Re: The straight story on Eureka....

Earl Wrote:
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> Yes, the blower pipe that directs steam up the
> stack to create a draft when the engine is
> standing, came lose and did not send to the steam
> up the stack. As long as a locomotive is working,
> the blower is not needed and the exhaust steam up
> the stack creates the draft. It when you are
> stopped you need the blower.
>
> Wood burners have an addiitonal issue in that
> there is no bed of glowing coal and carbon to
> support combustion. Unlike a coal burner, when
> the throttle is closed, the fire dies down very
> quickly. To keep the fire alive for a
> full-throttle start, you need lots of blower
> running, while stopped. This is where the Eureka
> met its match. The fire died down, dispite the
> blower valve wide open (and not sending steam up
> the stack). The injector was running to get the
> water level back up, nocking the steam down
> faster. Soon, the steam pressure was so low, the
> air pump could not keep the brakes pumped up.
>
> Eventually, the Eureka's crew came up with the
> idea that something was wrong in the smokebox.
> The opened they smokebox door and found the
> displaced blower pipe, and managed to correct the
> problem. But by then the decision to annull the
> tran had already been made.

Another thank you for the information.