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What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:42 pm
by soulmansteve
The attached photo of J94 No. 68026 was taken in July 1960 at Langwith Junction MPD and is currently offered on Ebay. A similar photograph from April 1960 appears in RCTS images. Neither Yeadon's nor Locomotives Illustrated (No. 61) make any reference to the contraption. Any ideas folks? Yours hopefully, Steve
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 3:34 pm
by strang steel
It appears to be connected to the water tank. Could it be some extra water purification device for use in an area where the local water supplied to the railway was rather dodgy?
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 3:41 pm
by mick b
Copyright ? as you say its on ebay !!
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 6:24 pm
by 52D
Does it have more than the usual hand rails as well?
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 11:10 pm
by 52A
Hand rails look OK, but what the other ironmongery is I know not! Nothing in greeny 8B or anything else I can find.
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:50 am
by neilgow
I think you will find it is used to contain water softening chemicals, for when working in hard water areas.
I've seen this type of fitting on several Barclay/Hunslet industrials.
Rgds
NG.
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:29 pm
by 52H
Hi all
I've been looking at some photos of locos on the Blaue ffestinigog and they have similar fittings
sand they are all coupled to the water tanks,I would guess for water softening.
52H
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 2:47 pm
by JeffB
It was not on the loco when depoted at Immingham between 1948 and 1958, I fired on her quite often about 1956 time.
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:12 pm
by EHeaps
52H wrote:Hi all
I've been looking at some photos of locos on the Blaue ffestinigog and they have similar fittings
sand they are all coupled to the water tanks,I would guess for water softening.
52H
The Ffestiniog locomotives have decorative cast sandpots fitted to the tanks as you say, however these are nothing to do with water softening, its just normal locomotive sand for gripping wet/greasy rails. They are mounted on the tank fronts as there is little space elsewhere on an NG locomotive.
Although similar in appearance I suspect the gadget on the J94 is entirely different, water treatment sounds like a likely explanation to me.
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 5:02 pm
by 52D
Hi I asked on another Industrial site I belong to and got these two replies I think we are sorted now.
Peter Weightman Yes, they used to stack water treatment tablets in the tube and they slowly dissolved. I was offered mountains of unused tablets at Backworth where they had been tried. Cochrane had a tube fitted half way up one side of her tank for this stuff. I'm not sure if the treatment was'n't ICI Naffloc (unfortunate name).
16 minutes ago · Like..
Garath Earnshaw AB1931 and Belvior at rocks by rail have these still and I think Cranford no2 should have one
14 minutes ago via mobile · Like
Re: What is this contraption fitted to a J94?
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:16 pm
by soulmansteve
I'm very grateful for all these contributions, water softening apparatus seems to be the general consensus. Thanks - Steve.