Why are they used?What engines are they used on?
I once read they were invented in the 1800s & by a lady. They were or are used to stop fires from getting started along side of the railroads. The early ones were on the smokestack of the engines.
Thanks,
The Santa Fe used them on their diesels in the 1950s, 60s, and perhaps beyond. They are really, really weird looking; sorry I don’t have aphoto at this time, but basically, they look like vertical flaps above the blisters on the roof
designed, I suppose, to prevent ROW fires\
in the olden time, bulbous smokestakes had some sort of spark or firery ash suppressors in them. One of the locos on the transcon golden spike at Promatory Utah (butched spelling), features this
Thanks FJ&G and CSXT30 for the use and bit of history. I guess the woman had her cornfield burn a time or two.
On a side note;
Spark arrestors are required, by law, on all generators used with in all national parks and most state parks.