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Amoskeag steam-powered fire engine.
Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg
https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...ire_engine.jpg
Previously:
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...594#post143253
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...578#post143184
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...417#post142625
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...271#post142021
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...815#post140294
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...6425#post83639
Seems like for a piece of fire apparatus there would need to be a full head of steam at all times.
The Amoskeag Locomotive Works, in Manchester, New Hampshire, built steam locomotives at the dawn of the railroad era in the United States. The locomotive works operated as a division of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company between 1848 and 1859. Besides building locomotives for railroad use, Amoskeag also built steam fire engines until 1876. Amoskeag fire engines served as the initial fleet for the New York City Fire Department and the first Los Angeles Fire Department fire company.
They have one of these in pretty much pristine condition at Clark's Trading Post in Lincoln NH. I'll have to see if I can find the pictures I took of it there recently. Most anyone from the NE area will likely know of Clark's. It's a classic "roadside attraction" type amusement park and a New England classic. They still run a wood fired Climax steam engine there.
I've wondered about that too.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimfols
They would have had time to get up steam while the horses were being readied and during the trot (gallop ?) to the fire location. Of course, getting a hot fire takes a while and getting water to boil doesn't happen quickly so even if the fire was ready to start (with an accelerant) I doubt they would have much pressure when they arrived at the fire.
Is it possible that the steam pumpers were backup called in if the manual pumpers couldn't handle the fire? That would provide time to ready the steamer at the fire station so it arrived ready to squirt.
There's a bit of information on steam fire fighting here...
https://maas.museum/inside-the-colle...m-fire-engine/
where one of the comments includes this tidbit...
"... there is a brass-clad, vertical water-tube boiler mounted at the rear of the fire engine. It was designed so that steam could be raised to a working pressure of 100 psi (689.5 kPa) in eight to ten minutes..."
Here is a copy of a manual for operation of these engines...
https://legeros.com/history/steamers/1897-manual.shtml
that makes interesting reading as well.
Here is a copy of a manual for operation of these engines...
https://legeros.com/history/steamers/1897-manual.shtml
that makes interesting reading as well.
Good Handbook, thank you.
Having read articles on laying a fire in a locomotive I have a good concept.
But I never saw it explained so explicitly. I guess putting out a fire is more important than hauling freight.