What is this contraption fitted to a J94?

[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

[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?

[mick b]

Copyright ? as you say its on ebay !!

[52D]

Does it have more than the usual hand rails as well?

[52A]

Hand rails look OK, but what the other ironmongery is I know not! Nothing in greeny 8B or anything else I can find.

[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.

[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

[JeffB]

It was not on the loco when depoted at Immingham between 1948 and 1958, I fired on her quite often about 1956 time.

[EHeaps]

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.

[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

[soulmansteve]

I'm very grateful for all these contributions, water softening apparatus seems to be the general consensus. Thanks - Steve.