Fireless steam (thermos bottle) locomotive

Nope, but I sure would buy one if it was made. I do have a Marklin HO model that I bought a long time ago.

There have been some European HO models by Marklin:

and one domestic model in HO brass by Westside in the 1980's:

but no O Gauge models, in either 2 or 3 rail.

Rusty

A fireless loco would be a very cool locomotive for one of the current manufactures to produce/import.   Fireless locos would be great for layouts with a large industry with several sidings/spurs since they were typically used in these scenarios.  They could also serve on short lines or as station switchers.   Since fireless locos were used prototypically well beyond the end of fossil fueled steam locomotives they would be at home on layouts depicting the 1960s and beyond.   A great switcher to add to any manufacture's line of switching locomotives IMHO. 

Since a steam fireless locomotive has to have a readily available steam source, they wouldn't be used on short lines.  Nothing like running out of steam miles away from a steam connection to recharge the vessel.

From Wikipedia:

"A fireless locomotive is a type of locomotive which uses reciprocating engines powered from a reservoir of compressed air or steam, which is filled at intervals from an external source. They offer advantages over conventional steam locomotives of lower cost per unit, cleanliness, and decreased risk from fire or boiler explosion; these are counterbalanced by the need for a source to refill the locomotive, and by the limited range afforded by the reservoir.

Typical usage was in industrial switching where a conventional locomotive was too noxious or risky, such as in a mine or a food or chemical factory; they also saw use where the source of air or steam was readily available."

Rusty

But where would we get the recorded sounds for the sound track?

Would I buy one? Oh, I don't know, but the photo below may give you a clue.

This is a former Alabama Power Company 0-4-0 (it's a Porter) used in the Mobile area when I was a kid. I crawled all over this loco - with my father's supervision - when in grammar school. It's in the Birmingham area now, restored (!) and that's me standing next to it about 3 years ago. Now if they could only restore me...

Alabama Power - like most power companies with coal-fired plants (Ala. Power has hydro, coal/natural gas and nuclear production) - had numerous "thermos bottles" at plants for switching the hoppers in and out, what with a ready supply of steam right where it's needed. Much of the coal fuel has been replaced by natural gas.

I bought a cheapie RK 0-4-0 Docksider years ago with the idea of doing the obvious, but I think that the RK is too big and it also has low-ball rods and crossheads, so for those - and other - reasons I've never done it. I hate to do a lot of work on the superstructure when that loco has pretty unimpressive running gear.

Rusty Traque posted:

Since a steam fireless locomotive has to have a readily available steam source, they wouldn't be used on short lines.  Nothing like running out of steam miles away from a steam connection to recharge the vessel.

From Wikipedia:

"A fireless locomotive is a type of locomotive which uses reciprocating engines powered from a reservoir of compressed air or steam, which is filled at intervals from an external source. They offer advantages over conventional steam locomotives of lower cost per unit, cleanliness, and decreased risk from fire or boiler explosion; these are counterbalanced by the need for a source to refill the locomotive, and by the limited range afforded by the reservoir.

Typical usage was in industrial switching where a conventional locomotive was too noxious or risky, such as in a mine or a food or chemical factory; they also saw use where the source of air or steam was readily available."

Rusty

Rusty - thanks for all the information!   I was thinking in terms of an extreme short line

I'd buy a Legacy one as soon as they were announced (Hint hint Lionel.).

Elizabethton, TN had one of the last ones of these running (a Porter 0-6-0_, which ran well into the 1980s for a rayon mill there. I saw it running several times as a kid. It's on display now:

If someone made a good model of this, even in 3-rail, I'd buy it for sure.

Brass HO....done.  Brass O, unlikely.  Brass 3 rail, never.  Would be too unique and nontraditional.

colorado hirailer posted:

Brass HO....done.  Brass O, unlikely.  Brass 3 rail, never.  Would be too unique and nontraditional.

Not too sure about that. Keep looking at the ads in the future.

As long as the price didn't have four significant digits, I'd probably spring for one, I love the unconventional, and this one sure qualifies!

Unconventional; hurray!

Never; boo!...thats what they said about Jawn too though.

How about a critterized version. One of the low slung layouts on the small mining locos looks like twin scuba tanks mounted on train wheels.

I like the Capt'n's choice; Ive spent a lot of time looking at that engine before. 

The green one kinda reminds me of the "I love toy trains" engine.

Anything beats nothing.

I have seen a few O scale models of fireless engines posted in my British modeling magazines. Here's one: 

Do l remember seeing one of these in the "Age of Steam" collection?

sinclair posted:

I'd buy a Legacy one as soon as they were announced (Hint hint Lionel.).

and there would be lots of room in there for the electronics and a small motor

CaptainRix posted:

"Is there an O gauge, 3 rail model manufactured?"

Looks like a job for RMT. 

VEPCO:

I've been collecting shots of mostly firless "low riders" for reference for a long while. 

Here's what isnt moved to my backup yet. Mines,not mine. 😲

..(all belong to other happy mizers 😂)

Any interest in O-07" ? 😁 

 Less Fire ? 🤔  (i know there were electric steamers, but this looks P.shopped to me...?)

  Still fun to look at😋

Pantograph must be for the headlight ...

Adriatic posted:

 Less Fire ? 🤔  (i know there were electric steamers, but this looks P.shopped to me...?)

  Still fun to look at😋

 

It's not Photoshopped. 

Switzerland had no natural coal reserves, but did have hydro-electric power.  Two 0-6-0T locomotives were converted to electric heaters as the price of German coal rose when WWII broke out.  The locomotives were converted back to conventional coal fired steam in 1951 and 1952.

Rusty

colorado hirailer posted:

Do l remember seeing one of these in the "Age of Steam" collection?

Indeed you do. And here it is.

Chief Bob (Retired)

Several critters l would like to bash need small drivers.  If they put one of these in a starter set, without NYC #999 drivers,  l would mutilate at least a couple.  Have one sprawling industry, a creosote treatment plant, that could use them unmodified, but whether that ground-gobbler finds real estate to drop into, is looking unlikely. Still, if somebody dares to build one, l should find a use.