Eliminating this danger

[Geochurchi]

Hi All, in order to fire the boiler on this locomotive this vacuum motor is set on to of the stack and draws air through the boiler, as you can see from the pics it’s really unacceptable , but it works, we need some sort of High temp inline fan with variable speed control to control the air flow.

How does one rotate pics?

[Bill Shields]

Been using something like that for decades.

Joe tanski has something that came from a vacuum cleaner that is probably just as old.

What's the worry?

[John Hasler]

The wiring is pretty bad, but that could easily be fixed.

[hoppercar]

So long as It draws the fire, and takes the heat....what's the problem?...the wiring can be changed

[NP317]

Make a bent tube that fits into the stack top and turns 180 degrees at the bottom, to blow air back up the stack for the draft.
It does require an external compressed air (or steam) source, but those are often available at tracks.

The steam blower built into the exhaust nozzle can be used with air, too.
My locos have a separate air input valve in the cab to produce draft through the blower fitting during the fireup process.
The air hose plugs into a fitting under the cab for fireup.
I simply switch the blower valve from air to steam once there is about 40 psi on the gauge, and disconnect the air hose.
RussN

[Geochurchi]

Does the first 2 fine, being an electrician I don’t even want to touch the thing, pretty hard to change the wiring and make it safe, 1 brush is held in by a bolt wrapped with electrical tape, Yikes !
Geo

[cbrew]

i made one using a fan form a pellet stove
12v, not a lot of draft, but more then enough to steam up.

[Geochurchi]

Thanks Cbrew, we are looking for options, and that looks much safer, Thanks for the pics.
Geo

[Geochurchi]

Cbrew, what gauge is your Steamer?
Geo

[cbrew]

Cbrew, what gauge is your Steamer?
Geo

7.5 inch gauge

[Geochurchi]

Same as ours.

[cbrew]

Same as ours.

what i like about my solution, I can use the on board power to warm up if i take a break too long and there is not enough steam pressure to run the blower.