Re: Couple of 493 questions

guymonmd Wrote:
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> Greg Scholl Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> >and the second is the lack of a stack cinder cover.
> > Can I assume no stack cover
> > will be needed due to it burning oil?

> > Greg
>
> Others on this board are more knowledgeable than I
> am but I believe that the stack cinder cover's
> purpose was to catch cinders.
> Since burning oil does not produce cinders like
> burning coal does, I do not believe a stack cinder
> cover will be needed.

Hmmmm, that depends on Carbon buildup and ejection rates.

Non-turbo EMD Diesels can and do eject lumps of Carbon, and depending on circumstances e.g. constant low rpm throttle usage for a long period of time. Even the D&RGW found that out, Spark arrestors being fitted to the remaining F-units, GP and SD7's and 9's in the 80's.

Once operated at full throttle for awhile, then yes chucks of Carbon will be ejected and start lineside fires, even in our less dryer country. I know that from experience, it wasn't unusual to be over-tonnage on 854 out of Masterton, so we'd flog their local Mainline Shunt loco which normally shuffled quietly around the place and wring it out for a couple of hours as a Banker heading North. I saw the fireworks erupting from the trailing unit but didn't actually see the trail of fires started behind us in our wake.

Seems all the local volunteer Fire Brigades got some late night action and we sure got told about it the next day booking on.