 |
Steam Locomotion in the 21st Century The Recent History of Steam Locomotive Development |
July 4, 2000
all photos provided courtesy of Shaun McMahon
taken March, 2000
| The following photos were taken during a trip to Rio Gallegos (the eastern terminus of the Rio Turbio railway). These photos show the remains of about half of the former fleet of 20 Mitsubishi steam locomotives of the railway. The remaining locomotives are stored in Rio Turbio (at the western end of the railway) allegedly in much better condition. |
Logo of the Rio Turbio Railway
as seen on the side of a service vehicle
Boiler of one of the locomotives on a flat
car.
Note the secondary air admission holes in the side of the firebox
for the GPCS.
Closeup of the secondary air inlets
Note that two inlets have been plugged
Interior view of smokebox, showing front flue sheet, superheater header and main steam pipe
Driver's side view of cab of No. 110
Driver's side view showing rear driver and
chassis of engine.
Rio Turbio "high adhesion" profile tire is barely discernable.
Locomotive No. 118 being inspected by John
Bancroft
(former driver for Welshpool & Llanfair RR and present driver
at FCAF)
John has first-hand experience with Porta-inspired front-end
improvements to the locomotives of these lines and hence is very
interested in the exhaust system of these engines.
Back of Boiler Showing Mechanical Stoker
Arrangement
Though fitted with full steam jeet distribution, in
practice the jets were seldom used to distribute the coal. The
turbulent draft of the Kylpor exhaust was usually sufficient to
adequately spread the fuel across the firebed. Porta has long
advocated development of alternative methods for distributing
stoker fired fuel as the steam jets normally used are very
wasteful of steam and tend to increase the unburned fuel loss.
Inside Tender Revealing Adequate Coal Supply Space with Water Storage Below
Firehole Door Arrangement of No. 118
Note mechanical stoker elevator unit leading to distributing unit.
On the left hand side of these can be seen the rocking grate
operating levers (detached) and inside the firebox the grate which
greatly restricts the primary air flow.
Driver's Side View of Cab Interior of No.
118
While most boiler fittings have aleady been removed, the regulator
(throttle) operating handle, vacuum ejector, and reverser screw
(handle removed) are still visible.
"Daihatsu" Stoker Motor
located at front of tender
6-wheel Tender Bogie (truck)
Note compensating gear for suspension
General View of What is Left at Rio
Gallegos (!)
Central is No. 102 (?), to the left is the tender of No. 120, and
to the right of 102 are the remains of another unidentified 2-10-2
"Santa Fe".
Shot Looking Forward from the Footplating
of No. 118
Kylpor chimney with vacuum ejector piped outside
thesmokebox are clearly visible.
(A very important point for students of steam locomotives- British
readers take note and refer to Welshpool and Llanfair modified
locomotive front end arragnements with respect to ejector exhaust
exit method!)
Rio Turbio No. 102 (first series)
Partly dismantled at Rio Gallegos. Note snowplow with extended
nose. All FCAF locomotives' snow plows are being modified to this
form as it gives a double cutting action in order to displace snow
more efficiently.
Tender Body and 6 Wheel Bogie (truck) of
R.T. 2-10-2
Of interest in this shot is the tender coal conveyor screw. The
mechanical stoker motor has been removed.
