Fun With Funnels, or The Smoke Stack Dilemma

[TrainClown]

So here I am, happy as a clam, merrily building my Roundhouse Climax engine model, when to my surprise! The model comes with five different smoke stacks!! (Are they called funnels on trains as well as boats?)

So now I have the simplest decision to make and I can't make up my mind. So I thought I'd see what other people thought.

I have the choice of five smoke stacks. Which one would you choose? Or which is your favorite smoke stack?

My wife likes #3, but what does SHE know about trains? (The Clown ducks but not fast enough!)
...........................OUCH!!!

Ok, here is #1, your classic toot:

 

[TrainClown]

#2 is just a little bit fancier:

 

[TrainClown]

#3 starts to have character:

 

[TrainClown]

#4 is your classic diamond stack:

 

[TrainClown]

#5 is a real spark catcher but you'll notice I'll have to move the lamp to get it to fit properly:


So please tell me what you think.

Thanks!

TrainClown

 

[MasonJar]

I like #2 or #1, but my era is 1920s and 30s - "post diamond"...

Andrew

 

[RailRon]

TC, if your Climax is gonna be a coal burner, then #1 or 2 would be ok. But if it's a wood burner, 3,4 or 5 are the right choice.

The diamond stacks are spark arrestors. In the widened portion a fine wire mesh held back glowing wood particles. The speed of the exhaust blast was reduced by the larger diameter - the bigger the diameter, the better the spark arresting... (And after all, the logging companies wanted to log the woods, not to burn them! )

Now the Congdon stack #5 obviously doesn't fit the lokey at all, or you'd have to change the second MDC-choice and fit a smaller headlight. (There is more than one headlight included, right?) Big diamond #4 is a tight fit, too!

Believe it or not - I'll help your wife and opt also for #3.

But if you still don't like #3, just relax: I won't start throwing things at you - Switzerland is so far off from Canada that I probably wouldn't hit you anyway.

Ron

 

[Ray Marinaccio]

TC
If your going to burn wood in your new loco I would go with #3.
If you want to move the headlight #4 Would be my 2nd choice.
Or paint #1, 2 and 3 and interchange them once in a while.

 

[jon-monon]

I say go with #5 and put a big honkin spark arrestor made of fine mesh screen on it If I'm not mistaken, the plastic shell has a stack of wood modled into the back, so unless you modify it, it's a wood burner.

 

[MasonJar]

Originally posted by RailRon
TC, if your Climax is gonna be a coal burner, then #1 or 2 would be ok. But if it's a wood burner, 3,4 or 5 are the right choice.

The diamond stacks are spark arrestors. In the widened portion a fine wire mesh held back glowing wood particles. The speed of the exhaust blast was reduced by the larger diameter - the bigger the diameter, the better the spark arresting... (And after all, the logging companies wanted to log the woods, not to burn them! )

Ron

Thanks Ron. Did not know that - you learn something new every day (at least at the Gauge)

I had assumed that it was simply an advance in technology, since there were a lot of the diamond stacks in the 1800s, but fewer in the 1900s.

Andrew

 

[shamus]

Hi TC, #4 is best for a wood burner, I had those on mine.
Cheers
Shamus

 

[belg]

My vote goes to # 3 just because I think it looks like it fits best, so there. I don't have enough knowledge to make a fine analysis like our esteemed panel,but I know what I like.

 

[Freelancer]

I too like number 3. 1 and 2 are too small, 4 and 5 are too big, but 3 is just right!

Freelancer

 

[zeeglen]

Originally posted by TrainClown
(Are they called funnels on trains as well as boats?)

Maybe #5 could be called a 'funnel'

 

[jon-monon]

Re: Re: Fun With Funnels, or The Smoke Stack Dilemma

Originally posted by zeeglen


Maybe #5 could be called a 'funnel'

Or save it and use it as a funnel

 

[Matthyro]

#2 suits my fancy. I remember ones like it on the old locos used in South African railroads when I was a kid.

 

[shaygetz]

#3...and a vote for one of the electric headlights

 

[TrainClown]

Thanks for the input, lads.

The funnel be in the building.

Well, what can I say? I like #3 too. So #3 it is. (TC's wife grins).

I'm going to put #4 on my Life Like Iron Horse 0-4-0 and I'm going to put #5 on the big Climax I'm building from scratch. I found a loco shell almost identical to the Iron Horse in the junk I bought at the train show and that will give me the perfect boiler for my project.

Onwards and upwards!

Thanks again,

TrainClown