Steam & Excursion > UP 8444 Twin Stacks

Here is a Ben Fredricks photo lifted from the April 1980 issue of Trains magazine, showing UP 8444's twin stacks. Who can describe the details of what we see in this unusual angle. Most of it is a mystery to me.

Don Strack

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donstrack Wrote:
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> Here is a Ben Fredricks photo lifted from the
> April 1980 issue of Trains magazine, showing UP
> 8444's twin stacks. Who can describe the details
> of what we see in this unusual angle. Most of it
> is a mystery to me.
>
> Don Strack

From top to bottom in the photo:

1) Worthington Feedwater Heater tank.

2) the twin stacks with the surrounding shroud.

3) Whistle with shut-off valve.

The whistle operating lever has a return spring (going forward), opposed by a pull cord that slides inside a pipe under the boiler jacket.  A slick arrangement.

Just aft of the whistle is the hatch to service the front-end multi-valve throttle (which is built into the superheater header, IIRC).  Note all the bolted-down offset "dogs" to keep the hatch-to-smokebox joint air-tight.  You can be sure there was an asbestos gasket between hatch and smokebox, to fill in any irregularities.  Keeping the smokebox tight against leaks is essential for good drafting and good steaming.

- Doug Debs

Isn't the middle pipe between the stacks the exhaust from the Air Pumps?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/18 16:34 by up3985.

I wonder if that's the whistle off of the 4023? I believe it was just a few years prior that it was put on in an emergency situation.

Posted from Android

up3985. Yes, that steam exhaust pipe between the stacks is the air pumps exhaust pipe.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/18 17:43 by Bob3985.

Don't forget the bell, that is first in line, with what appears to be an air line to it's center for an air ringer.  On either side of the bell and a little bit back, are the Alco style number boards that I believe are probably quite similar to those used on early model Alco diesels.

Craig Hanson
Vay, Idaho

Craig, those boxey items on either side of the Bell are the Train Indicators. We just had an article explaining their use in the UPHS Streamliner magazine to correct those who call them the number boards. The train indicators have the trains designation in them, illuminated at night. These were important in the use of scheduled timetabled trains and of train orders using train designations for mainline operations. Thus in their day they would be showing trains such as 1-27, 2-27. 27. Indicating trains and their sections. Or in the case of what they show on the heritage steam locos they now show X844, X3985, X4004 and soon X4014, indicating that these are extra trains and not timetable scheduled.
At a point they eventually took away the indications in diesels and only illuminated the locomotive number for train order purposes, etc.
Just a little explanation of a historical fact. And on the UP many of the the steam locomotives had their number boards on either side of the headlight.and that was illuminated also.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/18 10:05 by Bob3985.

The pipe coming off the left front of the feed water heater then turns thru an elbow and then a 90 degree bend up to end just in front of forward stack, is that the blower pipe or a vent from the feed water heater?

SuperChiefDon

Why are there two engine exhaust stacks?

railstiesballast Wrote:
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> Why are there two engine exhaust stacks?

IIRC, the UP used larger exhaust nozzles to keep the back pressure down, so in order to keep vacuum effect up they needed two stacks. This is why UP engines don't have that famous "crack" exhaust sound like most other railroads.

The first order of UP 4-8-4's had a single stack. In fact the UP's mechanical department did lots of experiments including the one triple stack 4-8-4.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/18 06:12 by Bob3985.

I Love Bob's answer as to why 2 stacks - because 3 would be too many!

Thanks for the explanation about two stacks.

Ive seen many a steam locomotive with steam being emitted near the stack. Sometimes with a light nearby as well. I was once told this was to more easily judge the color of the exhaust and thereby the fire. Can someone confirm or call bunk on that?

Great photo as well. Thank you for posting.

Rob

Posted from Android

Check_A1E_Perf Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ive seen many a steam locomotive with steam being
> emitted near the stack. Sometimes with a light
> nearby as well. I was once told this was to more
> easily judge the color of the exhaust and thereby
> the fire. Can someone confirm or call bunk on
> that?

Many railroads with oil fired steam locomotives did indeed have a small, enclosed light, located forward of the stack. There theory was, at night, if the Fireman could NOT see the light through the exhaust, then he was making too much smoke. Railroads such as the Frisco, MP, and KCS come to mind, but I'm pretty sure there were others.

Small amounts of steam being emitted near the stack could be anything from air pump exhaust, the feedwater exhaust, to feedwater tank vent.


> Great photo as well. Thank you for posting.
>
> Rob
 

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Check_A1E_Perf Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Ive seen many a steam locomotive with steam
> being
> > emitted near the stack. Sometimes with a light
> > nearby as well. I was once told this was to
> more
> > easily judge the color of the exhaust and
> thereby
> > the fire. Can someone confirm or call bunk on
> > that?
>
> Many railroads with oil fired steam locomotives
> did indeed have a small, enclosed light, located
> forward of the stack. There theory was, at night,
> if the Fireman could NOT see the light through the
> exhaust, then he was making too much smoke.
> Railroads such as the Frisco, MP, and KCS come to
> mind, but I'm pretty sure there were others.
>
> Small amounts of steam being emitted near the
> stack could be anything from air pump exhaust, the
> feedwater exhaust, to feedwater tank vent.
>
>
> > Great photo as well. Thank you for posting.
> >
> > Rob
>  
Add the SP cab-forwards to the list of lights by the stack.