It seems that the majority of model steam engines now come with silver/gray smokeboxes. Were silver smokeboxes THAT prevalent on all of the different types of "real world" steamers?
Are silver smokeboxes considered to be a more desireable feature by most hobbyists than all black steam locomotives? Why?
Thanks
Tom B
It seems that the majority of model steam engines now come with silver/gray smokeboxes. Were silver smokeboxes THAT prevalent on all of the different types of "real world" steamers?
Yes, especially the silver fronts used on the Southern Pacific steam power. Other roads used various shades of gray.
Are silver smokeboxes considered to be a more desireable feature by most hobbyists than all black steam locomotives?
Again, on SP steam power they were used for additional visibility from personnel along the right-of-way, especially grade crossings.
Why?
For one main reason on the real locomotives, in the vast majority of cases the smokebox (front portion of the locomotive boiler) was NOT insulated and had no jacketing. Therefor a different sort of covering was required to "paint" that portion of the locomotive. Since "high temperature" paints were not developed back in the late 1800s nor early 1900s, the shop forces found that simply mixing powered graphite in to either valve oil or linseed oil, was an effective "coating" to spread on the hot steel of the smokebox and smokebox front. Thus the varying shades of "gray" from one railroad to another over the many years of steam locomotive usage.
Thanks
Tom B
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