Steam & Excursion > Now this is a water heater.

Train time at El Alto, Bolivia meant grab up a large can and head for the tracks. The date is October 1966 and a good part of the town is gathered around meter guage 4-8-2 #344 to gather up a little hot water, a rather rare commodity, at this 14,000 foot elevation.

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Well Bob, that brings back memories...I used to see it done a lot in Guatemala in the 70's. Water for the locals to do their laundry. Sort of a tacit service by the railroad.

Tom

When will you unvail the Bolivian Steam section of your web page Bob?

Great shot Bob. Incidentally, I did a bit more research on this series of locomotives. Nos 341-350 were put to work in Bolivia and an additional six went to the FCAB in Chile. The shipments started in 1954 and were completed in 1955. Engine weight was 89 tons and tender weight 59 tons. When first delivered they sported smoke deflectors with the transition from the running board to the pilot hiding the steps with an attractive arc above the cylinders, making them look quite “swift”.

Africansteam

Are the 4 tapered cylinders on the pilot deck jacks?

Where are they taking water from? I would imagine water from a mudring blowdown would be, well, to use the technical term, yucky.

filmteknik Wrote:
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> Where are they taking water from? I would imagine
> water from a mudring blowdown would be, well, to
> use the technical term, yucky.

If these locos had lifting injectors, then the fireman could try to start his and spill water from the open overflow. I have seen it down in this manner.

Tom

Yes, the tapered cylinders on the pilot deck are jacks. Most South American steam locomotives carried at least two jacks, for re-railing minor derailments, jacking up a car to replace a broken spring, etc. Looks like Bolivian conditions needed more than 2... ;-)