RE: [CBQ] What's The Hostler Doing?

["'Tom Kline' TKline@airmail.net [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>]

Tom,

 

The term ‘sheets’ mentioned would generally be the crown sheet over the top of the firebox separating the firebox from the boiler and also pertains to the side sheets and tube flue sheet making up the sides and front and back of the firebox where the water jacket was present.  Though it gives the impression that these were individual pieces of metal they were all welded together to form the combustion chamber (firebox) .   Generally speaking the firebox was held in position by the stay bolts (threaded rods) or stays (welded brackets) though there are myriad variations to this depending on design.  Since all are a part of a pressure vessel subjected to incredible forces it is important that everything reacts uniformly to prevent leaks or tears which at worst can cause cataclysmic results.

 

Yes, bunker C was practically asphalt oil and a ‘bottom of the barrel’ product left over from oil refining into products such as diesel and gasoline.  To flow freely it requires direct (steam) or indirect (heater) pre-heating to temperatures over 200 degrees for it to naturally flow.   It’s nasty stuff and the term is a synonym of various types and grades used in the maritime industry.

 

As Louis mentioned in his maritime experience of the difference between ‘bunker’ and ‘cistern’ terms, the same applies to the origin of the ‘bunker’ name designating it as fuel.  It was sharp marketing that turned this refining waste oil by-product into a commodity.  

 

Tom Kline

Houston  

 

 

 

From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2016 3:03 PM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CBQ] What's The Hostler Doing?

 

 

In a previous e-mail it was mentioned that the rapid cooling of oil fired engines caused a bolt problem attaching to "sheets".  What are the "sheets" that were mentioned?

When I was in the Navy I remember how long it took fire up the boilers when we were in "cold iron" in the ship yard for overhaul.  That "bunker oil" was unbelievably thick.

 

Tom Mitchell conductor67@sbcglobal.net

 

On Saturday, April 16, 2016 1:27 PM, "qrailroadman@yahoo.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

 

The "oil" burned by most locomotives was, as mentioned, bunker C. This stuff will NOT flow when cold !! "Cold" is anything under 80ª, or higher.  RR's used various methods of heating the oil in the tender.  Indirect heating is provided by steam coils in the oil  bunker.  Direct heating actually blows live steam directly into the oil for quicker heating.  Forgetting to switch from direct to indirect will start to boil the oil leading to a VERY messy situation.  Firemen would often get an unplanned "vacation" due to this little oversight !! 

qman

 

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Posted by: "Tom Kline" <tkline@airmail.net>

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