I have been trying to find steam engines (HO Gauge) with Elesco Water Heaters . I am trying to model the 40’s and 50’s in New England, and I just can’t find any listed with Life-Like, BLI, Bachman, Athern, P2K, etc. One person told me that Bowser has them, but at this point, I am not into kit building the engines, I have enough to do with benchwork, wiring, scenery, etc.
Where are the steam engines with those Elesco Water Heater up in front of the smoke stacks??? Does ANYONE know???
You will probably have to add one on your own, or look for a brass model.
Bob Boudreau
Bowser (Cal Scale) makes the individual heaters. They can be found at http://www.bowser-trains.com/pdf/cal_scale_steam_locoparts.pdf . Go to about page three (listed under H-Heaters). I suspect they are probably easy enough to apply to stock locomotives, but I’ve never done it.
Ya, my LHS had a brass model, but not the road name I wanted, and of course brass is real nice but pricey. Do most people add them Bob? Where do you get them? I just don’t understand why the big Mfgr’s don’t com e out with them, they really look great on those big loco’s.
There aren’t any on the market, aside from the BLI or Rivarossi NYC Hudsons. Most steam models on the market are either very road-specific (like the P2K AMC Berkshire) or generic (like the myriad USRA engines). Just like the real roads, you’ll have to add them yourself (or do without, or buy brass). This is a hobby about MODELING, after all.
Bowser has several styles of Elesco systems for sale, in their Bowser, Cary, Cal-Scale and Arbour parts lines. Precision Scale also makes several different styles of Elesco systems, including an “everything you need” kit that includes all the piping and details needed. Adding aftermarket brass detailing parts is actually pretty simple on plastic steam, and it shouldn’t take you more than 3-4 hours to do a decent detailing job.
Yup, you have to put them on yourself. I’ve equipped several of my locomotives with Elescos, and it’s a pretty easy proposition. Cal-Scale makes the complete system–bundle, pump and blow-off (I think that’s what it’s called) and with some brass wire you can have a complete system in a very short time. Precision Scale also makes them, both in regular size and some ‘oversize’ models for articulateds, like the Rio Grande L-131 and L-105 articulateds. PSC also makes one that is pre-formed to ‘sit’ in the smoke-box right ahead of the stack–just got one and am about to convert my second Akane Yellowstone. Those Elesco bundles add a lot of character to a steam loco.
Tom [:D]
Maritime Hobby http://maritimehobbies.com/ in Halifax sells them, though I didn’t see any in stock when I was there today. I beleive they get there stuff from either Cal-scale or Precision Scale. They also sell the closed cab and othe CN specific parts
You may also try Walthers for detail parts
Fergie
Thanks guys, I sorta figured that I would have to add the heater, no big deal, but having been away from the hobby for many years, I wanted to make sure that I just wasn’t looking in the “secret” catalog. I will check the Cal-Scale and Precision-Scale catalogs online. I am so impressed with the knowledge on this forum…it’s almost frightening.[:O][:O][;)]
To avoid shocking the boiler from the introduction of cold water, a heater, of which there were many designs, preheated the incoming boiler water to around 125 degrees. Every road had a favorite or sometimes several, Worthington BL, Elesco were but two popular with western roads, Elesco in the case of AT&SF and SP was quite satisfied with the various BL models, who’s only fault was the mounting bracket had a tendency to loosen while in service.
Roads with hard water quickly discovered that the Elesco, due to the coiled tube design was sensitive to scale and mineral deposits which if untreated would coat the inside of the copper tubbing in a cement like substance. Even today, restored 3751 ran afoul of clogging due to poorly treated water that required shopping to repair. Due to the high alkiline content common in their area of operation, western roads treated all water before pumping in into storage.
Dave
Dave, thanks for this info, I had no idea there were more than one, as everyone I knew, always referred to those as Elesco Heaters. Where did you get this info, I love history as well as MRR?
Hi ***: There are several other types of feed water heaters, the Coffen is one. It was mounted in the smoke box or was a semi-circle on the front. B&M used them mounted on the front of the smoke box on some locos. If you can find a copy of The Steam Locomotive Cyclopedia from Kalmbach there is all the info you may need.