what the purpose of this piece

[estrada de ferro central do brasil]

what use is this piece that the nozzle's exhaust F7, which seems a leaked screen?

thanks

 

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=347848&nseq=2

[caldreamer]

They look like they could be spark arresters.

[oltmannd]

A not very effective spark arrester.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Don has it right, they are spark arrestors, but they look like something cobbled together by Cleburne shop.

[BaltACD]

I have seen them on any number of ATSF units of that period...I would have to say they were almost standard equipment for ATSF of that era on engined t\hat did not have turbochargers attached to the exhaust.

CSSHEGEWISCH

Don has it right, they are spark arrestors, but they look like something cobbled together by Cleburne shop.

[mudchicken]

Kept the solids (carbon in the exhaust) from blowing back in the stack and getting reheated and becoming bigger glowing pieces. Aided airflow more than being a spark arrester. MoPac did something similar.

It's usually the bigger glowing embers that stayed hot enough to start a fire. (several Santa Fe ASDE's explained it this way)

 

 

ASDE=riding mechanic/ Assistant  Supervisor Diesel Engines