Re: Fire Prevention Water Nozzles on Steam Locomotives
Author: FEF-3
Date: 09-03-2018 - 18:49
Hot Water Wrote:
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> Dale Jones Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thank you all.
> >
> > Ah-ah, I should have considered the rail
> cleaning
> > option. Bonners Ferry is at the bottom of a
> grade
> > both east and west, so that makes sense -
> perhaps
> > there was a dual purpose as there was a
> 10/15mph
> > speed limit on the trestle and as it was all
> wood
> > and nearly 50-years old at the time of the
> > photograph - justifiably the railroad would
> have
> > been cautious of wheel sparks and the potential
> > fire danger.
> >
> > Talk to ya later,
> > Dale Jones
>
> No! Nothing to do with "wheel sparks", which I've
> never heard of such a thing anyway. They were
> strictly for cleaning the rail head, i.e. "rail
> washers", simple as that.
"Wheel sparks" might be a reference to the old days
of cast-iron brake shoes. Those could and did make sparks.