclopedia" (page 248) indicates that Elesco feedwater heaters were hidden inside these engines.

Typically, front-mounted heaters were found on engines built or rebuilt in the early 1920s. Later in the decade, you start to see partially exposed Elesco heaters mounted into the top of the smokebox. I suspect this increased efficiency, as less heat was lost. Feedwater technology improved greatly in the 30s, so that smaller, more efficient units like the Elesco coil-type or Worthington S and SA mounted on top of the smokebox were the order of the day.

There's a good shot of a DRGW 4-6-6-4 with a front-mount Elesco on page 157 of Kalmbach's "Guide to North American Steam Locos," however this is a prewar version, built in 1938 by Baldwin. The use of external Elesco feedwater heaters at this late date may have been carried over from the road's 2-8-8-2s which also had them. Using the same parts would simplify repairs and reduce the number of spare parts needed.

[Anonymous]

A lot of CP, CN and New Haven had Elesco Feedwater Heaters. I'm a big fan of them, Kind of made the Loco look Brute Like.

[Morpar]

Thanks for the input. I too have always liked the looks of the Elesco hanging out over the smokebox, but wasn't sure how late it was used. I just don't want this Challenger to scream UP, and that would be an obvious way to change it. Probably will go ahead and stick a Worthington up there, but all I need is another good excuse...
Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

If your looking for a "Brutish" looking Challenger, Northern Pacific had 21 Class Z-6 Challengers, Though they didn't have Elesco Feedwater Heaters they did have Forward Air Pumps as seen on the Allegheny. These are impressive looking machines