Where's the fuel?

[Blind_Bruce]

Where is the fuel onboard a tank type steam engine? I believe the water is in an tank straddling the boiler. Hence the name.

[cacole]

The rear portion of the cab could store a small amount of coal, firewood, or fuel oil. These types of engines usually never strayed from yard or industrial switching duties, so they didn’t need to carry a large amount of fuel. Water was stored in a tank that straddled the boiler or separate tanks on the sides.

Most, but not all, were normally never larger than an 0-6-0 wheel configuration.

[selector]

The Alberni Pacific Heritage 2-8-2T has the curved tank astride the boiler and a small tank immediately aft of the cab, almost like a square trunk. In this engine’s case, it is an oil burner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H8BsgIGUjM

[marknewton]

Depends on the the engine and the type of fuel. The bunker can be behind the cab, in front of the cab, or even on top of the cab. Likewise, the tanks may be beside the boiler - side tanks or pannier tanks, straddling the boiler - saddle tanks, or between the frames - well tanks.

Mark.

[marknewton]

These types of engines usually never strayed from yard or industrial switching duties, so they didn’t need to carry a large amount of fuel…Most, but not all, were normally never larger than an 0-6-0 wheel configuration.

Only true to any extent in North America. In the rest of the world large tank engines with up to 12 coupled axles were commonly used as mainline power.

Mark.

[tomikawaTT]

These types of engines usually never strayed from yard or industrial switching duties, so they didn’t need to carry a large amount of fuel…Most, but not all, were normally never larger than an 0-6-0 wheel configuration.

Only true to any extent in North America. In the rest of the world large tank engines with up to 12 coupled axles were commonly used as mainline power.

Mark.

Brother Cole,

Mark didn’t mention the well-known American examples that had 6 coupled axles - 2-6-6-2T articulateds [Rayonier, standard-gauge compound, and Uintah (aka Mantua) 3’ gauge simple.]

The only 5-axle steam locomotive ever run by the JNR was a tank loco - E10 class 2-10-4T.

The triplexes had 12 coupled axles, and they were definitely tank locomotives.

Of course, most of the Garratt designs were tank locos, with all of their fuel and water carried on the engine frames and the boiler slung between them. (A few had auxiliary water tanks, which is why I said, “Most,” not, “All.”)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[marknewton]

The triplexes had 12 coupled axles, and they were definitely tank locomotives.

Good point Chuck, I hadn’t considered them - ugly aberrations that they were.

12 coupled axles was not what I intended to type, I meant 16, taking into account Garratts with 8-couple engine units.

Of course, most of the Garratt designs were tank locos, with all of their fuel and water carried on the engine frames and the boiler slung between them. (A few had auxiliary water tanks, which is why I said, “Most,” not, “All.”)

South African GMAMs are the only one I can think of at the moment. Can you think of any others?

All the best,

Mark.