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Burn Marks on Locomotives

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  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 61 posts
Burn Marks on Locomotives
Posted by power58 on Friday, April 24, 2015 11:20 AM

Have seen several Locomotives with Burn marks, burnt Paint in the middle of the locomotive right under the exhaust stack. Is this a turbo fire or other engine fire ? Most have been BNSF with the burn marks between the N and S. They must fix it and keep on working with out repaint.

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
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Posted by NorthWest on Friday, April 24, 2015 2:14 PM

It would help to know the type of locomotive. It is probably a turbocharger fire; GEs are known for doing this (especially the older ones). Also, the TIER III ES44s had problems with fuel lines breaking due to their increased pressure, starting fires.  

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 61 posts
Posted by power58 on Friday, April 24, 2015 2:51 PM

Very interesting, had not considered fuel lines. The 7 I have seen,  5) were       C44-9w.  1) SD 70 MAC and 1)  SD 40-2. Thanks for the reply.

  • Member since
    March 2013
  • 711 posts
Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Friday, May 1, 2015 8:08 PM

I chuckled knowingly when I read your observation, the GE FDL (used in all their locomotives prior to the Evolution Series) is renowned for its ability to puke oil into the stack and splatter some of it all over the locomotive, which the eventual stack fire then sets alight.  On CN it is rare to see a Dash-9 without a rusty burned patch or some nice fresh shiny paint on the same area.  Also both GE engines are more prone to engine room fires, since their high pressure fuel lines run alongside the block and any crack will spray fuel onto the hot engine.  EMD's fuel lines are inside the block, a crack will contaminate the lube oil (requiring an oil change) but should not start a fire.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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